About

¹   Hi everyone! My name is Priyadarshi, although almost everyone calls me Darshi, a shortened version of my name that has gradually become my preferred name as well.

I was born and brought up in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, where I completed my schooling before embarking on a journey nearly 1,300 kms away to pursue my undergraduate studies at IIT (BHU), Varanasi. Admission to the institute came through the JEE Advanced examination, where I secured an All India Rank of 6110. Mathematics was undeniably my strongest suit, accounting for nearly 40% of my overall score, and remains one of my enduring intellectual interests.

I was admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering, a discipline for which I admittedly possessed little intrinsic enthusiasm. Initially, I aspired to change my branch, but circumstances unfolded differently. In retrospect, that unexpected detour proved invaluable, compelling me to explore diverse domains until I discovered a profound fascination with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. What began as curiosity gradually evolved into a genuine academic and professional pursuit.

Fun fact: During my undergraduate studies, I took eight mathematics-intensive courses: Engineering Mathematics I & II, Numerical Techniques, Topology and Functional Analysis, Probability and Statistics, Finite Element Analysis, Differential Equations, and Stochastic Processes. I even wrote a Reddit post reflecting on the experience.

During my undergraduate years, I had the privilege of interning at BARC, Mumbai, where I worked on research-oriented AI applications. Today, I am employed as an AI Consultant at Sirius AI, contributing to the development of intelligent solutions for the financial services sector. Beyond my professional work, I remain deeply interested in open-source software, local language models, browser-based AI, and the elegant interplay between mathematics, algorithms, and systems engineering.

Beyond academics, I became actively involved with the IIT (BHU) Quiz Club, where I had the privilege of representing the institute in several prestigious Science, Business, and Technology quizzes. As a member of Team 1, I competed at events such as Inter-IIT, Nihilanth (Inter-IIT & IIM), and Rendezvous (IIT Delhi). Among my notable achievements was securing 3rd place at Rendezvous 2024, competing against hundreds of participants, alongside qualifying for the finals of numerous national-level competitions. I also served as the Joint Secretary of the Quiz Club, where I was responsible for managing the club’s operations, finances, events, and internal administration while coordinating with members and organizing competitive quiz initiatives.

To explore my technical background and professional experience, click here.