Priyanshu Agarwal - SURA

Priyanshu Agarwal (CS1)

Domain: Research (SURA)

Interned at IIT Delhi

Mode: Offline Interviewed by: Umang Badetia, Yuv Verdia

Introduction

I’m Priyanshu Agarwal, a B.Tech student in Computer Science. During my second year, I applied for the Summer Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) and worked on a project under Professor Rahul Garg focused on identifying and classifying brain strokes using machine learning. This project turned out to be one of the most significant experiences in my academic journey.

Why I Chose SURA

Before applying for SURA, I spent time exploring various professors' research areas and was drawn to Professor Garg’s work. It aligned with my interest in computer vision and machine learning. Though I considered applying for foreign internships, SURA allowed me to stay in Delhi, giving me a chance to balance both the research project and preparation for my third-year OCS internship, which also aligned with this project as I will be heading over to Smasung HQ, Korea for research in similar domains.

Diving into the Project

My project involved developing models to classify brain stroke conditions using medical images. At that time, I was new to machine learning and deep learning, so there was a steep learning curve. To prepare, I took Stanford’s deep learning course, which was instrumental in helping me get up to speed. The project itself was a hands-on experience, from sourcing datasets to implementing models in PyTorch. It was demanding, but the practical knowledge I gained was invaluable.

Challenges and Learning

One of the biggest challenges was managing my time effectively, balancing the research work, especially as I was also preparing for internship placements. I found that setting daily targets and maintaining a disciplined schedule was essential. Working closely with a PhD student was also incredibly helpful. His guidance made navigating the complexities of research much easier.

Lessons Learned

A key takeaway from this experience was the importance of documentation and organisation. I started using tools like Notion to keep track of my work, which made me more structured in my approach to both academic and personal projects. Additionally, interacting with PhD students and professors gave me a deeper insight into the world of research and helped me decide whether it’s something I want to pursue long-term.

Advice for Juniors

For anyone considering a second-year internship or research project, my advice is to explore your interests early and be strategic about your choices. When applying for opportunities like SURA, reach out to multiple professors and talk to seniors who have worked with them to get a better understanding of what to expect. Preparing through online courses and hands-on projects is crucial, especially if you're venturing into new domains like machine learning. Most importantly, be sure of your decisions and learn from every experience.