Soma Dhavala
About Soma Dhavala
Soma Dhavala is the Director of Machine Learning at Wadhwani AI, with a strong background in electrical engineering, statistics, and computational mathematics. He is also a dedicated volunteer teacher at Purnapramati - A Centre for Integrated Learning and has held various roles in academia and industry, focusing on applying artificial intelligence for social good.
Current Role at Wadhwani AI
Soma Dhavala serves as the Director of Machine Learning at Wadhwani AI, a position held since 2023. In this role, Dhavala focuses on applying artificial intelligence for social good, utilizing a design, build, operate, and transfer model. This position builds on previous experience at Wadhwani AI, where Dhavala worked as a Principal ML Scientist from 2020 to 2022.
Previous Experience at Framewirk
Prior to joining Wadhwani AI, Soma Dhavala worked as a Consultant at Framewirk from 2018 to 2019 in the Bengaluru Area, India. This role contributed to Dhavala's expertise in machine learning and consulting within the technology sector.
Educational Background
Soma Dhavala has a diverse educational background. Dhavala earned a Ph.D. in Statistics from Texas A&M University from 2005 to 2010. Following this, Dhavala studied Electrical Engineering at Iowa State University from 2003 to 2005. Earlier education includes a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication from Andhra University.
Commitment to Education and Volunteering
Soma Dhavala has a strong commitment to education, volunteering as a teacher at Purnapramati - A Centre for Integrated Learning since 2017. This role involves teaching and mentoring students, emphasizing the integration of theory and practical coding in machine learning projects.
Experience in Research and Academia
Soma Dhavala has extensive experience in research and academia. Dhavala worked as a Senior Biologist at Dow AgroSciences from 2011 to 2013 and held various research positions, including Associate Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher at Texas A&M University. Additionally, Dhavala served as a Visiting Faculty at PES University in 2019.