Applied Mathematics Graduate · SciPy Open-Source Contributor | Aspiring Data Analyst | Northeastern Outstanding Service Awardee | Academic Math Mentor for Underrepresented Youths

Kushala Rani Talakad Manjunath

Transforming complex data into strategic insights that drive impact.

Applied mathematics graduate blending engineering precision with machine learning innovation. I build end-to-end analytical solutions, from deep learning models and predictive systems to compelling visualizations that empower education programs and guide data-driven decisions grounded in evidence.

Portrait of Kushala Rani Talakad Manjunath

About

I'm a problem-solver at heart, combining the precision of engineering with the power of mathematics to tackle real-world challenges through data. With an MS in Applied Mathematics from Northeastern University and a foundation in Civil Engineering, I bring a unique perspective to data analysis; one grounded in both rigorous mathematical theory and practical application. Today I work as a Program Analyst at Northeastern, where I clean and audit cross-institutional enrollment data for a city-funded youth employment initiative, and as a Research Assistant validating Mathieu special functions for SciPy, work that put my name in the acknowledgements of a peer-reviewed paper. My projects span detecting gravitational waves with deep learning, forecasting foreign exchange markets, analyzing climate patterns for infrastructure planning, and building production websites for real clients.

What drives me is the moment when complex data reveals its story. Whether I'm building predictive models in Python, conducting statistical analysis in R, or creating spatial visualizations with GIS, I'm constantly seeking patterns that inform better decisions. My engineering background taught me to think systematically about problems; my mathematical training gave me the tools to solve them with precision. Beyond the technical work, I'm passionate about making STEM accessible. I've mentored over 100 students, helping them discover their own analytical capabilities, an experience that's sharpened my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and work effectively across diverse teams. Currently, I'm seeking full-time Analyst roles where analytical rigor meets practical impact in data, business, or research analytics where I can leverage my interdisciplinary expertise to drive meaningful outcomes, and I'm open to relocation across the USA. I thrive in environments that value curiosity, collaboration, and the transformative power of data-driven insights.

Let's connect if you're working on challenges that need both mathematical precision and creative problem-solving.

Education

Northeastern University

M.S. Applied Mathematics · GPA 3.458
Boston, MA Jan 2024 – Dec 2025

Graduate coursework across deep learning, applied statistics, and numerical analysis with research-driven projects that pair mathematical rigor with deployable machine learning solutions.

Neural Networks Machine Learning Applied Statistics Numerical Analysis

JSS Science and Technology University

B.E. Civil Engineering · CGPA 8.83
Mysore, India Aug 2019 – Jul 2023

Built a strong foundation in structural analysis, geospatial technologies, transportation systems, and design, skills that complement data-driven modeling and decision making.

Matrix Structural Analysis Geospatial Technologies Highway Engineering Advanced RC Design Urban Planning

Skills

Programming Languages

  • Python logoPython
  • R logoR
  • MATLAB logoMATLAB
  • SQL database iconSQL
  • C programming logoC
  • Jupyter logoJupyter Notebook

Machine Learning Frameworks

  • TensorFlow logoTensorFlow
  • PyTorch logoPyTorch
  • Keras logoKeras
  • NLP iconNLP
  • pandas logoPandas
  • NumPy logoNumPy

Data Analysis & Visualization

  • scikit-learn logoScikit-learn
  • QGIS logoQGIS
  • Matplotlib logoMatplotlib
  • Seaborn logoSeaborn
  • ggplot2 logoGgplot2
  • Microsoft Power BI logoPower BI

Tools & Platforms

  • CAD iconCAD
  • AutoCAD logoAutoCAD
  • STAAD PRO logoSTAAD PRO
  • Google Sheets logoGoogle Sheets
  • LaTeX logoLaTeX
  • Microsoft Office logoMicrosoft Office Suite

Experience

Own the data behind a city-funded youth employment initiative serving 3,000+ students across 15+ Boston schools, turning enrollment and payroll records into decisions leadership can act on.

  • Collect, clean, and audit cross-institutional enrollment data across 120+ participant records, applications, and work permits.
  • Resolve discrepancies across payroll, logistics, and enrollment data with students, families, counselors, and HR/Payroll partners.
  • Synthesize program performance into stakeholder-facing summaries for city and university leadership; represented the program at the 2026 futureBOS Youth Jobs & Resource Fair alongside 100+ organizations.
  • Data Auditing
  • SQL
  • Stakeholder Reporting
  • Compliance

Validate Mathieu special functions for SciPy, with contributions merged into the official open-source repository and acknowledged in a peer-reviewed academic paper.

  • Converted MATLAB prototypes to Python, preserving numerical accuracy and performance characteristics across platforms.
  • Built automated test frameworks with golden-value reference datasets covering 500+ parameter combinations using orthogonality checks and Wronskian identity tests.
  • Developed diagnostic heatmap visualizations communicating numerical stability against DLMF standards; contributed test-suite code, bug reports, and documentation.
  • SciPy
  • Python
  • MATLAB
  • Numerical Analysis

Ran the operational and analytical backbone of a six-week STEM summer program serving 100+ underrepresented students across 15+ partner schools.

  • Tracked and analyzed a ~$250K program budget with Excel and SQL dashboards monitoring enrollment, scheduling, and resource utilization.
  • Designed and distributed Microsoft Forms surveys, then analyzed responses into reports guiding class placement, staffing, and event logistics.
  • Supported intern and mentor onboarding while tracking attendance and engagement KPIs across Calculus Field Day and R/Python data science workshops.
  • Budget Analysis
  • Excel Dashboards
  • Survey Analysis
  • Operations

Guided 30+ undergraduates through end-to-end data analysis projects, advising on statistical method selection, feature engineering, and technical communication.

  • Advised projects spanning health analytics, energy conservation, recommendation systems, and nutrition and transit classification.
  • Reviewed methodology for statistical rigor across regression, classification, and optimization in Python, R, and MATLAB.
  • Graded milestones and final presentations against rubrics, giving written feedback on technical accuracy and communication of findings.
  • Statistical Modeling
  • Python
  • R
  • Mentorship

Projects

Homepage of electroniscript.com, the Personal Supercomputing Systems site

ElectroniScript Website Development

2026 Client Web Project

Designed and built electroniscript.com, the live production site for Personal Supercomputing Systems, a Boston vendor of reconditioned GPU servers and workstations for research computing.

  • Built a responsive, accessible multi-page site with home, systems, software, about, and quote request pages.
  • Structured dense hardware specifications into scannable comparisons buyers can act on.
  • Handled the full delivery path (design, build, deployment, and handover) as the sole developer.
HTML CSS JavaScript Responsive Design
View case study →
Time-frequency spectrogram of LIGO strain data used to train the CNN

Detecting Gravitational Waves with CNNs

Jan 2025 – Apr 2025 Graduate Research

Developed a deep learning system that distinguishes gravitational wave signatures inside noisy LIGO GWOSC data, making astrophysical detection reproducible for research collaborators.

  • Implemented wavelet transforms and spectral analysis to boost signal-to-noise ratios pre-training.
  • Built a CNN architecture that identifies BBH, BNS, and NSBH events and surfaced GW170817 with 90% confidence.
  • Delivered interpretability through Grad-CAM overlays so scientists can validate each detection.
Python TensorFlow Signal Processing Scientific Data
View case study →
Daily EUR/USD closing price over 6,119 observations against its all-time mean

Foreign Exchange Rate Forecasting

Jan 2024 – Apr 2024 Graduate Project

Engineered a hybrid forecasting workflow for EUR/USD that combines classical statistics with deep learning to surface actionable trading signals.

  • Analyzed 6,119 observations using ARIMA, RNN, and CNN models to capture linear and nonlinear trends.
  • Crafted feature pipelines with technical indicators, lag variables, and rolling statistics.
  • Evaluated accuracy via walk-forward analysis using RMSE, MAE, and directional accuracy benchmarks.
Python R TensorFlow Time Series
View case study →
Correlation matrix of student lockdown time-allocation and health variables

COVID-19 Impact on Student Behavior

Jan 2025 – Apr 2025 Statistical Analysis

Modeled how lockdown time-allocation, digital behavior, and health outcomes interact across 1,182 student survey responses to surface what actually protected wellbeing.

  • Applied chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic and ordinal regression in R to predict weight change and learning satisfaction.
  • Resolved missing values and categorical inconsistencies to validate survey data quality before modeling.
  • Found physical activity to be a critical protective factor and tablet users to report the highest engagement.
R Regression ANOVA Survey Analysis
View case study →

Community Impact

Academic Support Volunteer · Bridge to Calculus Zoom Question Center

Holding open virtual office hours so Boston Public Schools students always have somewhere to bring a math question they're stuck on.

I volunteer in the Bridge to Calculus Zoom Question Center, a live drop-in space where students from the summer STEM program bring precalculus and calculus questions as they work through problem sets. Sessions are unscripted; students arrive with whatever is blocking them that evening, from factoring and trigonometric identities to limits, derivatives, and applications of integration.

Working one-on-one over screen share taught me to diagnose a misunderstanding quickly and rebuild the concept from the student's own reasoning rather than handing over an answer. I keep the room welcoming for students who are hesitant to ask questions in a classroom, and I track recurring sticking points so program staff know which topics need more instructional time.

The Question Center is where I see the program's impact most directly: students who start the summer unsure whether calculus is for them leave with the habit of asking for help and the confidence to keep going in STEM.

  • Virtual Tutoring
  • Calculus & Precalculus
  • STEM Access

Volunteer Mathematics Instructor · Make A Difference NGO

Giving back through education by supporting final-year high school students from underserved communities for two years.

Volunteered as an Academic Teacher with Make A Difference, a renowned NGO in India dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through education. For over two years, I taught advanced mathematics to final-year high school students, covering a comprehensive curriculum including Matrices, Determinants, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Relations and Functions, Continuity and Differentiability, Applications of Derivatives, Integrals, Differential Equations, Vectors and 3-Dimensional Geometry, Linear Programming, and Probability.

My commitment extended beyond traditional teaching; I invested dedicated time and personalized effort to ensure each student not only understood complex mathematical concepts but could apply them confidently. The results spoke for themselves: all my students excelled in their academics, achieving success in their final examinations and building a strong foundation for future educational pursuits.

This experience reinforced my belief in education as a transformative tool and strengthened my ability to break down complex ideas into accessible concepts, a skill that now informs my approach to data science and analytical problem-solving. Working with MAD taught me that the greatest impact comes from meeting people where they are and empowering them with knowledge that opens doors to opportunity.

  • Advanced Mathematics
  • Curriculum Delivery
  • Mentorship

Let's Connect

I'm always excited to explore opportunities where applied mathematics and civil engineering create measurable impact. Reach out to collaborate on research, join forces on a project, or chat about the latest in data-driven engineering.

Location
Boston, MA
"The best way to predict the future is to create it through engineering, data-driven insights, and mathematical precision."