My Journey in the IASc Summer Research Fellowship at the University of Hyderabad

During my 2nd year, I was on the lookout for internships and feeling the pressure to find something worthwhile. I searched everywhere, but nothing seemed to click. Then, I came across the Indian Academy of Sciences’ Summer Research Fellowship Program 2024 — a prestigious opportunity that felt like a dream come true. I knew right then that I had to apply for it.

Application process:

To apply for the program, you need to create an account on the SRFP portal, where you’ll enter basic information like your college details and address. The portal also asks for your grades from the 10th grade to your most recent semester. You’ll also need to write a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and get a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from one of your professors. I went to my DSA professor for the LOR, and he was really helpful with it. From what I observed, the SOP and LOR are very important parts of the application.

Selection process:

After submitting your application, the SRFP portal will announce the selected names. Only about 200 to 250 students are chosen from all over India, making it quite competitive. When I saw my name on the list, I was thrilled. Within two days, I received a formal letter from them assigning me to my guide at the University of Hyderabad. It was an exciting moment to know I’d been accepted.

My journey:

My journey began with a bit of humor — when I first met my guide, Dr. Siba K. Udgata, I was struck by his impressive reputation and the extensive research he had conducted. Despite his high status, he had a friendly, joking manner that immediately put me at ease. Dr. Udgata and his PhD scholars had been working on Wi-Fi sensing for years, and he encouraged me to dive into this fascinating field, emphasizing its future importance.

I spent the first week learning about Wi-Fi sensing and quickly got involved in assisting the PhD scholars with their experiments. I used the ESP32-CSI-Tool to collect Channel State Information (CSI) data from the ESP32 module, which helped measure changes in Wi-Fi signals. This data allowed us to recognize human activities, gestures, person identification, and fall detection. We analyzed the CSI data using signal processing techniques and machine learning algorithms to achieve these results.

I submitted my 4-week and 8-week reports to IASc Bangalore by post, and they accepted them. Overall, it was a great experience. I learned a lot and enjoyed working on exciting research projects.

Perks:

Students usually receive a stipend of ₹12,500 per month. They also get a travel allowance for third-class AC train travel to and from their host institute. Additionally, students typically receive an internship certificate.