VARUN MACHHALE KUMAR

• Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Bachelors in Electronics and Communication Engineering
• • Department Rank: 2 (out of 106 students)

• AISSCE CBSE Class XII (2017)
• • Dakshina Kannada District Topper


• AISCE CBSE Class X (2015)

Probing memory encoding via theta oscillations in deep neural networks

• Applied principles from predictive coding theory in a deep neural network to replicate a wet lab experimental finding
• Implemented a deep learning model that elicits oscillations in the theta frequency band (4-8 Hz) and analyzed the changes in the power to familiar vs novel images

Studying the learning impairments in FragileX mice

• Worked on developing machine-learning based classifier models that can predict stimuli and mice genotypes using neural signals recorded from neuropixels probes

LemonPy: A neural data analysis package

• Developed an end-to-end data processing pipeline in Python to streamline the analysis of neural data recorded by neuropixels probe in the lab

Speech Decoding using ECoG signals

• Devised a preprocessing pipeline that computes time-aligned phonemes from recorded speech data that can be used to train a speech decoder

Automated extraction of ECG signals from PDFs

• Developed an algorithm to automatically convert non-overlapping 12-lead ECG signals recorded in the form of PDFs to numerical data

Automated Epilepsy Classification using EEG signals

• Developed a fully automated epilepsy classification system to classify epileptic patients into various subtypes of epilepsy using EEG signals

Bladder cancer segmentation using deep learning

• Implemented a deep learning neural network to segment immunopositive and immunonegative tumour cells in the bladder and calculated its Ki-67 index

Small signal parameter extraction of GaN AND GaAs transistors

• Implemented a method to extract the parasitic capacitances, inductances and resistances from the S parameters of a Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) transistor.
• From the extrinsic parameters, the intrinsic parameters of the MOSFET were further extracted

The MPOWER scholarship is awarded to international students studying in the US based on the applicant’s qualifications, quality of essays submitted and applicant’s potential as a scientist to make positive impact.

Received the DAAD WISE Scholarship for the year 2020 to intern at a German university.

DAAD is a German organization that promotes international academic and research exchange programs. It supports students, researchers, and academics from around the world in pursuing educational and research opportunities in Germany.

The program targets around 100 students all over India pursuing a degree in the fields of science and engineering who wish to do a 2-3 months research internship at a publicly-funded German higher education institution.

Among the 26 students throughout India to be selected for the CeNSE scholarship program in the year 2019.

The CeNSE scholarship program provides an opportunity for undergraduate and masters students from India and abroad, selected through a rigorous and competitive process, to intern at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, IISc for a period of 8-10 weeks.

Every year top five meritorious students in each department are awarded the Institute scholarship from NITK.

Received the scholarship three times: Jan 2018, Jan 2019 and Sept 2021