Graduate Student Vinu Sankar Sadasivan Receives Kulkarni Foundation Summer Research Fellowship

Vinu Sankar Sadasivan, a second-year computer science Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, recently received a Kulkarni Foundation Summer Research Fellowship from UMD’s Graduate School.

Sadasivan will use the fellowship to continue his study on security and privacy in artificial intelligence with Assistant Professor Soheil Feizi. The research work aims to address the critical challenges posed by the emergence of powerful AI models such as GPT and diffusion models. The study focuses on exploring the profound implications these models have for data protection and ethical use. 

"I am grateful to be chosen for this prestigious fellowship, which will provide invaluable support to my research on security and privacy in AI,” Sadasivan said. “This crucial and timely research area has the potential to make significant contributions to the field. The fellowship will not only enhance the recognition and dissemination of my work but also facilitate my progress toward my future research endeavors. I am humbled by this opportunity and eager to continue advancing my research with this award."  

The Kulkarni Fellowship, generously endowed by Ashok Kulkarni (Ph.D. ’76, computer science), supports graduates of the India Institute of Technology who are enrolled in doctoral programs at UMD.

 "Vinu is an exceptional Ph.D. student making significant strides in the field,” said Feizi, who holds a joint appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies. “His work addresses the critical challenges posed by the emergence of powerful AI models, such as GPT and diffusion models, which have profound implications for data protection and ethical usage. By receiving the prestigious Kulkarni Fellowship, Vinu will have the necessary funding and recognition to further his research. This award is a testament to his talent and potential as a young researcher in the AI community."

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications