Pranav Rao
Phone: (See links above)
Contact page | github.com/Hanbrown | linkedin.com/in/pranav-rao-scu
Contact page | github.com/Hanbrown | linkedin.com/in/pranav-rao-scu
Education
University of Wisconsin, Madison Madison, WI
MS Computer Science, emphasis in Vision and Security Sept 2022 – May 2024
MS Computer Science, emphasis in Vision and Security Sept 2022 – May 2024
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA
BS Computer Science, Minor in Political Science Sept 2018 – Jun 2022
BS Computer Science, Minor in Political Science Sept 2018 – Jun 2022
Technical Experience
University of Wisconsin, Madison Madison, WI (Sept 2022 - May 2024)
• Enhanced teaching techniques through instructor and peer collaboration, leading to improved student outcomes
• In the Introductory Programming course, was the main point of contact for 39 students
• Received an average rating of 6 out of 7 from students in course evaluations
University of Wisconsin, Madison Madison, WI (Sept 2022 - May 2024)
• Enhanced teaching techniques through instructor and peer collaboration, leading to improved student outcomes
• In the Introductory Programming course, was the main point of contact for 39 students
• Received an average rating of 6 out of 7 from students in course evaluations
Emergency Medical Technician California’s Great America (June 2021 – Aug 2022)
• Developed a custom Incident Management System using the MERN stack, which tracked EMT availability and response times, demonstrating a proof-of-concept product
• Conducted user interviews to identify critical system features, optimizing the platform for ease of use and quick onboarding, which improved training outcomes for new EMT hires
• Provided emergency care according to California standards, demonstrating strong composure and technical competence in dynamic high-stress scenarios
• Developed a custom Incident Management System using the MERN stack, which tracked EMT availability and response times, demonstrating a proof-of-concept product
• Conducted user interviews to identify critical system features, optimizing the platform for ease of use and quick onboarding, which improved training outcomes for new EMT hires
• Provided emergency care according to California standards, demonstrating strong composure and technical competence in dynamic high-stress scenarios
Cepheid Extern Santa Clara University (Jan 2022 – Jun 2022)
• Engineered 3D models and data formatting tools for a chemical assay machine, leveraging VR technology to enhance realism and accuracy for user training
• Collaborated closely with corporate representatives to clarify project objectives and align on technical requirements, ensuring the simulator met all performance targets
• Engineered 3D models and data formatting tools for a chemical assay machine, leveraging VR technology to enhance realism and accuracy for user training
• Collaborated closely with corporate representatives to clarify project objectives and align on technical requirements, ensuring the simulator met all performance targets
Technical Team Intern Stanford University (Aug 2019 – Sept 2019)
• Enhanced a university project fund management website by implementing UI/UX improvements using HTML, CSS, Oracle Apex, and PL/SQL, leading to a more user-friendly experience on a more aesthetic website
• Streamlined task management and communication using Jira to improve efficiency and keep collaborators informed.
• Gained insights into large-scale product management, applying these to later projects such as the custom EMS management tool that optimized operations.
• Enhanced a university project fund management website by implementing UI/UX improvements using HTML, CSS, Oracle Apex, and PL/SQL, leading to a more user-friendly experience on a more aesthetic website
• Streamlined task management and communication using Jira to improve efficiency and keep collaborators informed.
• Gained insights into large-scale product management, applying these to later projects such as the custom EMS management tool that optimized operations.
Real@Work Extern Cisco Systems (Sept 2018 – Dec 2018)
• Designed and delivered a web-based tool for indexing and managing project resources
• Used HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a NodeJS backend to create a visually appealing and intuitive product
• Collaborated with a global, cross-institution team to gather user feedback, enhancing functionality
• Designed and delivered a web-based tool for indexing and managing project resources
• Used HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a NodeJS backend to create a visually appealing and intuitive product
• Collaborated with a global, cross-institution team to gather user feedback, enhancing functionality
Projects
Master’s Thesis Master’s Degree Research (Sept 2023 – May 2024)
• Conducted literature review on empathy communication methods in virtual reality and published results
• Developed a 6-minute simulation of a medical event, leveraging industry-standard practices for photorealism
• Defended project findings to a three-person faculty committee
• Conducted literature review on empathy communication methods in virtual reality and published results
• Developed a 6-minute simulation of a medical event, leveraging industry-standard practices for photorealism
• Defended project findings to a three-person faculty committee
Browser Fingerprinting Add-on University Course (Feb 2023)
• Developed a Google Chrome add-on that used browser fingerprinting technology so an adversary could track a user’s browsing habits, demonstrating a social engineering attack against consumer software
• Exemplified a critical problem with certain asynchronous functions in the current JavaScript standard
• Some of the code is visible at github.com/Hanbrown/Fingerprinting
• Developed a Google Chrome add-on that used browser fingerprinting technology so an adversary could track a user’s browsing habits, demonstrating a social engineering attack against consumer software
• Exemplified a critical problem with certain asynchronous functions in the current JavaScript standard
• Some of the code is visible at github.com/Hanbrown/Fingerprinting
Panorama Stitching Software University Course (Jan 2023 – May 2023)
• Replicated industry-standard panorama stitching techniques in a MATLAB program that accepted a maximum of 3 images, and output one combined seamless panorama.
• Engineered a RANSAC implementation and used it with a SIFT library function to properly align the images
• Polished the sharp edges using a gradient blending function
• Results from the program are visible at vanarp.com/panorama-stitching-program-in-matlab
• Replicated industry-standard panorama stitching techniques in a MATLAB program that accepted a maximum of 3 images, and output one combined seamless panorama.
• Engineered a RANSAC implementation and used it with a SIFT library function to properly align the images
• Polished the sharp edges using a gradient blending function
• Results from the program are visible at vanarp.com/panorama-stitching-program-in-matlab
Camera Calibration Tool in Python University Course (Jan 2023 – May 2023)
• Wrote a script that can take an image, find straight lines, compute vanishing points, and calibrate a camera in 3D space
• Worked with 2 partners to write a camera calibration script in JavaScript and a Python Flask web server with a ThreeJS front-end
• This speeds up an artist’s work when using photo backgrounds combined with 3D objects, since they do not have to guess the focal length of the camera that took the real photo
• Wrote a script that can take an image, find straight lines, compute vanishing points, and calibrate a camera in 3D space
• Worked with 2 partners to write a camera calibration script in JavaScript and a Python Flask web server with a ThreeJS front-end
• This speeds up an artist’s work when using photo backgrounds combined with 3D objects, since they do not have to guess the focal length of the camera that took the real photo
Face Manipulator Program in Mathematica University Course (Sept 2022 – Dec 2022)
• Designed a program to perform feature manipulation of a human face
• Worked with a partner to write Mathematica code to perform facial feature extraction and pixel manipulation to a picture of a human face. Users can adjust size of the eyes, eyebrow angle, and smile amount with some slider inputs. Used B-Splines to calculate pixel adjustment
• Results were photorealistic and convincing to our classmates. The methods we chose worked remarkably well
• Designed a program to perform feature manipulation of a human face
• Worked with a partner to write Mathematica code to perform facial feature extraction and pixel manipulation to a picture of a human face. Users can adjust size of the eyes, eyebrow angle, and smile amount with some slider inputs. Used B-Splines to calculate pixel adjustment
• Results were photorealistic and convincing to our classmates. The methods we chose worked remarkably well
DeLorean Energy Research Project Undergrad Research (Feb 2021 – June 2022)
• Wrote a research paper and gave a presentation at IEEE GHTC 2022 on renewable energy technology
• Developed a visualization tool that allowed cities to calculate savings based on numerous parameters such as electric vehicle adoption rate, years in service, state of charge, and more.
• Wrote a research paper and gave a presentation at IEEE GHTC 2022 on renewable energy technology
• Developed a visualization tool that allowed cities to calculate savings based on numerous parameters such as electric vehicle adoption rate, years in service, state of charge, and more.
OpenGL Animation in C++ University Course (Jan 2021 – Mar 2021)
• Modeled several objects in Blender and created several textures in Photoshop. Used C++ and GLSL to build a rasterizer program
• It is visible at vanarp.com/opengl-animation
• Modeled several objects in Blender and created several textures in Photoshop. Used C++ and GLSL to build a rasterizer program
• It is visible at vanarp.com/opengl-animation
Walking Simulator in Unity and C# Self (June 2021)
• Created a video game that allowed users to tour my college dormitory and play with its furniture
• Measured and modeled dozens of objects from my dormitory, and made a video game using C# and Unity. Made textures, sounds, and animations
• Created a video game that allowed users to tour my college dormitory and play with its furniture
• Measured and modeled dozens of objects from my dormitory, and made a video game using C# and Unity. Made textures, sounds, and animations