USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Eight exceptional students, including two Indian Americans, have been honored with the highly coveted 2024-2025 Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award for their groundbreaking contributions to the field of computing. Among the recipients are Venkataram Sivaram from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and Prasann Singhal from the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), both of whom were selected for their remarkable achievements in computing research. The CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award recognizes undergraduate students across North America who demonstrate extraordinary research skills and a commitment to advancing the field of computing. As part of the prestigious recognition, each awardee receives up to $1,500 in funding to attend a conference of their choosing, allowing them the opportunity to present their research and network with professionals in their respective fields.
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Venkataram Sivaram, a computer science major with a minor in mathematics at UCSD, is the first student from his university to receive this honor. Sivaram’s research, conducted under the mentorship of Professor Ravi Ramamoorthi, explores the fields of graphics, visualization, and computational geometry. His work focuses on enhancing rendering techniques for complex scenes, specifically for video games and movies. Sivaram’s innovations have significantly contributed to the acceleration of rendering processes, a critical advancement for industries that rely on high-quality graphics. Notably, his research was showcased at the ACM SIGGRAPH symposium, a leading conference in the field of computer graphics. Beyond his research, Sivaram is a dedicated mentor, serving as a Junior Counselor for the Rose Mathematics Program and as a computer graphics tutor. Professor Ramamoorthi expressed his delight in Sivaram’s achievement, stating, “These awards are national, across all areas of computing. I am delighted Venkat has been named one of the recipients of the CRA Undergraduate Research Award, an extraordinary and well-deserved accomplishment.”
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Prasann Singhal, who is pursuing a double major in computer science and linguistics at UT Austin, has also made significant strides in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His research primarily focuses on improving text generation in large language models. By exploring the boundaries of reinforcement learning from human feedback, Singhal has developed a new fine-tuning method that promises to enhance the accuracy and fluency of AI-generated text. Singhal actively engages in his community in addition to his academic work. He serves as an officer at the Laurel Co-operative housing community and founded the Katy HACK Initiative, an organization dedicated to teaching computer science to younger students. Singhal’s passion for both research and community service has earned him widespread recognition within the academic and tech communities.
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Founded in 1972, the Computing Research Association (CRA) plays a pivotal role in supporting computing research, advocating for policy advancements, and fostering diversity within the field through mentorship and collaboration. The CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), two renowned research institutions affiliated with the US Department of Energy’s National Laboratory System. The CRA Awards are presented annually to exceptional undergraduate students at North American universities who show great promise in computing research.
These awards not only honor the students’ hard work and innovative ideas but also provide them with the resources and platform to continue advancing their research. As the computing landscape continues to evolve, awards like the CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award are crucial in recognizing and empowering the next generation of researchers, particularly those making impactful contributions to areas such as AI, machine learning, and computer graphics. For Sivaram and Singhal, their hard-earned recognition reflects their dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and will undoubtedly serve as a springboard for further success in their careers.
