Kunal Rao

About Kunal Rao

I am a researcher with the Integrated Systems Group at NEC Laboratories America, Inc, based in Princeton, NJ. I hold a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida, Gainesville. My current work focuses on leveraging cutting-edge AI/ML techniques, particularly Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Large Language Models (LLMs)/Generative AI (GenAI), to address complex systems challenges.Previously, my research interests spanned a range of topics, including High-Performance Computing (HPC), heterogeneous cluster computing, GPGPU computing, Xeon Phi computing, graph computing and analytics, as well as distributed stream processing systems for AI-powered video analytics.I grew up in Pune, India, where I completed my schooling at St. Joseph\'s High School and St. Vincent’s Junior College, followed by my undergraduate studies at the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). I have a diverse range of hobbies and interests, including listening to classic Hindi songs, singing, sketching, and engaging in various sports such as badminton, cricket, volleyball, bowling, pool, carrom, racquetball, table tennis, tennis, and swimming. I also enjoy traveling and discovering new places, cultures, and experiences.

Experience

1. Researcher

   Nec Laboratories America, Inc

   Jun 2018 — Present · Princeton, NJ, US

   Integrated Systems Department

Education

• COEP Technological University

  Bachelor of Technology - BTech, Instrumentation and Control Engineering

• St. Vincent's Jr. College

  Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)

• Dept. of Foreign Languages, University of Pune

  Special Diploma in German Translation (Part time)

• University of Florida

  Master of Science - MS, Computer Engineering

• St. Joseph's High School

  Secondary School Certificate (SSC)

Skills

• Socket Programming
• Xeon Phi
• Java
• Runtimes
• Linux Application Development
• Cluster Management
• Visual Studio
• High Performance Computing
• Middleware
• Shell Scripting
• Open Source
• Condor
• Parallel Computing
• Client Server Technologies
• Graph Databases
• Linux
• Debugging Code
• Cuda
• Multithreading
• Mpi
• Graph Analytics
• Software Development
• Torque
• Systems Programming
• Pbs
• Mercurial
• Cluster
• C++
• Multithreaded Application Development
• Distributed Systems
• Openmp
• Windows Server
• Job Scheduling
• C
• Multi-Core Programming
• Profiling Tools
• Intel Vtune
• Grid Computing
• Intel Mic
• Object Oriented Design