Hi, my name is Nikhil Narra
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About Me

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I'm Nikhil Narra, a passionate and detail-oriented graduate with a strong foundation in computer science and a keen interest in research and process optimization. With prior work experience at Deloitte, I have honed my skills in data-driven analysis and technical innovation. My academic journey at Virginia Tech, where I completed my Master's in Computer Science, has deepened my knowledge and expanded my capabilities. Having completed my studies, I am actively seeking full-time employment opportunities where I can leverage my skills to contribute meaningfully to an organization and make a positive impact.

Outside of work and academics, I have a diverse range of interests and hobbies that help me maintain a balanced and creative life. I am an avid car enthusiast and enjoy immersing myself in the world of automotive design and engineering. Additionally, I have a creative side that I explore through writing screenplays and diving into captivating books. When it's time to unwind, you'll often find me engaged in video games. These passions not only provide an escape from the rigors of academia but also contribute to my problem-solving abilities and my ability to think outside the box in both my academic and professional pursuits.

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Work Experience

Blackhawk Network

Software Developer

Apr. 2025 - Present | Coppell, TX

As a Software Developer at Blackhawk Network, I am responsible for developing and maintaining software solutions that power the company's digital gift card and payment services platform. My role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions that enhance the customer experience and drive business growth.

Virginia Tech

Interactive Visualization Engineer

Jan. 2023 - Apr. 2025 | Blacksburg, VA

I was engaged as an Interactive Visualization Engineer with Virginia Tech's Advanced Research Computing, working alongside Dr. Nicholas Polys, focusing on high-performance, web-based, and immersive visualizations. My work involved utilizing X3D and X3DOM for dynamic visualization projects and developing applications that contributed to the forefront of visualization technology in a research-intensive environment.

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Virginia Tech

Computer Science Specialist

Jan. 2023 - Apr. 2025 | Blacksburg, VA

As a Computer Science Specialist at Virginia Tech's Center for Rural Education, I was involved in a project under the guidance of Research Scientist Dr. Rachelle Kuehl and Director Dr. Amy Azano. My primary responsibility was leading the full lifecycle development of a full stack online survey analysis tool. This role underscored my commitment to leveraging technology to forge a positive impact, particularly in enhancing educational tools and resources for rural communities.

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Deloitte

Analyst

Jul. 2021 - Dec. 2023 | Hyderabad, India

During my tenure as an Analyst, I embarked on a dynamic and enriching journey that allowed me to apply and further develop my skills in the field of technology and business. As a member of the USI Digital Enablement Team, I was entrusted with significant responsibilities that encompassed various aspects of Salesforce development and system enhancement.

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Key Achievements at Deloitte



Education

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Master's in Computer Science
Jan. 2023 - Dec. 2024 | Blacksburg, VA


During my pursuit of a Master's in Computer Science at Virginia Tech, my primary focus was on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This interdisciplinary approach provided me with a comprehensive understanding of these fields, allowing me to develop expertise in designing, optimizing, and building software systems, working with cutting-edge AI technologies, and ensuring user-friendly and intuitive interfaces. This educational journey equipped me with a versatile skill set to contribute effectively to various technology-driven endeavors.

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Bachelor's in Computer Science & Engineering
Jul. 2017 - Jul. 2021 | Hyderabad, India


My undergraduate journey at Malla Reddy College of Engineering & Technology was a pivotal chapter in my academic and professional development. Pursuing a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Engineering, I gained a strong foundation in core computer science concepts and engineering principles. This comprehensive program not only equipped me with essential technical skills but also nurtured my problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking. Graduating with distinction and holding three on-campus placement offers before graduating, I left the institution with a solid academic background that laid the groundwork for my continued pursuit of excellence in the field of computer science.

Projects

TL;DW

Too Long; Didn't Watch (TL;DW) is an innovative application designed to address the challenges of information overload and shortening attention spans in the digital era. TL;DW enables users to interact with and quickly comprehend the essence of lengthy video content. The technology behind TL;DW integrates large language models (LLMs) and video encoders to create a natural, conversational interface for video analysis. Key features include on-demand video summarization, keyword-based prompt recommendations, and navigation to specific video segments guided by AI-generated responses.

Technology and Datasets: The application is built using Streamlit and incorporates Langchain components such as FAISS ChatOpenAI and OpenAIEmbeddings. This setup facilitates an effective method of extracting and concatenating video frame captions and audio transcriptions, enhancing the AI's contextual understanding and interaction accuracy​​.

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Know My Recipe

The ongoing Know My Recipe project is an innovative social media platform designed to revolutionize the way food enthusiasts share and discover recipes. Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, this advanced solution combines social media functionalities with cutting-edge technology to deliver an unparalleled culinary experience. Know My Recipe offers AI-powered recipe recommendations tailored to users' preferences and dietary restrictions, and an interactive recipe creation tool that provides step-by-step guidance and real-time ingredient substitution suggestions.

Technology and Datasets: The application is built using a modern tech stack comprising JavaScript, Express.js, React.js, MongoDB, and Node.js. The backend is hosted on Heroku, while the frontend leverages React.js for a smooth and responsive user experience. OpenAI's language models are integrated to power the AI-driven features, enabling natural language processing and intelligent recipe recommendations. The application also utilizes GitLab for version control and collaboration among developers.

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IntelliMeet

In this academic project, I led the development of an end-to-end decentralized video conferencing application with advanced AI capabilities. The application aimed to provide users with a seamless and innovative video conferencing experience. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as Python, PyTorch, OpenCV, and OpenAI, we incorporated features like facial analysis, speech-text conversion, and personalized attentiveness reports. This not only improved the quality of communication but also enhanced user engagement during video conferences. Additionally, we integrated Socket.IO and PyAudio to facilitate real-time communication improvements, ensuring smooth and efficient interactions among users.

Technology and Datasets: We harnessed Python, PyTorch, OpenCV, and OpenAI for AI-driven functionalities. Datasets such as WIDER, IJB-C, and MuST-C were utilized to train and fine-tune AI models for enhanced performance. This project showcased my proficiency in AI technologies and my ability to apply them to create user-centric solutions for real-world communication challenges.

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Personalized Spotify Playlist Generator

As a personal project, I designed and developed a personalized playlist generator that caters to individual user preferences. Using Python, I seamlessly integrated the spotipy library for Python and employed HTTP Requests to ensure secure user data retrieval and privacy. The goal was to create a music recommendation system that could curate playlists based on users' musical tastes and preferences. To accomplish this, a robust backend was created using Flask, a Python web framework, to handle user requests and interact with the Spotify Web API. This project not only demonstrated my programming skills but also my ability to build practical applications that enhance user experiences.

Technology and Datasets: The project utilized Python, spotipy library, HTTP Requests, and Flask to build the playlist generator and backend. It showcased my proficiency in web development and API integration. The dataset used primarily consisted of user data and music preferences from the Spotify Web API, enabling the system to generate tailored playlists based on individual user inputs.

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COVID-19 Outbreak Predictor

In this academic project, I developed a comprehensive dashboard that provided real-time statistics on COVID-19 cases and had the capability to predict the number of cases for the following week. Leveraging a wide range of technologies, including Python, Prophet, Matplotlib, NumPy, and Pandas, along with datasets from reputable sources tracking COVID-19 cases, we aimed to create a data-driven tool for monitoring and predicting the spread of the pandemic. This dashboard not only offered valuable insights into the evolving situation but also contributed to informed decision-making during the global health crisis.

Technology and Datasets: The project utilized Python for data analysis and visualization, including libraries like Prophet for time series forecasting, Matplotlib for data visualization, and NumPy and Pandas for data manipulation. Datasets from trusted organizations tracking COVID-19 cases worldwide were used as the primary data source. This project showcased my proficiency in data analytics and my commitment to leveraging technology for addressing critical real-world challenges.

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Fun Fact: I used AI to generate the images you see for each project!

Achievements

A Generalized Web3D API for Metaverse Bookmarks

Nikhil Narra, Anuj Marisetty, Nicholas Polys, and Ben Sandbrook.

Web3D '25: Proceedings of the 30th International Conference on 3D Web Technology

This paper introduces a schema and API for a Web3D Bookmarking system that enables interoperable sharing of precise, user-generated 3D scene contexts.

Paper DOI

X3Test: A Headless Browser-Based Framework for Automated Performance Benchmarking

Nikhil Narra, Anuj Marisetty, Nicholas Polys, and Ben Sandbrook.

Web3D '25: Proceedings of the 30th International Conference on 3D Web Technology

An automated testing and performance benchmarking framework designed to address the absence of dedicated tools for X3D scenes on the web.

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Spot Award

2022

Received a spot award as part of the FY'23 Deloitte Rewards and Recognition (R&R) Program for rapid learning, independent leadership, and technical expertise in managing critical tasks.

Web3D/Metaverse Tool/Pipeline Innovation of the Year

2025

3rd Place Winner at the Web3D/Metaverse Tools Competition held as part of Web 3D 2025: The 30th International ACM Conference on Web3D Technology in Siena, Italy.



Contact

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or drop an email using the links below.

I'm looking forward to connecting with you!