My PhD Journey: From Cryptography Dreams to NLP Discoveries

Every PhD story is unique, shaped by choices, circumstances, mentors, and serendipity. Looking back, I realize mine has been a winding yet rewarding journey—one that began with an interest in cryptography and evolved into a deep fascination with natural language processing (NLP).

From Codes to Languages

My research aspirations were first sparked after watching the biopic of Alan Turing. The elegance of cryptography fascinated me, and I initially hoped to pursue it further. However, when I joined JNU for my master’s, my preferred professor in cryptography had no available slots. That’s when I stumbled upon the thought: human languages are very much like cryptic messages—unintelligible until you know how to decode them. This realization nudged me toward NLP.

Later, I shifted my PhD to IIIT-Delhi, certain that it would provide better resources and exposure in AI and NLP. That decision proved right. IIIT-D not only offered advanced compute resources but also gave me my first hostel life experience, where I decorated my own room and immersed myself in the vibrant campus.

The RnD building, with its world-class labs and faculty cabins, became the backdrop of my academic growth. At IIIT-D, I met Dr. Rajiv Ratn Shah (MIDAS Lab) and Prof. Ponnurangam Kumaraguru (Precog Lab). Both their labs played defining roles in my journey.

I still smile when I recall my early days at Precog. PK once added me to the Slack channel for “pillars meet.” A few days later, he asked why I wasn’t attending. I wondered if we were supposed to gather under some literal pillar! Later, I realized it was their daily update meeting—a practice that reflects Precog’s commendable culture. Even the smallest progress was worth sharing, fostering accountability and camaraderie within the group.

Early Projects and Unexpected Turns

My initial projects in web scraping laid the foundation for my thesis by helping me collect silver-standard data. Just as I was gaining momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, halting the world. When things resumed, a remarkable opportunity came my way—the Anveshan Setu Fellowship by ACM India, spearheaded by PK. Through it, I worked under the mentorship of Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharya at IIT Bombay and presented my progress at the ACM India Annual Meet in Bhopal.

Around this time, PK and the Precog Lab moved to IIIT Hyderabad. Staying at the beautiful IIITH campus and witnessing the lab’s ethos take shape in a new home was an unforgettable experience.

Mentorship and Growth

Returning to IIIT-D, I continued under the mentorship of Dr. Rajiv Ratn Shah, with the unwavering support of Dr. Rushali Ratn Shah, whom we fondly call our “guru-maa.” They built a nurturing environment that often felt like a second home.

As I began presenting my work at conferences, I met inspiring researchers in the field, which further broadened my perspectives. By the time my fellowship ended, I had the final work of forming a QA framework to bind the story of my thesis. Around this time, PK offered me a Research Associate position on an ambitious project analyzing the 2024 Indian Lok Sabha elections. Leading a talented student team toward a shared goal taught me patience, resilience, and leadership—skills as vital as technical expertise.

Currently, alongside completing the last leg of my PhD, I am working as an AI/ML Computational Science Specialist at Accenture, where I apply the research and problem-solving mindset I developed during my doctoral journey to large-scale, real-world challenges in industry.

Reflections at the Final Stretch

Now, as I near the final stage of my PhD, I often think of myself as a ball in a pinball game—nudged into place by many wedges. For me, those wedges were the countless moments of guidance, encouragement, and opportunities from mentors and peers. The pinball position I am in now is to confidently defend my work in front of a committee consisting of giants in my area of research.

This journey has been less about a straight path and more about navigating detours with curiosity and persistence. And in every turn, I have found growth, friendships, and purpose. My Google Scholar page.