Climate change is a significant global challenge. My research paper, published in the International Journal of Education & Management Studies (IAHRW), addresses the environmental issue of plastic waste and provides a potential solution for earthquake-resistant construction. I focused on exploring additive manufacturing using concrete mixed with recycled plastic waste to strengthen housing structures in seismic zones. I'm looking into self-sustaining business models to keep scaling. This change can be accelerated by government action, such as the GEM portal, which unites the cement and recycled waste industries to prioritize recyclable materials, particularly for government infrastructure projects.
I interned under Khosla Machines Pvt. Ltd, manufacturing FMCG packaging machines. The goal was to reduce conventional plastic consumption in industries that pack goods like sopas, which is neither recyclable nor biodegradable, worked on building upgrades to use bioplastics and incentivizing recycling. I worked on material of the plating R&D, replacing nickel and mile steel with brass to reduce friction, and conducting lab trials to understand surface smoothness for bioplastic folding and handling. I helped the design team to redesign discharge folder and rubber roller CAD assembly models to reduce folding creases.
I noticed the gardener in my neighborhood watering the grounds before mowing, which seemed to double his time and effort for each area. After talking to him, I realized how to make their work less strenuous. I developed an efficient method to cut down water use by adding a sprinkler system to the lawnmowers. This innovation streamlined their task, allowing simultaneous watering and mowing and reducing the water waste from free-flowing pipes.
In 10th grade, I began working on a vision protection device that provides active feedback to the user. EyeShift developed from my struggles with increasing vision-related issues during the pandemic. I showcased EyeShift at CRIKC-CII TechExpo, which taught me invaluable lessons in product development, including the importance of market readiness and user-centric design. My greatest challenge was making EyeShift affordable, with a target price of $20. There'll only be a marginal profit made per device to achieve this. However, this will be offset by revenue earned from an advanced subscription-based app that provides additional services like detailed analysis, study-focused tips, and improvement feedback. This experience was a turning point, pushing me to explore sustainable business models for healthcare, particularly for low-income families.
I job shadowed senior professors and doctors from the top National BioMedical Hub in India on the latest groundbreaking medical(engineering) technologies. Undertook reviewing on-going projects on the basis of improving patient healthcare, such as:
Filtration Systems - UVB Sterilization: The use of UVB light, as seen in systems like the Philips UV-C Disinfection System, helps in sterilizing air, reducing the spread of pathogens.
Lung Rhythm Mimicry in Ventilators: These devices mimic natural lung movements, crucial for effective respiratory support.
Predictive Health Monitoring: The exploration of using body part resonating frequencies for predictive diagnostics, with potential applications in early cancer detection.
As part of the LaunchX summer program, my teammates and I developed an interactive app that has fun games to help users with physiotherapy exercises for their necks. This app aims to gamify health goals for users in easy to understandable and digestible content. Our idea received a lot of positive feedback and appreciation from leading industry mentors. In my entire cohort, I was the only student to win the "Best Designer" award based on my performance and contributions in all the brainstorming and ideating sessions.
My team was also recognized for having one of the best start up pitches.