I believe everything is a symbol—whether audio, image, text (word/s or sentence/s), or video, they're all different flavors of the same meaning.
This lens, shaped by my longterm mentors over the years, guides how I create, study, design, and communicate.
🍣 Symbolic
I was a child actress who fell in love with books, learning, and research. Not everyone's path looks the same — and sometimes unexpected recognition brings unexpected challenges. I have learned that staying grounded in your work, research and your values is the only real answer to that.
TL;DR
Temporarily an independent researcher in Representational Alignment, Brain-AI Alignment, and Cognitive Neuroscience while seeking mature research collaborations. For those who believe GPA is better metric for academic success, GPA 3.86 (University of Colorado Boulder, 2022), 3.67 (University of Pittsburgh, 2015), 3.5 (University of Arizona, 2024) — 671 peer-acknowledged citations across 12+ years of academic work in the United States. For those who believe, published works are better metric for quality over quantity: Paper accepted at AAAI 2026 Bridge Program and the 7th International Conference on Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (June 2026). Strong work ethics and clear professional boundaries.
For those who believe steady progress is better metric over quantity, or other aspects : I have supplied detailed works under each one of the universities, to view the type of works done.
As of February 2026, I am no longer affiliated with the University of New Hampshire (UNH). My enrollment was terminated following an EEOC discrimination charge I filed in December 2025. An active federal civil rights case is pending at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire (Case No. 1:26-cv-00101-LM-TSM). I wish both UNH and University of Arizona and their research communities well.
My research — including work accepted at AAAI 2026 Bridge Program and the 7th International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI (June 2026) — was conducted independently and remains entirely my own intellectual property.
Note: If you have received unsolicited subscriptions in my name, please disregard and report to sushmaanandakoju@proton.me. I do not authorize any third party to subscribe others on my behalf.
Refusing to date early career members and declining to collaborate with individuals subject to no-contact arrangements can lead to retaliation in some academic environments. I have experienced this firsthand. Boundaries are not failures — they are integrity and values. I have followed court-agreed and safety-recommended guidelines throughout. I do not oppose those who caused harm — I simply maintain respectful distance. I note that I have received support from relevant government agencies across administrations since 2022.
Rather than continuing to cold-contact faculty and programs, if any researcher, advisor, or institution outside of University of Arizona and University of New Hampshire is interested in advising or collaborating — despite full awareness of the circumstances documented here — I welcome outreach at sushma.ananda13@gmail.com. My record speaks for itself and is forensically verifiable. Work should not be dependent on personal motives or quid pro quo. No offense intended — I hope this is understood with empathy given the current external climate, which appears beyond anyone's control. 🙏
I am currently in a relationship with a person (he/him) and am unavailable for any personal advances, dating referrals or coercion.
Documentation Purpose: This timeline documents verifiable achievements and contributions across multiple universities. These accomplishments represent sustained dedication, technical expertise, and research contributions spanning over a decade in academia. Reference
✍️ My handwritten, human-generated notes on Representational Alignment and where Claude Code generated wiki (work-in-progress) with my notes as input/context
Notes are fully human-generated, human-learnt and human-verified notes on Representational Alignment to my wiki — a work in progress since Fall 2025. My handwritten notes serve as the sole context for generating teaching materials and quizzes using Claude Code. Corrections welcome!
Self-Directed Learning/Mentor-Recommended Learning: 36+ courses completed independently without formal enrollment, as these specialized topics were not offered at the universities attended. List of courses by year
Learning Philosophy:
My learning from different mentors draws the analogy to Princess Ida in Monument Valley - knowledge passes as torches/clues between mentors and students. I maintain open, safe conversations with students for mutual learning. This reasserts that intellectual domination is only an illusion.
On Navigating Unique Career Trajectories:
My career trajectory reflects a deep commitment to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI, cognitive science, and neuroscience. I bring diverse experiences that inform my theoretical approach to understanding how human cognition and artificial systems can be meaningfully aligned.
On Intellectual Humility: Despite being at the risk of sounding presumptuous, out of fear of sounding overconfident or out of fear of being ostracized or a social taboo even in 2025, I would like to share that my long-term mentors and my parents always suggest to follow this philosophical saying, which I sincerely follow: "I know that I know nothing." - Socrates
A Note on Attribution:
The work showcased here is the product of significant intellectual effort, extensive research, expert guidance and peer review, and unwavering dedication. Every minor achievement /minor success documented on this site has been earned through intensive, relentless effort and persistent dedication—never by accident or luck or by chance. My heartfelt eternal gratitude to all my teachers for the guidance.
Intellectual Property Statement: Please contact me for written consent before using any works or intellectual property from this website.
Academic and Research Context: Throughout my 12+ years in the United States, my focus has been exclusively on academic and research work. I have consistently been part of formal educational and research environments and did not engage and do not prefer to engage in activities outside these settings.
Background in Forensic Science and Criminal Justice: My background in criminal justice and forensic science shapes how I work: carefully, ethically, and with a strong respect for law, evidence, and compliance, which sets me apart from many international students and researchers in the U.S.
Note on Immigration
In 2018, I formally retained an immigration attorney for appropriate petitions and have kept full documentation. The status of these matters can be provided appropriately upon request. I have always been seeking non-profit immigration relevant to research and academia. Anyone claiming otherwise, should be notified at sakoju2014@gmail.com.
Note about Neurosymbolic AI: Although neurosymbolic AI was an exciting area for me in the past, I'm no longer working on that topic. It was a pleasure to be part of NeSy groups. I'm glad my learning projects have inspired others in Arizona and other places.
Clarification: I did not receive and am not receiving - any funding, compensation, or profit shares from any person or organization in any country related to any movie in which I appeared as a child artist, and I am not engaged in any movie‑related activities, as my focus is on academics. Thank you.
Research and studies spanning Representational AI, Human-AI and Brain-AI Alignment, Multimodal AI/NLP, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience Reference Material
Publications
Finding Consensus from AI Alignment Studies: A Short Survey. Accepted at 7th International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI.
Version from AAAI 2026 Bridge Program acceptance
and a preprint available at DeSci Labs:
https://beta.dpid.org/957. Preprint DOI:
10.62891/522505f0
Socially-Aware Animated Intelligent Personal Assistant Agent, (2016) Paper
Nlsc: Unrestricted natural language-based service composition through sentence embeddings, (2019) Reference Material
An Efficient Mobile-Based Middleware Architecture for Building Robust, High-Performance Apps, (2019) Reference Material
Adroitness: An Android-based Middleware for Fast Development of High-performance Apps, (2019) Reference Material
The human body at cellular resolution: the NIH Human Biomolecular Atlas Program, (2019) Reference Material
Neuroscience of Language Processing
Study of the neural mechanisms underlying language processing and logical reasoning. Influenced by Cognitive Science Colloquium talks organized by Dr. Mary Peterson at the University of Arizona (Fall 2022, Spring 2023); Prof. Janet Metcalfe's work on Metacognition (2022); Prof. Vicky Lai at the University of Arizona for "Neural Basis for Language" — exploring the rich intersection of Neuroscience and Language (Fall 2023); cognitive modeling research of Prof. Afra Alishahi from Tilburg University (Fall 2022); and the intersection of Cognitive Science and NLP via Prof. James Martin at the University of Colorado Boulder (Fall 2021). Additional resources include the Probabilistic Models of Cognition book, works of Prof. Tom Mitchell (2016 onwards), MIND (2018) talks, UniReps workshop talks (2023 onwards), and Re-Align workshop talks (since 2024) — as well as Cognitive Neuroscience textbooks. Grateful. Reference Material
Neuroscience of Vision and Audio Processing
Study of the neural mechanisms underlying vision and auditory processing, reasoning, and the bidirectional influence of language. Resources include Cognitive Neuroscience textbooks, Cognitive Science Colloquium talks organized by Dr. Mary Peterson from University of Arizona during Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, and Harvard's Neuroscience courses (audited) and open-license course materials and books. I created subject/topic level comprehension quizzes using Perplexity AI, Gemini, and Claude to self-evaluate my comprehension and deepen my understanding of these subjects.
I learned these subjects as a hobby — a genuinely different experience from grade-based academic learning. I cannot recall exactly when it began, but I believe my interest in Neuroscience started in the background since my time at CMU, influenced by my mentor Prof. Tom Mitchell, likely around 2016 when I first worked with OpenFace and OpenSmile and found interesting Neuroscience research works that inspired video/audio based AI systems. Grateful. Reference Material
Mathematical Consciousness and Neuroscience of Consciousness
Inspired by the works of Prof. Lenore Blum and Prof. Manuel Blum, I joined the Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science (AMCS) in 2023. Prof. Robert Giacobazzi's Theory of Computation class (Spring 2024, University of Arizona) was a remarkable introduction to many theoretical foundational works and research directions. I was also briefly mentored by Johannes Kleiner and Sean Tull. Prof. Liad Mudrik's works have been a continued inspiration on Consciousness-related research. Grateful. Reference Material
Please note: My engagement with Neuroscience is theoretical and conceptual in nature — I have studied these subjects through online (auditing-based) coursework, workshops, independent reading, and mentorship, but do not have hands-on laboratory or clinical experience in Neuroscience. I share these interests and learnings in that spirit.
Natural Language Understanding Research
Natural Language Understanding Research Project (2025-Present) Launched January 2025, under NLU/NLP expert review at University of New Hampshire Reference Material
First First-Author Publication SICCK dataset accepted at Natural Language Reasoning and Structured Explanations (NLRSE) Workshop, ACL 2023 Reference Material
SemEval 2022 Task 4 Achieved #1 rank globally on leaderboard for Patronizing and Condescending Language Detection (Fall 2021) Reference Material
NLP Course Project SemEval 2022 Condescension detection project, University of Colorado Boulder Reference Material
Text Retrieval & Web Search CSC 583 research project, University of Arizona Reference Material
Introduction to Language, Logic, Proofs, Theorem Provers and Tactics, Spring 2025 Reference Material
Brief Introduction of Theorem Provers, Formal verification Theoretical Introduction, Sep 15th 2022. Reference Material
Visualizing Deep Learning Models for Natural Language Processing tasks: INFO VIZ 5602 Project Report. Reference Material
Theorem Prover using Entscheidungsproblem and Microsoft Z3 Solver and Prover Reference Material
Knowledge Representation & Reasoning
Data Mining Project Knowledge representation and reasoning using Abstract Meaning Representation (AMR), Q&A systems, Logical Neural Networks (LNNs), BEAM search. Mentored by Profs. Di Wu, Tom Mitchell, Martha Palmer, Dr. Peter Clark (Fall 2021) Reference Material
NLP Reading Group Presentations on "Towards Teachable Reasoning Systems," "Reasoning Like Program Executors," "On the Paradox of Learning to Reason from Data" (2023) Reference Material
Neurosymbolic Methods & Formal Logic
Science Communication Project:First Order Logic for Everyday Reasoning (Spring 2025) Reference Material
Logical fallacies, Liar's paradoxical traps in Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Logical Fallacies: A Theoretical Framework and Policy Interpretation Analysis Reference Material
Lean Programming Language Project:Completed formal verification project (December 5, 2024) Reference Material
Theorem Prover:Big Data Architecture project using Microsoft Z3 Solver (Spring 2022) Reference Material
Natural Logic Group Presentations on Theorem Provers, Formal verification, Natural Language to First Order Logic (Fall 2022) Reference Material
Never Ending Learning Seminar Framework using first-order logic and grounded predicates with Prof. Tom Mitchell, CMU (2018) Reference Material
Theory of Computation CSC 573, Prof. Roberto Giacobazzi, University of Arizona (Spring 2024) Reference Material
Self-Directed Study 50+ topics in Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Representational Alignment, Mathematical Consciousness, Models of Cognition, Neurosymbolic Methods, Deep Learning Architectures, Theoretical Logic, Theory of Computation Reference Material
Multimodal AI & Computer Vision
Object Detection Using YOLO and Mechanical Turk annotations for Robotics project, CMU (2021) Reference Material
Mechanical Turk Annotations Image Detection and Classification task helper (2020) Reference Material
Information Visualization Visualizing Deep Learning Models for NLP tasks (Spring 2022) Reference Material
Study of OCR Scanned Handwritten Slave Trade Volumes, Text Extraction & Named Entity Recognition
Independent Study with Prof. Henry Lovejoy Study and design of Named Entity Recognition & Text Extraction from OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scanned Handwritten Slave Trade Volumes (Summer 2022) Reference Material
Machine Learning & Deep Learning
Adaptive Machine Unlearning Foundations for unlearning methods for editing LLM representations (Spring 2024) Reference Material
Machine Learning Theory CSC 488, University of Arizona (Spring 2024, Audit) Reference Material
Advanced Machine Learning CMU-10715, Prof. Nina Balcan (2018) Reference Material
Neural Networks INFO 557, University of Arizona (Fall 2023, Audited) & completed Deep Learning textbook by Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio, and Aaron Courville Reference Material
Statistics Projects Comparing Statistical Regression with Neural Network models (Spring 2022) Reference Material
ML Department Project Regression analysis and Polynomial Equations Parser using Sympy, CMU (2020) Reference Material
Cognitive Science Research
Cognitive Science Colloquium COGS 595, University of Arizona (Fall 2022, 2023) Reference Material
Research Focus Intersection of Cognitive Science with Natural Language Understanding and Neurosymbolic Methods Reference Material
Research Assistantships
SKEMA Project Research Assistant Neologisms from COVID language study, extending Abstract Meaning Representation (AMR) to document-level structures, University of Arizona (Jan 2023 - July 2023, Fall 2022) Reference Material
HubMAP Project Imaging Mass Spectrometry analysis, Computational Biology Department, CMU (2019-2021) Reference Material
Research Philosophy
Research focus on the intersection of Representational Alignment with an intersection of Brain-AI alignment, Human-AI Alignment AND Cognitive Neuroscience and NLP/AI. This interdisciplinary approach helps to understand AI systems better. Reference
Research Approach
I am committed to transparency and authenticity in research. All work presented here represents my direct contributions, and I maintain detailed documentation of my research process.
My research expertise centers on identifying a research problem, problem understanding, experimental design, and proof-of-concept development. I specialize in research-oriented programming for prototyping and evaluation, with a focus on advancing scientific understanding. Reference
Personal Reflection on Career Trajectory
Due to my extremely unique career trajectory, it is exceptionally challenging for others to reconcile my appearance, career achievements, my hard work and my values - all put together in one person. I acknowledge this with mindfulness, empathy and responsibility.
CIRTL Certifications & Teaching Experience at University of Arizona
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning - Advanced Teaching Certifications & Comprehensive Teaching Assistant Experience Reference
The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) is a network of 45+ universities committed to enhancing STEM graduate education and undergraduate teaching through a focus on evidence-based teaching practices. CIRTL certificates are nationally recognized credentials that demonstrate commitment to quality teaching and learning. CIRTL Network
Certification Progression
Associate Level (Fall 2023 - Spring 2024) Completed foundational training in evidence-based teaching practices at University of Arizona. Requirements included workshops on pedagogical practices, diversity and learning science, teaching philosophy statement, and classroom observation Reference Material
Practitioner Level (Spring 2024) Advanced training including Teaching-as-Research course, presentation at UCATT Teaching Exchange Symposium, and continued pedagogical development. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement evidence-based teaching strategies Reference Material
Scholar Level (Spring 2025) Highest certification level achieved at University of Arizona. Demonstrating expertise in teaching pedagogy, research-based instructional methods, and advancement of teaching and learning through formal presentation and implementation of Teaching-as-Research projects. I am grateful for the guidance and support from Dr. Kristen Winet and Dr. Byron Hempel Reference Materials upon request
Teaching as a Research (TAR), University of Arizona
Spring 2024: Independent Study (IA 699) Teaching-as-Research project work, supervised by Dr. Kristen Winet and Dr. Byron Hempel Richard, CIRTL, University of Arizona.
Machine Learning Teaching Assistant (January-May 2025) Developing comprehensive grading rubrics, supporting diverse programming languages, and assisting students with complex CS concepts Reference Material
University of Arizona (2023-2024)
CSC 473 Automata, Grammars and Languages (August 2023 - May 2024) Led discussion sections, created practice problems, held office hours, and provided one-on-one tutoring for students. Volunteered additional time to help students with conceptual understanding beyond regular duties TA Work Summary
University of Colorado Boulder (2021-2022)
MSBC 5190 Artificial Intelligence & Neural Networks (Spring 2022) Graded assignments, held office hours, assisted students with AI and neural network concepts Reference Material
MSBC 5180 Machine Learning in Python (Fall 2021) Supported students learning machine learning algorithms, Python programming, and model evaluation techniques Reference Material
Foundational Teaching Materials Development (Fall 2024) Created comprehensive instructional materials on proof systems, logic, automata, formal languages, and theorem provers Reference Material
OpenAI Educational Licensing (Fall 2024) Facilitated OpenAI Educational licensing for university AI courses, enabling enhanced learning opportunities for students Reference Material
Teaching Philosophy & Pedagogy
Developed comprehensive grading rubrics that provide clear, constructive feedback to students
Created supplemental instructional materials to support diverse learning styles
Implemented evidence-based teaching practices focused on active learning and student engagement
Emphasized inclusive teaching strategies to support diverse learners from various backgrounds
Utilized Teaching-as-Research methodology to continuously improve teaching effectiveness
Fostered learning communities where students collaborate and support each other's learning
Research on Teaching
Teaching-as-Research Project (IA 699, Spring 2024) Case study analyzing the impact of Supplemental Instruction Sessions on student stress levels and homework completion time in the era of Internet solutions and advanced AI tools. Presented findings at UCATT Teaching Exchange Symposium Reference Material
Learning Assistant Quick Start Program Completed training program and actively supported students in Automata theory courses through peer-assisted learning Reference Material
Additional Teaching-Related Activities
BIOL 950 Science Communication (Spring 2025) Completed graduate-level course focused on effective science communication strategies
BIOL 905 Science Writing (Spring 2025) Advanced training in scientific writing and communication
Student Assistant - Coursera Specialization (Summer 2022) Worked with Dr. Jane Wall and Kaitlyn Rye on Coursera Specialization for Pathways, mentored two team members, and analyzed student engagement in online learning platforms
Student Proctor (March-July 2022) Student Testing Center, University of Colorado Boulder
Teaching Impact & Recognition
Through progressive CIRTL certification levels and extensive teaching assistant experience across multiple universities, demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and continuous professional development in pedagogical practices. Teaching philosophy centers on evidence-based instruction, inclusive learning environments, and student-centered approaches that support diverse learners. Reference
University of New Hampshire (2024-February 6 2026)
Presented a Teaching-as-Research project to an online audience of future faculty, staff, administrators, and faculty from across the CIRTL Network, April 9th, 2025. Certificate and Materials provided upon request.
Spring 2024
Teaching-as-Research course (IA 699): Case study on Supplemental Instruction Sessions on the stress levels & amount of time spent on homework assignments by the students in an era of Internet solutions and advanced AI tools: A case study Course project/mini project reports and code
Neural Networks, INFO 557, Fall 2023 (Audited) & completed textbook Deep Learning, Ian Goodfellow and Yoshua Bengio and Aaron Courville Course project/mini project reports and code
Independent Study, Prof. Henry Lovejoy : Study and design of Named Entity Recognition & Text Extraction from OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scanned Handwritten Slave Trade Volumes Course project/mini project reports and code
Worked on reviewing and editing changes to quizzes and course content for Coursera Specialization for Pathways.
I mentored two team members.
I studies research methods on learning methodologies in online learning platforms and the survey of engagement and successful completion of students.
I incorporated the analysis from the research studies into developing a data analysis in R programming.
I worked on this project for merely 1 month, we also received good reception for the research analysis we presented not only from the group I was working with but also from the conference this work was specifically presented.
My learning from different mentors draws the analogy to Princess Ida in Monument Valley - knowledge passes as torches/clues between mentors and students. I maintain open, safe conversations with students for mutual learning. This reasserts that intellectual domination is only an illusion.
Fifth Open Initiative Women's Health Education at Workplaces View Initiative
When some people experience personal or professional rejection, they sometimes respond by attacking a woman’s femininity through false health claims, such as wrongly asserting that she is in menopause ignoring key menstrual hygeine records that disprove menopause. They may ignore obvious evidence because they assume no woman will publicly share intimate menstrual cycles information/data, and rely on stereotypes like “she is just a female, she will stay quiet.” In response, many younger women now speak openly online about menstrual health, trying to reduce stigma and make this kind of shaming less effective.
False health claims about a woman (e.g., menopause) can harm her reputation, block fair opportunities, and may be legally defamatory if not corrected.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/ Let us support Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th to celebrate feminity.
Eighth Open Initiative Awareness of behavioral changes and impacts from Drug use View Initiative
Online Discourse & Social Issues
Sixth Open Initiative On Online Harassments, Addressing Misuse of Clinical Terminology in Online discourse View Initiative
Seventh Open Initiative On Online Harassments, Addressing Hate-based discourse from perceived deprivation of resources by in-group against out-group View Initiative
Initiative Purpose
These public initiatives represent a commitment to addressing systemic issues in academia, professional environments, and online discourse. Each initiative is backed by research, personal experience, and a dedication to creating positive change through education and awareness. Reference
Advocacy & Volunteering
Commitment to community service, student advocacy, and social justice initiatives Reference
Current Role
Community Educator - UNHSHARPP Volunteer educator for awareness on Consent-based communication at University of New Hampshire Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program (2024-2025) Social Post
University Advocacy
Voluntary Advocacy at University of New Hampshire (2024-Present) Active advocacy for academic integrity, and safe campus View Details
Voluntary Advocacy at University of Arizona (2023-2024) Student advocacy addressing systemic issues and promoting equitable treatment of international students View Details
Community Education Programs
Volunteer Community Educator at UNHSHARPP (Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program) Reference Material
Volunteer Community Educator for Consent-based Communication (Fall 2024-2025) Reference Material
Lifetime Volunteer Work (2000-Present)
Highlights of Volunteer Works and Public Causes/Initiatives Comprehensive overview of volunteer activities, community service, and advocacy efforts spanning over 25 years View Highlights
Areas of Focus
Sexual Violence Prevention Education on consent-based communication and prevention of sexual harassment and assault in academic settings
Student Rights Advocacy Addressing systemic barriers faced by PhD students and advocating for policy changes
Community Education Facilitating workshops and training sessions on communication, conflict resolution, and social awareness
Social Justice Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion through education and advocacy initiatives
Impact & Recognition
These advocacy and volunteer efforts represent a sustained commitment to creating positive change in academic universities and communities. The work addresses critical issues including student welfare, campus safety, institutional transparency, and equitable treatment of all community members. Reference
On Navigating Unique Career Trajectories:
Due to my extremely unique career trajectory, it is exceptionally challenging for others to reconcile my appearance, career achievements, my hard work and my values - all put together in one person. I acknowledge this with mindfulness, empathy and responsibility (which is a huge responsibility and certainly very challenging, making me feel like I am walking on eggshells sometimes). Thank you for visiting this portfolio website, thank you in advance for interacting with me and for your continued patience and empathy when interacting with me.
On Advancement
Advocacy for Basic Human Decency
Yet this should never be the standard. I advocate for consent-based communication not as an advanced ethical principle, but as basic human decency. Respecting "no," honoring boundaries, and conducting professional relationships without retaliation are minimum expectations, not exceptional behavior.
On Civilizational Progress and Gender Equity
Our civilization has not advanced in terms of respecting female for her intellect (especially heterosexual females i.e. cis). As a heterosexual (straight) woman in academia, I have experienced firsthand how she can be insulted for having an opinion and intellect, while giving her leadership roles - suggesting "crowns" for her intellect/dire need to insult her, as an outlet. Coincidently - both Intellect and Insult starts with an "I", the "Ego" (refer to my Learning Philosophy). Rather, we find ourselves needing to resort to being under the wings of someone who can protect such females without exploitation. This brings constant challenges though technologically we may be advanced and have achieved significant milestones. The contrast between our technological achievements and our failure to create environments where women can pursue intellectual work without requiring protection reveals a fundamental deficit in our societal progress.
Context: The Growing Threat of AI Misuse and Deepfakes
As someone working in AI, I am acutely aware of the dangerous misuse of these technologies. Current statistics from 2025 demonstrate the urgent need for ethical AI practices:
179 deepfake incidents in Q1 2025 alone—surpassing all of 2024 by 19%
$410 million in fraud losses in first half of 2025 (vs. $359M for all of 2024)
3,000% increase in deepfake fraud attempts since 2023
47 celebrity targets in Q1 2025—81% increase over 2024
56 politician impersonations in Q1 2025
550% increase in deepfake videos between 2019-2024
680% rise in voice deepfakes last year
$500,000 average business loss per deepfake incident
8 million deepfakes projected to circulate by end of 2025
Gender-Based Deepfake Abuse: Beyond financial fraud, AI tools are increasingly weaponized for harassment and humiliation, particularly targeting women. Perpetrators use AI image manipulation to transform women's images from idealized representations (like "Barbie") into disturbing or degrading versions (like "Annabelle")—deliberately chosen to insult, humiliate, and dehumanize targets. This form of digital abuse represents a calculated attempt to undermine women's dignity and professional standing through technological manipulation.
These transformations are not innocent "trends" but deliberate acts of harassment designed to:
To create an illusion of undermined professional credibility through visual humiliation
To create psychological distress through unwanted image/video manipulation
Weaponize appearance-based discrimination against women
Demonstrate power and control through non-consensual image/video alteration, resonating with Barbie-to-Annabelle twisted narratives
I support legislative efforts to combat deepfake abuse, including the DEFIANCE Act (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act), a bipartisan, bicameral bill that empowers victims of non-consensual deepfake pornography to pursue civil action against creators and distributors. Learn more about the DEFIANCE Act.
I have actively signed petitions against deepfake misuse (view signature) and strongly condemn anyone who supports or enables such technology abuse. My commitment to ethical AI is not just academic—it is a moral imperative.
Disclaimer
Important Note: The statements and reflections shared in this section are based on personal experience and are intended for general awareness and advocacy for positive change within professional communities. These statements are not directed at any single individual, group, or institution, nor are they intended for any for-profit purpose, promotional activity, political affiliations or to solicit attention. This content is purely focused on research-specific and professional matters within the academic and scientific community.
Professional Background: I hold a diploma in journalism with a focus on editing, which imbibes a social and moral responsibility to write truthfully, maintain ethical standards, and consider the impact of public statements on individuals and society.
Ethics Statement: I do not advocate or encourage the self-directed learning or unsupervised use of forensic science or criminal psychology skills. These skills that I have acquired were through professional courses and training. The tools and information referenced here are publicly available and do not involve any violation of legal policies. I strongly condemn any self-directed use of forensic science or criminal psychology skills outside the bounds of professional, ethical, and lawful frameworks.
Statement on AI Tool Misuse: I do not support the misuse of deepfake technology or the misuse of any AI tools, and I condemn those who support people that misuse these tools. I have actively signed petitions to stop deepfake misuse for the safety of everyone. View my petition signature.
On Intellectual Humility: Despite being at the risk of sounding presumptuous, out of fear of sounding overconfident or out of fear of being ostracized or a social taboo even in 2025, I would like to share that my long-term mentors and my parents always suggest to follow this philosophical saying, which I sincerely follow: "I know that I know nothing." - Socrates
In fact, any claims suggesting that these statements are intended to target specific individuals, promote personal gain, or seek attention are themselves evidence of the very patterns of retaliation, mischaracterization, and smear campaigns discussed in this section. Such twisted interpretations serve to validate the documented behaviors and deflection tactics described herein.
References
Siever, L. J. (2008). Neurobiology of aggression and violence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(4), 429-442.
Core principles that guide my professional conduct, research ethics, and approach to knowledge
Learning Philosophy
My learning from different mentors draws the analogy to Princess Ida in Monument Valley - knowledge passes as torches/clues between mentors and students. I maintain open, safe conversations with students for mutual learning. This reasserts that intellectual domination is only an illusion.
Socratic Wisdom: Intellectual Humility
Despite being at the risk of sounding presumptuous, out of fear of sounding overconfident or out of fear of being ostracized or a social taboo even in 2025, I would like to share that my long-term mentors and my dad always suggest to follow this philosophical saying, which I sincerely follow:
"I know that I know nothing." — Socrates
This principle guides my approach to knowledge, reminding me that true wisdom begins with recognizing the limits of one's understanding. It keeps me open to continuous learning and prevents intellectual arrogance.
Virtue Ethics Framework
I follow a Virtue Ethics approach, which centers on character development rather than rule-based compliance. This ancient philosophical tradition, rooted in Aristotelian thought, guides my professional conduct and research ethics.
Core Principles:
Character-centered approach: Focuses on developing moral character rather than following rigid rules
Excellence (arête): Striving for excellence in all aspects of work and conduct
Practical wisdom (phronesis): Applying sound judgment and wisdom to complex situations
The Golden Mean (mesotēs): Finding the virtuous middle path between extremes - neither excess nor deficiency, but the appropriate response for each situation
Habitual practice: Cultivating virtuous traits through consistent, deliberate action
This ethical framework shapes how I approach research integrity, mentor-student relationships, collaborative work, and professional challenges. It emphasizes becoming a person of strong character rather than merely complying with external rules.
Professional Ethics & Responsibilities
Journalism Ethics: I hold a diploma in journalism with a focus on editing, which imbibes a social and moral responsibility to report truthfully, maintain ethical standards, and consider the impact of public statements on individuals and society.
Forensic Science Ethics: My forensic and criminal justice skills were acquired through professional courses and training. I do not advocate or encourage self-directed learning or unsupervised use of forensic science or criminal psychology skills outside professional, ethical, and lawful frameworks.
AI & Technology Ethics: I strongly oppose the misuse of AI tools, including deepfakes and other technologies that can harm individuals or society. I have actively signed petitions against deepfake misuse and support legislative efforts like the DEFIANCE Act.
On Navigating Unique Career Trajectories
Due to my extremely unique career trajectory, it is exceptionally challenging for others to reconcile my appearance, career achievements, my hard work and my values - all put together in one person. I acknowledge this with mindfulness, empathy and responsibility (which is a huge responsibility and certainly very challenging, making me feel like I am walking on eggshells sometimes). Thank you for visiting this portfolio website, and thank you in advance for your continued patience and empathy when interacting with me.
Core Values in Practice
Consent-based communication: Respecting "no," honoring boundaries, and conducting professional relationships without retaliation
Intellectual honesty: Maintaining integrity in research, attribution, and scholarly discourse
Collaborative learning: Fostering mutual growth between mentors and students
Ethical technology use: Ensuring AI and computational tools serve human wellbeing
Professional integrity: Upholding ethical standards across all professional interactions
Continuous growth: Commitment to lifelong learning and character development
No two people have identical DNA which clearly sets apart every individual from another individual. Coupled with the countless unique neuronal pathways and life experiences, every individual is distinct. Even if two people "appear" similar, the simplistic generalizations based on "perceived" similarities, fails to capture the true complexity and uniqueness arising from the combined biological, physiological, psychological, experiential, inherited, spiritual, philosophical, phenomenological and any other aspects of each human being. What one cannot see, has no dependency on what one deserves. Lived experiences of someone are not processed and interpreted by others the same way as experienced by the person and sometimes access to near-true assessments may be suppressed by unconcious or cognitive biases.
About me, Meeting format, and some notes
Short intro and notes about me
Please do not read this as anger, pride, or hostility. This section was written from a place of calm self‑control after a year of careful reflection, and I hope this message is met with the same calm and respect.
Thank you for messages and 1:1 meeting requests; I am truly humbled and grateful to those who contacted me and for such exceptional response. I'm open to research‑focused connections only. I do not meet 1:1 though I'd be down to meet in a group setting only for conference, workshop, lab, and professional meetings (except with my mentors). I prefer to keep my personal relationships private and would rather not discuss them, to respect the others’ privacy as well. I look forward to connecting and discussing interesting AI research topics, and I welcome others sharing their boundaries as well.
I don’t drink, I don’t party, and I generally am very selective about whom I meet one-on-one. I am also very choosy about food and follow a healthy lifestyle. Due to many food restrictions, I mostly eat American food and a few other cuisines due to retsricted number of food options, and like many others I try to stick to plant-based food, with a few exceptions for prescribed nutritional purposes. I sometimes receive food preparation requests that ignore these restrictions, or am given restricted food as a joke or 'test', by acquaintances; this is not acceptable to me.
From an early age, I have been selective about who I let into my inner world. Growing up around research, literature, and art-related events and discussions, I look for friendships that thrive in intellectually engaged, value-aligned, and mutually respectful spaces. If I decline to meet or do not accept a friend request or any advances, please do not take it personally. Likewise, when my friend requests are not accepted or my communication is not reciprocated, I take that as a no and respectfully maintain my distance.
I only participate in healthy, mutually respectful, and reciprocal communication and collaboration, and I am intentional about preserving those standards. When communication becomes one‑sided or taken for granted, I step back. I do not sell my soul and do not engage in anything that violates my boundaries and values. Pragmatism must still answer to spiritual and intellectual integrity, which are inherent parts of the human psyche. I seek common ground that respects pragmatists while honoring my boundaries, and I follow virtue‑ and integrity‑based ethics, and any interaction or arrangement or false claims that asks/creates circumstances that asks me to abandon those values is unacceptable to me and may require intervention from external channels. I gracefully offer peace while inviting pragmatists and others to step down from a position of pride and accept that offer of peace and attempt to meet in the middel (neither of the extremes of a see-saw).
For over a year, I've received ~8,000 unsolicited emails about software engineering, programming, DevOps positions, and educational paths outside my research interests (stated below my name on this site). While some messages come from goodwill, I must be clear:
I do not work as, nor seek roles in, software engineering, general programming, DevOps, or other non‑STEM positions. I am in the U.S. to develop and apply the specific skills listed under my name on this site—areas where I can demonstrate, explain, and collaborate confidently. I used to be very interested in programming, but that was then and this is now. I am moving through ‘vibe coding’ which is exciting, exploratory, and feels like navigating a puzzle, and I look forward to adding it as an additional skill in the near future. Opportunities that substantially deviate from these areas may misrepresent my background to employers and create compliance or other legal risks, so I do not consider them a good fit though many requests keep puring into my inbox and am truly humbled and thrilled how much I am considered for so many jobs.
I am committed exclusively to my stated research interests.
Unsolicited referrals misrepresent my skills and disrespect receiving employers/universities.
Such referrals constitute falsified information/application fraud. I've had to contact most recipients to clarify these misrepresentations.
I kindly request: NO FURTHER REFERRALS for software engineering, programming, DevOps positions, and educational paths outside my research interests.
Any further discussions about roles outside my expertise require my attorneys and confidential resources present. Legal reference:18 U.S.C. § 35 | 18 U.S.C. § 1038
I do not have any health-related problems; any claims suggesting otherwise are incorrect and not supported by my health records and neither supported by clinical/laboratory evidence. If you have heard statements to the contrary, please know that I maintain clear documentation showing that such claims are false.
Because intellectual competition can sometimes involve deception or misrepresentation - to overturn the respect and reputation one has earned with discipline and hard work - often conflicts with intellectual integrity. Therefore for my own integrity and safety, I proactively maintain clear, forensically verified records that directly refute any false allegations that might arise in competitive contexts including situations where legal consequences for libel or slander are ignored. I can only caution to not fall for false claims; beyond that, each person must rely on their own judgment and maturity.
At the same time, I choose to respond with empathy and respect, and I disengage quietly from interactions that create unnecessary conflict in intellectually competitive environments, allowing natural correction and justice to take their course.
Research trajectory documented chronologically Reference
Spring 2026: Finding Consensus from AI Alignment Studies: A Short Survey, Accepted at 7th International Conference on the Mathematics of Neuroscience and AI.
Version from AAAI 2026 Bridge Program acceptance
and a preprint available at DeSci Labs:
https://beta.dpid.org/957. Preprint DOI:
10.62891/522505f0
Career trajectory documented chronologically Reference
Winning Painting, drawing, storytelling, and dance competition awards. Multi-talented child recognition award at the State level. (Age 8-12)
Radio anchoring, theater and interviewing prominent figures in literature (Age 11-15)
Winning a National classical dance competition with classical dance group (Age 17)
Winning Debate and floor crossing competitions (18-20)
Painting exhibition organization and art history seminar participation (during Highschool and Undergraduate studies)
Participating in literature reviews, discussions and research discussions relevant to language, art and philosophy with my father
2006 - Volunteer educator for low-income communities
2006 - Diploma in Journalism - Editorial writing focus
MS in Forensic Science & Criminal Justice - Criminal Psychology focus
Anti-rape and anti-dowry advocacy participation
2015 - MS in Information Science, University of Pittsburgh - Team website development project Reference
2016 - 2021 Research Programmer at Carnegie Mellon University - AI, NLP, Biology, Computer Vision projects Reference
Creative problem solving methods for proof-of-concept research projects for researchers and my own self-learning Reference
Participating in online competitions for solving logical reasoning puzzles, complex word puzzles, dedicated solver of NYT crosswords, letter-boxed and participating
Reading books on philosophy, ethics, science fiction, crime/legal fiction inspired from real life legal cases and Jane Austen's novels and books on AI/NLP
Received Long-term mentorship in theoretical logic, natural language understanding, and learning architectures
Aug 2021 - Aug 2022 MS in Data Science, University of Colorado Boulder
Fall 2021 (despite Boulder wildfires and finger injury) - SemEval 2022 Task - top ranking on the Leaderboard Reference
Summer 2022 - Independent study - Text Extraction from OCR scanned handwritten Slave Trade Volumes Reference
Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Natural Logic study under supervision of expert researchers, CLULab, University of Arizona Reference
Fall 2022 - July 17 2023 Research Assistant experience at CLULab
2016 - Ongoing Self-directed learning in theoretical aspects of machine learning and AI Reference
2016 - Ongoing Self-Directed Learning/Mentor-Recommended Learning in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024: Teaching-as-Research project - Case study analyzing the impact of Supplemental Instruction Sessions on student stress levels and homework completion time in the era of Internet solutions and advanced AI tools Reference
Spring 2025 - Guest lecture - "AI for Academic Writing" for two classes: BIOL 905 and BIOL 950, UNH, Supervised by Prof. Jessica Bolker (My key contributions include: analogy based ethical guidance in the form of questions and reflection to students given that students already use AI tools for writing and are from non-computer science background) Reference
Spring 2025 - Fall 2025: Community Educator at UNH SHARPP - Consent-based communication Reference
2009 - Ongoing Advocacy and volunteering for public initiatives
Research Focus & Professional Interests
Targeted research interests and career direction Reference
Professional Focus
My research interests center on Representational Alignment, Human-AI and Brain-AI Alignment, Multimodal AI/NLP, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience with emphasis on proof-of-concept research and algorithmic/response evaluation rather than application development or infrastructure roles.
I am particularly interested in:
Representational Alignment
Human-AI and Brain-AI Alignment
Multimodal AI/NLP
Cognitive science and Neuroscience aspects of reasoning and representational alignment
Research goal and problem definition
Research-focused roles with zero-emphasis on pipelines/devops/software lifecycle
Internships emphasizing research methodology over production code
Less emphasis on computer science and more focus on interdisciplinary aspects of Natural Language Understanding, Multimodal AI and Cognitive Science
I am actively interested in pursuing unique and novel research ideaswhere I can contribute innovative, research-focused perspectives/ideas within my areas of expertise and focus.
I thrive on collaborative research environments that value creative problem-solving, scientifically rigorous work, and mutually respectable communication.
Not Seeking
I am not currently seeking software engineer, applied scientist, or DevOps engineer or leadership roles focused on application development or infrastructure management. These are outside my area of focus and expertise.
Thank you for respecting this boundary.
Research Approach
I am committed to transparency and authenticity in research. All work presented here represents my direct contributions, and I maintain detailed documentation of my research process. My research expertise centers on identifying a research problem, problem understanding, experimental design, and proof-of-concept development. I specialize in research-oriented programming for prototyping and evaluation, with a focus on advancing scientific understanding.
Research Focus
I develop interdisciplinary conceptual frameworks for large language models and AI systems, emphasizing cognitive science and theoretical perspectives over benchmarking or evaluation. My work provides methodological approaches that researchers with computational resources can implement and scale. This conceptual research—which often drives technological development—benefits engineers and applied scientists who adapt these frameworks for real-world applications. I am actively pursuing various interesting future research directions, evolving in AI - agentic frameworks, other emerging research areas surroungin AI.
This conceptual research—which often drives technological development—provides frameworks that engineers and applied scientists can adapt for implementation. My expertise is in advancing interdisciplinary research ideas, not programming itself.
I am interested in AI-assisted programming ("vibe coding") for creative projects supporting educational or social goals or even experimental purposes.
I also am open to do programming relevant work required for my research.
Best Practices
Personal habits and principles that guide how I live, learn, and work.
Added April 19, 2026
I journal every day. Notes and journaling are how I process, create and grow.
I walk at least 3–4 miles every day. Some days I walk much further. I have explored much of the USA on foot and by public transport rather than by car.
I do not share details about my progress, works, or personal and professional life until I am ready to do so. Anything you hear that has not been told by me directly — I cannot take accountability for it and I disengage from needing to defend or explain it.
I dissociate from people who disrespect my boundaries or who insist on their way or no way.
I read every day on topics unrelated to work.
I journal and make notes whenever I find something interesting and always record the source of inspiration.
I meditate and disconnect from my devices every day for a couple of hours.
This timeline represents 12 years of dedicated research experience across five major US research universities, including three Master's degrees (Information Science, Data Science, pursuing PhD in Computer Science), peer-reviewed publications, advanced teaching certifications (CIRTL Associate, Practitioner, and Scholar levels), and significant contributions to both academic research and community advocacy. Reference Material
Verification Notice
I affirm that this website, my identity, my research, and my documented experiences are authentic and verifiable through official academic and professional channels.
Research Verification:
Published work and academic records available upon request.
Note: All research contributions, institutional affiliations, and educational credentials listed on this website can be independently verified through official university records, publication databases (Google Scholar), and professional networks. It is important to note that these are not public disclosure notices due to privacy, safety and confidentiality reasons.
