About

Hi! I'm Sreeharsha Paruchuri, a graduate student at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University where I'm pursuing a Master of Science in Robotics Systems Development degree. Previously, I earned my undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering at the International Institute of Information Technology - Hyderabad, where I was also a researcher at the Robotics Research Center and the Cognitive Science Lab.

My journey in Robotics has primarily been driven by a deep curiosity to explore diverse fields and work on systems that build upon inter-disciplinary domain knowledge.

My undergraduate degree gave me a platform that enabled me to explore a variety of research problem statements in domains such as Robotics, Computational Social Science and Computer Vision which gave me insights into the multitude of ways a problem can be decomposed and understood.

Drawing from a rich tapestry of over two years of immersion in industry-driven robotics research, mostly in Robot Path Planning and Navigation using Reinforcement Learning, I have worked with a plethora of technologies, collaborated with researchers from various backgrounds, and driven projects from inception to impactful publications or practical implementation.

Currently, as a graduate student, I am looking to specialize in Artificial Intelligence based systems, potentially with applications in Robotics where I will look for opportunities to call upon my diverse experiences to contribute in a unique way. The unique construct of the MRSD program at CMU also lends itself to growing as a formidable team player through courses like Systems Engineering and Project Management as well as an individual with a keen eye for business opportunities via its business electives offered in conjunction with CMU's Tepper School of Business.

I am profoundly inspired by Steve Jobs, Ratan Tata and Elon Musk for their remarkable journeys and what they've stood for. Thus, my ideal long term objective of infusing embodied intelligence with cognitive reasoning - an ambition to simplify intricate tasks and supplement human creativity, is ultimately driven by the goal of championing social welfare. All in all, I look forward to being a part of endeavors that help me grow as an individual and I can't wait to see where this journey takes me next :)

Fun Fact: My Erdős number is four.

Teaching

If you want to master something, teach it

These are words from the legendary Richard Feynman, a person who profoundly motivates me to find joy in learning something new with every experience. I have have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be a proponent of knowledge by working alongside Professors as a Teaching Assistant for multiple courses at IIIT, Hyderabad. Not only does teaching strengthen your conceptual understanding of a topic, but it is a chance to be helpful by giving back. I was able to contribute to the following courses by teaching, guiding and evaluating students by holding tutorial sessions and setting assignments.

(CS7.503.M21) Mobile Robotics: Hands down the most renowned course of IIIT-H across International Universities, Mobile Robotics edifies students' knowledge on robotic perception by providing to them a toolkit to pursue research at the intersection of Robotics and Computer Vision. The topics covered revolve around SLAM algorithms and classical Computer Vision.

RRC Summer School: I taught students the fundamentals of classical Computer Vision and introduced modern AI based methods utilising convolutional neural networks.

(EC5.205.S21) Introduction to Coding Theory: A subject that builds on Shannon's Theory of Communication (the mathematics behind which is something truly to be astonished by) which forms the basis on which everyday communication takes place.

(CS9.434.S22) Music, Mind and Technology: An interdisciplinary course that uses algorithms and mathematics to delve into how each facet of music is percieved by individuals and groups. I was the head TA for the course where I taught and designed evaluations for a class of over 60 graduate and undergraduate students.

Frames

To be honest, I was at the right place at the right time

Blogs

I never considered myself much of a writer (just ask my high school english teachers), but I've always had a profound love for reading — whether it's fiction or non-fiction. There's something magical about getting lost in a book, stepping into someone else's shoes, and experiencing their world, full of triumphs and sorrows. It opens your mind to new perspectives and lessons. My appreciation for writing came unexpectedly when I was invited to be a panelist for a moderated talk. That experience sparked a newfound passion for storytelling and crafting thoughtful, well-researched opinions. As a writer and editor for Ping!—the independent student media body of IIIT-H — I found a rewarding space to explore and share that passion. As an editor for the MRSD Newsletter at CMU, I look to use my experience in writing and managing a club to promote readership of the newsletter not just amongst students, but to prospective recruiters too.

A couple of my most recent articles:

The Psychology Behind Why Humans Find it Hard to Stay Home : A short feature on how humans have come to be the social creatures that we are today and relate that to how lockdown has left most of us in a state of lassitude.

An Online Felicity: Exploring challenges and possibilities : With the outbreak of COVID-19 immuring students to their houses, we investigate possibilities as to how Felicity (the annual cultural fest of IIIT-H) could shift online.