Manvi Jha of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The session “From Curiosity to Career: A Roadmap for Research Journey” was organized as part of the IEEE WIE Technical Lecture Series to inspire and guide students and early-career professionals interested in pursuing research. The talk was delivered by Ms. Manvi Jha, a researcher from the University of Illinois, USA, who shared her personal journey through the world of research, starting from inquisitive beginnings to contributing to impactful academic work. The session focused on how to identify one's research interests, navigate graduate studies, find mentorship, publish scholarly work, and build a research-oriented career. Ms. Jha emphasized the importance of resilience, critical thinking, and networking in research, while also shedding light on international opportunities and interdisciplinary collaborations. The talk offered attendees a valuable roadmap on transforming academic curiosity into a fulfilling research career.

Biography:

Manvi Jha is a researcher in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She completed her B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from NIT Patna. Her research lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Formal Verification, and Hardware Design, with a focus on how Large Language Models (LLMs) can assist in automated code generation and correctness verification.

One of her key contributions, PREFACE, introduces a novel reinforcement learning-based framework that enables AI systems to correct their own errors in formally verified programming environments like Dafny. Her work significantly contributes to the development of safe and trustworthy AI systems, particularly in areas like semiconductor design and safety-critical computing. Beyond her research, Manvi is passionate about mentoring students and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. She enjoys literature, art museums, and discovering music in her free time.

Email:

Address:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, , Urbana, Illinois, United States

Dr. Nazia Aslam of Visual Analysis and Perception Lab, Aalborg University, Denmark

As part of the IEEE WIE Celebration Week 2025, the IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group, UPES, organized an insightful Technical Discussion on the topic "Women in Tech: Challenges & Future Directions" on 25th June 2025. The session featured Dr. Nazia Aslam, a postdoctoral researcher at Aalborg University, Denmark, affiliated with the Visual Analysis and Perception (VAP) Lab. In this interactive and thought-provoking discussion, Dr. Aslam addressed the existing barriers faced by women in the tech industry, including underrepresentation, unconscious bias, and unequal opportunities. She also highlighted the emerging trends that are paving the way for more inclusive participation, such as ethical AI, data privacy, and responsible innovation. Drawing from her diverse experiences in academia and industry, she shared valuable insights on building sustainable and equitable careers in technology. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, offering attendees a platform to reflect on their own career paths and explore ways to overcome professional challenges in the evolving tech landscape.

Biography:

Dr. Nazia Aslam is a postdoctoral researcher at Aalborg University, Denmark, affiliated with the Visual Analysis and Perception (VAP) Lab. She received her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna, where her research focused on anomaly detection in video surveillance systems. Prior to joining the postdoc, she worked as a Technical Lead in the R&D unit of HCL Technologies, contributing to applied AI solutions in industry. Her current research centers on privacy-preserving computer vision, particularly image and video anonymization, data minimization, and the development of trustworthy AI systems in compliance with GDPR. She is especially interested in balancing privacy with utility in visual tasks, and her recent work explores penalty-driven anonymization frameworks that maintain task performance while reducing privacy leakage.

Email:

Address:Aalborg University, , Nordjyllands Amt, Denmark

Priya Ghodake of JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bengaluru, India.

The inaugural episode of InnoWIEtion Diaries titled “BITS to Big‑Bank Engineer Journey” featured a remarkable career path transformation, chronicling the guest’s evolution from a technical undergraduate at BITS (Birla Institute of Technology and Science) to a high-impact engineer at a leading financial institution. Through personal anecdotes, attendees gained rare insight into the challenges faced and opportunities seized along the way—from mastering core engineering principles and developing problem-solving skills, to adapting and scaling these strengths in the dynamic environment of banking technology. This engaging session emphasized the importance of continuous learning, cross-domain adaptability, and the pivotal role of mentorship. Finished with an interactive Q&A segment, the episode inspired aspiring engineers to spark their own journey from technical grounding to industry leadership in the financial tech arena.

Biography:

Priya Ghodake is a Software Development Engineer II (SDE-2) at JPMorgan Chase & Co., currently based in Bengaluru, India. A graduate of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani (2017–2022), she specializes in backend application development and has a demonstrated record of delivering robust, scalable software solutions. During her time at JPMorgan Chase, Priya has contributed to designing APIs, enhancing system performance, integrating microservices, and implementing data-driven features that support key financial services. Her core strengths include strong problem-solving skills, proficiency in server-side technologies, and collaborative working in agile environments. Priya’s passion lies in architecting high-performance backend systems and fostering innovation in financial technology.

Address:JP Morgan Chase & Co., , Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, 560021

ROBO XPLORE, organized by the IEEE WIE Affinity Group, UPES in collaboration with the Robotics Club, IIT BHU, was a dynamic and interactive session designed to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm for robotics among students. Held on June 29, 2025, as part of the IEEE WIE Celebration Week, the event featured insightful demonstrations, knowledge-sharing sessions, and live interactions with student leaders and robotics enthusiasts from IIT BHU. The session focused on bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications in robotics, encouraging participants to "Step In! Switch On! Explore Robotics!" With engaging talks by tech leads and secretaries, the event empowered attendees to explore innovation in automation, AI integration, and mechanical design. Active participants received e-certificates, making it a valuable learning and networking opportunity for all.