2018 REU Participants

Mounia Berrada is a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago, pursuing a degree in computer science. Her research interests lie in designing embedded systems, wireless networks, and machine learning. This summer she is working with Professor Levorato at the University of California at Irvine on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). Among other things, the research entails improving network connections and communication between ground control statins and UAVs, taking into consideration the congestion in urban areas. Mounia is specifically working with videos processing, classification, and neural networks.

Major: Computer Science

Home Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago

Faculty Mentor: Professor Marco Levorato

Project Title: Neptune: Multi-Class Object Detection Edge Assisted UAV Systems


Carter Buckner’s research project focuses on using a Tiny Arduino (miniature computer) to map eye movement in patients with an ocular prosthetic. The goal is to allow for a more natural movement among ocular prosthetic implants. Carter is a sophomore from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville majoring in Computer Science and Music Performance. His future career goals include plans to pursue a Master’s and a Law degree and eventually work in Technology and Cyber Law.

Major: Computer Science

Home Institution: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Faculty Mentor: Professor Ian Harris

Project Title: IoT Bluetooth Tracking and a Digital Eye: Alternatives to Ocular Prosthetics


Nicolas Casilli is an Electrical and Computer Engineering major, minoring in Physics, at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. This summer, he is working with Dr. Nikil Dutt at the University of California, Irvine on a research project that uses adaptive-reflective middleware to measure system performance and create benchmark readings to test how certain systems perform while running certain applications. Nicolas Casilli’s research interests lie in network security, lossless compression, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. His future goals include obtaining a Master’s in Electrical Engineering and, later, a Master’s in Business Administration. Eventually, he wants to work in industry, either for a security firm or as management in a technological firm.

Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Home Institution: Northeastern University

Faculty Mentor: Nikil Dutt, PhD

Project Title: Core Resource Allocation and Power Management Optimization Using PARSEC Benchmark and MARS Framework


Emiliia Dyrenkova is a sophomore Computer Science major at Mira Costa College, Oceanside. This summer she is working with Dr. Nalini Venkatasubramanian at the University of California, Irvine on a research project that uses data analysis to estimate missing data from the sensors in IoT emergency notification systems. Emiliia’s future goals include transferring to one of the schools in the UC system to finish her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science as well as continuing education in a graduate school.

Major: Computer Science

Home Institution: Mira Costa College

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nalini Venkatasubramanian

Project Title: Estimating Missing Sensor Data in Smart Firefighting


Trinity Key is a rising sophomore and aspiring Electrical and Computer Engineering major at the University of Pittsburgh. As an executive board member of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) and the diversity-inclusive Pitt EXCEL program, she enjoys research that includes medical and smart systems electronics, bioinformatics, and video game design. She is currently assisting Professor Magda El Zarki in her research laboratory at the University of California, Irvine. Trinity plans to pursue a PhD. in bio-engineering, attend medical school, and have a career in industry at a research and development position in the future.

Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Home Institution: University of Pittsburgh

Faculty Mentor: Professor Magda El Zarki

Project Title: Minebike: Time-Series Data and Machine Learning Algorithmic Analysis


Aditya Krishnan is a third-year Computer Engineering Major at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. This summer he is working with Professor Sharad Mehrotra on research involving improvement within the smart building system of the TIPPERS (Testbed for IoT-based Privacy-Preserving PERvasive Spaces) application suite in order to bring about better resolution, efficiency, and usability of the application and software system. Other research also involves framework implementation of the TIPPERS application suite that enables its usability within a distributed amount of buildings about the campus. Aditya’s research interests are in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, CyberNetwork Security, and Quantum Computing. He plans to pursue an advanced degree in computer engineering to eventually work in research and development and in academia.

Major: Computer Engineering

Home Institution: Santa Clara University

Faculty Mentor:Professor Sharad Mehrotra

Project Title: Sensor Data Attestation Based on Contractual Policies


Gabriel Lahman is a third-year student at Indiana University studying Computer Science with a specialization in Intelligent Systems and a minor in Cognitive Science. His research is focused on cooperative robotics, in which he will work on cooperative localization of human agent geolocation using the ROS (Robot Operating System) and a Kinect sensor. Gabriel’s research interests include bio-inspired computing, deep learning, and intelligent systems. In the future, he plans on earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science and performing industry or academic research.

Major: Computer Science

Home Institution: Indiana University

Faculty Mentor: Solmaz Kia, PhD

Project Title: Indoor Target Localization Using Passive RFID and a Single, Dynamic Reader


Evanjelin Mahmoodi is a third year Mathematics and Computer Science double major at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She began doing research at DANSER labs at UCSC, focusing on developing Virtual Reality games for stroke survivors and people with physical disabilities. Her research has led her to find a passion for helping people and using technology for a good cause. In addition to her research at UC Santa Cruz, she is currently working under Dr. Nalini Venkatasubramanian at the University of California, Irvine to measure air pollution in cities using IoT (Internet of Things) applications. After her graduation, Evanjelin hopes to continue school and expand her areas of research to further help society.

Major: Computer Science, Mathematics

Home Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nalini Venkatasubramanian

Project Title: Using Simulation Tools and IoT Data to Predict Fire Spread


Kyle Norland is a fourth-year systems engineering student at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. At the U of A, he works with Dr. Neng Fan on optimization of power grids under cyberattack and dynamic optimization techniques. This summer, Kyle is working with Dr. Sharad Mehrotra on topics related to the Semantic Web. He plans to pursue a PhD in optimization or operations research, and eventually work in a national lab or as a consultant on critical optimization problems.

Major: Systems Engineering

Home Institution: University of Arizona in Tucson

Faculty Mentor:Dr. Sharad Mehrotra

Project Title: Neural Graph Formulation for Visitor Activity Summarization