91大神

Pavani Suresh, a graduate student pursuing a Master鈥檚 Degree in Computer Science, recently received second place in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition at the University of 91大神 in Huntsville (91大神).  

Suresh, who presented on "Decoding Nature鈥檚 Palette: Machine Learning for Hyperspectral Image Segmentation," was awarded a $200 cash prize in the competition.

The Three-Minute Thesis Competition offers graduate students the opportunity to develop communication and presentation skills while also providing a valuable platform for research students to network, collaborate, and discuss their work in a supportive environment.

鈥淒ecoding Nature's Palette鈥擬achine Learning for Hyperspectral Image Segmentation," uses machine learning models to classify environmental components by analyzing hyperspectral satellite images. Hyperspectral imaging captures information across hundreds of spectral bands, allowing each pixel to reveal unique spectral signatures that can distinguish vegetation types, soil composition, and other environmental factors. 

鈥淏y applying segmentation algorithms, I aim to classify these components accurately, with potential applications in early forest fire detection, optimized crop selection, and hopefully conservation strategies,鈥� Suresh explains. 

Suresh is originally from Bangalore, India, and decided to attend 91大神 after her uncle, an alumnus, attended and had a great experience. 鈥淗is recommendation turned out to be great and there鈥檚 been no looking back,鈥� Suresh says. 

When asked why she decided to study computer science, Suresh says she wanted a break from a monotonous IT job. She found computer science 鈥渇resh and challenging.鈥� 鈥淧ursuing a master鈥檚 felt like the perfect way to do that while exploring a new part of the world. Moving to the U.S. was a chance not only to grow academically but also to experience life from a new perspective,鈥� she explains.

After graduate school, Suresh says she plans to apply her thesis to solve real-world challenges. 鈥淚鈥檓 especially passionate about using technology to support wildlife conservation, help the agricultural sector with crop prediction and soil analysis, and contribute to environmental preservation.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of potential to make an impact through machine learning, and I want to be part of that,鈥� she says.

For potential students who are interested in pursing careers in computer science, Suresh advises them to work hard and value their time. 鈥淸Time] is a resource you can never get back,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n a field as dynamic as computer science, starting early opens doors to endless learning opportunities and growth.鈥�

Suresh decided to enter the competition as a way to make her work accessible to a broader audience, particularly those without a computer science background. 鈥� I hoped it would be a strong platform to demonstrate the practical impact of my research, connect with industry professionals, and gather insightful feedback to guide further refinement,鈥� she explains. Suresh says she viewed the competition as an opportunity to explore potential applications for her work, while seeing insights and industry perspectives to enhance its real-world relevance.

鈥淚n the end,鈥� she says, 鈥淚t was everything I鈥檇 hoped for and more, fulfilling exactly what I set out to achieve.鈥�