Chat with Shivani Rajagopalan

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Can you share more about your experience founding an all-girls robotics team and how you managed to integrate sensors and code in C++?
How did you navigate the process of creating an emotion detection CNN model for autism education tools, and what challenges did you face along the way?
How has your role as President of Informational Awareness Committee at your school's student council influenced your perspective on leadership and social issues?
Shivani Rajagopalan

Shivani Rajagopalan

Columbia University

Computer Science / Teaching

Robotics innovator, AI researcher, and educator.

Activities

Robotics (Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12)
20 hrs/wk, 40 wks/yr
Co-founder, Lead Coder, Robot Builder, Mentor, Self-directed (no coach)
VEX VRC, #15055C

Top 1% in the world; 3 members, all-girls; Integrated sensors, built omnidirectional base, coded in C++; Managed finances and tournament logistics.

Research (Grades: 11, 12)
30 hrs/wk, 16 wks/yr
AI for Autism Creator, Computer Vision Researcher, Self-initiated
Mentored by Stanford Ph.D. Student through Inspirit AI

Emotion detection CNN model for autism education tools; Used transfer-learning; Made 2000 image dataset; Achieved 65% improved accuracy; Paper in peer review.

Research (Grades: 11)
5 hrs/wk, 28 wks/yr
Data Science Researcher in Quantum, Astrophysics
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP)

Group research; Tested Hartree-Fock method in Python; Analyzed NASA dataset for black holes using R; Learned scientific writing and quantum physics.

Computer/Technology (Grades: 10)
30 hrs/wk, 8 wks/yr
Summer Student
AI Programs at Brown University and Inspirit AI

Brown: Learned KNN, Regression, Perceptron, CNN algorithms using hands-on projects. Inspirit AI: Analyzed and presented BERT-model for voice recognition.

Work (Paid) (Grades: 10, 11, 12)
8 hrs/wk, 45 wks/yr
Assistant Manager; Math and English Teacher
Kumon North America, Inc.

500+ hours; Taught English, basic math to calculus to ages 3–15; Trained new teachers, assigned tasks; Took parent meetings; Managed emails and inventory.

Student Govt./Politics (Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12)
4 hrs/wk, 40 wks/yr
President of Informational Awareness Committee
Basis Independent Leadership/Student Council

One of five chosen per grade; Worked with school administration; Wrote blogs; Led school-wide events for neurodiversity, mental health, feminism, Black History, etc.

Community Service (Volunteer) (Grades: 12)
2 hrs/wk, 35 wks/yr
Vice President of Youth Leadership Committee
PACE Autism Center for Education

Planned meetings for 20+ members; Organized outreach activities, school presentations, and fundraisers for PACE residential homes; Selected by application.

Community Service (Volunteer) (Grades: 9, 10)
6 hrs/wk, 30 wks/yr
Computer Science (Java), Math, and English Tutor
EduCreate, Pacific Links Foundation

250+ hours; 1:1 classes; EduCreate: Taught math and Java for ages 6–12 during the pandemic; Pacific Links: Taught Vietnamese children to write in English.

Other Club/Activity (Grades: 10, 11, 12)
3 hrs/wk, 40 wks/yr
Secretary (11th); Events Coordinator (12th)
Basis Independent Rotary Interact

Planned meetings for 20+ members; Led a school-supply fundraiser for low-income students; Initiated a club project for online tutoring with Pacific Links.

Dance (Grades: 9, 10)
4 hrs/wk, 48 wks/yr
Bharatanatyam Dance Student; Volunteer Teacher
Shri Krupa Dance Company

10 years of training; Completed Arangetram (Graduation); Performed a 4-hour solo debut with 500 attendees; Volunteered to help train new and graduating students.