Varun M. Kumar
Researcher · Machine Learning × Neuroscience Email: contact [at] mkvarun [dot] com
§03 · Education

Degrees, awards, and the coursework.

A journey through my academic life. Feels like I'm getting older; I must be mistaken, right?

§3.1

Degrees

Years Institution Degree Notes
2022 – 2024 Purdue University M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering
2017 – 2021 National Institute of Technology Karnataka B.Tech. Electronics and Communication Engineering Rank 2 out of 106, ECE Department
2005 – 2017 Lourdes Central School Primary, Secondary, and Senior Secondary (CBSE) Class XII (2017): AISSCE -- Dakshina Kannada district topper
§3.2

Awards

Year Award Issuer & notes
2022 MPOWER Scholarship MPOWER Financing · June 2022 monthly scholarship (honorary mention) for international students studying in the US. Awarded on the basis of qualifications, essay quality, and potential as a scientist.
Program link
2020 DAAD WISE Scholarship Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) -- Working Internships in Science and Engineering. ~100 students from India selected for a 2–3 month research internship at a publicly funded German university.
Program link · Award letter
2019 CeNSE Summer Scholarship Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (IISc). 26 students selected across India for an 8–10 week internship.
Program link · Award letter
2018 - 2021 Institute Scholarship (×3) NIT Karnataka. Awarded annually to the top five meritorious students in each department. Received January 2018, January 2019, and September 2021.
§3.3

Academic coursework

Artificial Intelligence & related

Purdue University

  • ECE 69500Generative Models
  • BIOL 56200Neural Systems
  • ECE 57000Artificial Intelligence
  • ECE 62900Introduction to Neural Networks

NIT Karnataka

  • EE871Machine Learning
  • EC899Applications of Machine Learning Techniques for Medical Image Analysis
  • EC348Image and Video Processing
  • EC347Speech and Audio Processing
  • EC272Digital Signal Processing

Mathematical courses

Purdue University

  • STAT 51100Statistical Methods
  • ECE 60000Random Variables

NIT Karnataka

  • EC457Statistical Analysis
  • MA110Engineering Mathematics I
  • MA111Engineering Mathematics II (Calculus)
  • EC454Numerical Analysis and Applications
  • EC224Mathematics for Electronics and Communication Engineering

Entrepreneurship & leadership

Purdue University

  • ECE 69500Ideas to Innovation
  • ECE 69500Communication for Engineering Leaders
  • ENTR 50000Technology Realization Seminar