Navaneethan Santhanam
Data AnalystBuilding AI for Water
AI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
Building AI for Water
AI is analyzing your overall score…
Identifying your key strengths…
Evaluating your skill match against the job requirements…
Assessing your cultural and operational fit
Building systems to address water loss using AI and analytics. Exploring a variety of different topics: continuous learning systems, networks & spatial clustering, explainable AI. Building out a team of ML engineers, data scientists, and frontend+backend engineers. Interested in algorithms, human behaviour, and cities. Previously, I built production NLP systems at Freshworks. I've also worked in location & web analytics, neuroscience/cognition, and search.
The Johns Hopkins University
Master of Arts (MA), Psychological & Brain Sciences
January 1, 2012 – January 1, 2014
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
BS, Computer Science
January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2009
SmartTerra
Chief Scientist
September 1, 2020 – Present
Freshworks
Lead Machine Learning Engineer
October 1, 2019 – September 1, 2020
Greater Chennai Area
Freshworks
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
December 1, 2016 – October 1, 2019
Greater Chennai Area
SciSphere
Data Scientist
January 1, 2016 – December 1, 2016
Greater Chennai Area
Kissmetrics
Data Scientist
July 1, 2014 – August 1, 2015
San Francisco Bay Area
Johns Hopkins University
Graduate Researcher - Psychological & Brain Sciences
September 1, 2012 – May 1, 2014
Baltimore, Maryland
University of Chicago
Software Developer & Research Specialist
November 1, 2010 – July 1, 2012
Chicago, IL
Microsoft
Program Manager
June 1, 2009 – November 1, 2010
Redmond, WA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Undergraduate Researcher
May 1, 2008 – July 1, 2008
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology
Avidyne
Software Architecture & Integration Intern
May 1, 2007 – August 1, 2007
Tata Consultancy Services
Intern
January 1, 2006 – January 1, 2006
The Role of Orientation Cues in Human Spatial Navigation
May 1, 2014 – Present
I examined the types of navigational cues humans use to make decisions how to reach their destinations. Are we drawn to cues that help us globally orient, or do we seem to prefer cues that help us identify our current position in the environment? Since these aren't mutually exclusive possibilities, do we combine information from various sources to develop a richer representation of our environment?
Measuring Walkability around Metro train stations in Chennai, India
July 1, 2012 – Present
Chennai City Connect (July – August 2012) • Proactively contacted NGO & proposed idea of measuring walkability around local train stations • Conducted interviews/surveys of commuters and developed new method of grading walkability
MonkeyLogic
November 1, 2010 – July 1, 2012
MonkeyLogic is a MATLAB toolbox for the design and execution of psychophysical tasks with high temporal precision. It is structured to allow for the flexible construction of sensory, motor, or cognitive tasks that are based upon the interaction of a subject with visual stimuli through the use of eye-position, joystick, button, lever, and/or keyboard input.
Cultural Fit Analysis
The candidate has a diverse background spanning academic research, startups (SciSphere, Kissmetrics, SmartTerra), and large corporations (Microsoft, Freshworks). This breadth of experience suggests adaptability to different work environments. The projects demonstrate initiative and a desire to apply analytical skills to real-world problems, aligning with a results-oriented culture. However, the target role is 'Data Analyst' while the candidate's recent experience is heavily skewed towards 'Machine Learning Engineer' and 'Chief Scientist', which might indicate a potential mismatch in scope or seniority expectations for a pure analyst role. The projects are diverse, but the core focus has shifted from pure data analysis to more advanced ML/AI roles.
Soft Skills & Operational Fit
The candidate's project descriptions highlight proactive engagement (e.g., contacting NGOs, proposing ideas), problem-solving (identifying and resolving issues, re-architecting software), and collaboration (working with engineers, designers, researchers). Experience as a Program Manager at Microsoft also suggests strong organizational and project management skills. The academic research background indicates a methodical and analytical approach to problem-solving.