Chandana Tulluru

Austin, TX | ctulluru@gmail.com

I am a software engineer passionate about the intersection of AI research, privacy, and security. With experience in Generative AI, software development, and data-driven systems, I thrive on solving complex problems and building scalable, impactful solutions.

My long-term goal is to contribute to AI research and development, with a focus on identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in advanced technologies. Whether through developing innovative software or exploring research challenges, I am committed to creating a safer and more equitable digital world.

Experience

Software Engineer

Shellback Survival Systems Inc.
July 2023 - Present

At this early-stage startup, I worked with a collaborative team to develop a gunshot detection system, contributing to both backend and frontend development. On the backend, I collaborated and implemented scalable APIs using Node.js and Python, improving efficiency and ensuring secure data handling with JWT authentication and MS SQL Server.

I also contributed to synthetic data generation efforts to simulate diverse real-world scenarios, enhancing the system's testing capabilities and robustness. On the frontend, I helped create UIs using React, Next.js, Material UI, and Tailwind CSS, MapboxGL maps, which helps improve user engagement and experience.

Additionally, I participated in streamlining CI/CD pipelines in Azure, working on deployments and feature rollouts that reduced downtime by 30%. This role allowed me to gain valuable experience across the stack and contribute to impactful, real-world solutions in a dynamic startup environment.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Engineering Center, TTU
Jan 2023 - Dec 2023

As a Teaching Assistant, I supported professors in courses such as Operating Systems, Software Security, and Object-Oriented Programming Concepts. My responsibilities included mentoring students, assisting with assignments and projects, and automating the grading process using Bash scripts, which reduced manual effort by 40%.

Additionally, I gained hands-on experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems as part of the Operating Systems course. This involved working on Quanah nodes, submit and manage batch jobs on the university's nacona HPC cluster, optimizing resource utilization and streamlining computational workflows.

This role enhanced my ability to simplify technical concepts for students, apply advanced computing techniques, and develop efficient academic solutions.

Graduate Student Researcher

Computer Science Department, TTU
Aug 2022 - Dec 2022

My curiosity for advanced technologies and security research drove me to explore a range of impactful topics during my graduate studies:

  • Quantum Computing and Secure Communication: Researched quantum teleportation, secure communication protocols like quantum cryptography and key distribution, and worked with simulators like Sequence. Used Qiskit to learn, implement quantum algorithms and understand their practical applications.
  • High-Performance Computing (HPC): Optimized complex computations using CUDA, OpenMP, and MPI, and worked on the university’s Quanah HPC nodes for batch job processing.
  • Research Paper Management System: Contributed to a React-based platform with a Python backend and MongoDB, enabling secure paper storage and retrieval. Integrated OpenAI APIs for summarization and experimented with DALL-E for multimodal content generation.
  • Security Research: Conducted a red teaming exercise to identify vulnerabilities in Windows Defender, enhancing my interest in securing emerging technologies like AI and LLMs.

This diverse experience strengthened my skills in quantum computing, security, AI/ML, and HPC, laying a foundation for addressing vulnerabilities in advanced systems.

Python Developer (ML)

Jivass Technologies
Jan 2021 - December 2021

At Jivass Technologies, I transitioned a monolithic asset-tracking system into a microservices architecture using Python and Django, enhancing scalability and reliability. I contributed to building ETL pipelines for large-scale data ingestion and explored machine learning techniques for anomaly detection on AWS EC2 to improve system insights.

I also worked on a secure OTA update system for IoT devices, ensuring seamless and reliable firmware updates across distributed networks. This role deepened my understanding of integrating software, hardware, and system security while supporting data-driven decision-making through interactive dashboards.

IoT Intern

ECIL Pvt Ltd
May 2019 - Aug 2019

During my internship at ECIL, I developed a GPS tracking system, integrating it with an MIT App to provide real-time location updates. This experience gave me hands-on exposure to IoT systems and embedded systems, where I worked with microprocessors and microcontrollers to design efficient and scalable solutions.

Through this project, I deepened my understanding of hardware-software integration and gained valuable insights into developing real-time systems for practical applications.

Education

Texas Tech University

Master of Science

Major: Computer Science

Relevant Coursework: Advanced Operating Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Security (Software Security, Cryptography, Network Security, Digital Forensics), Quantum Computing

GPA: 3.66

Jan 2022 - Dec 2023

Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City

Bachelor of Technology

Major: Electronics and Communications Engineering

Relevant Coursework: Pattern Recognition, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Embedded Systems

GPA: 3.8

August 2017 - May 2021

Projects

AI/ML Projects

  • CrewAI: Agentic Workflow Automation: Designing an AI-agentic workflow leveraging reinforcement learning and LLMs to automate decision-making in collaborative environments. The system optimizes tasks by using LLM-based agents to streamline complex workflows and reduce manual intervention.
  • Abstract Summarization with Contextual Information: Built a RAG model with BART to summarize research papers, integrating Dense Passage Retrieval (DPR) for contextual relevance. Achieved a 10% improvement in ROUGE-L scores compared to baseline models.
  • Red Teaming on LLMs: Developed a framework to identify vulnerabilities in GPT-2 models, fine-tuning them with Hugging Face and RLHF datasets. Enhanced AI security by mitigating adversarial susceptibilities in 80% of tested models.
  • Night Security - Crime Detection: Developed a mobile app using Flutter SDK with GPS navigation and hardware components like Raspberry Pi for real-time crime detection. Incorporated pre-trained object and emotion recognition models.

Software Development Projects

  • Real-Time Collaboration Platform: Designed a multi-user collaboration tool using MongoDB, Express.js, and WebSockets, enabling seamless multi-user interaction. Implemented JWT authentication for secure sessions.
  • Research Paper Management System: Created a React-based platform with a Python backend and MongoDB, integrating OpenAI APIs for summarization. Enhanced user accessibility with a secure user management system.
  • Secure Healthcare System: Developed a secure healthcare system using Java, implementing SMS-based 2-factor authentication and threat modeling to protect patient data.

Cybersecurity Projects

  • Windows Defender Vulnerability Research: Conducted a red teaming exercise to identify vulnerabilities in Windows Defender, proposing actionable solutions to enhance system security.
  • Denial of Service (DoS) Attack Simulation: Simulated DoS and DDoS attacks using Mininet, collecting traffic data with Wireshark to analyze the impact on network performance and evaluate mitigation strategies.

Skills

Programming Languages & Tools
  • Python, JavaScript (React, Node.js, Next.js, Angular), Java, C++, Bash
  • Databases: MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MS SQL Server
  • AI/ML Tools: PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenAI APIs, Hugging Face, LangChain
  • Cloud Platforms: AWS (SageMaker, EC2), Azure, Docker, Kubernetes
  • Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, Google Data Studio
Workflow
  • Agile Development & Scrum
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • API Development & Integration
  • CI/CD Pipelines & DevOps Practices
  • Version Control: Git, GitHub

Interests

Apart from my professional work, I am deeply interested in exploring advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and data security. I also enjoy contributing to open-source projects, participating in challenges and staying up-to-date with emerging technologies.

Outside of tech, I love travelling, reading books, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and watching science fiction movies. These activities help me stay creative and balanced in my personal and professional life.

Awards & Certifications

  • IBM Quantum Challenge 2023
  • Scholarship - 2022 to 2023
  • Member of IOTA club - IIIT Sri City