Rohan Sawahn
Software Engineer & Research Scientist in AI/ML for Good
Hey there! I am Rohan, a software engineer and research scientist working with NASA Harvest, focusing on applying machine learning and computer vision to agriculture and food security.
About
I work at the intersection of high-performance distributed systems, computer vision, and remote sensing. My focus is on developing geospatial processing systems that enable timely predictions in rapid response situations. I hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Hasso-Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany, where I worked on efficient tiny object detection for search and rescue missions, supported by a scholarship from the Heinrich-Böll Foundation. I’ve worked in a variety of fields from industry at Siemens Energy, to consultance with a start-up and research in academia and as a research partner for companies like Rolls Royce and Takeda.
Beyond my work in Tech for Food Securiy with NASA Harvest, I have been fortunate to contribute to a variety of different other fields, a few of them being:
- Wildlife Conservation as a technical advisor for Interspecies Money (Now Tehanu) and through my prior work with ConservationXLabs on wildlife re-identification.
- Maritime Search and Rescue working on long-distance drones for NGOs that conduct maritime search and rescue missions in cooperation with Searchwing.
Interests
I’m passionate about leveraging technology for social good and co-creating solutions with impacted communities. My interests span across fields that deliver real-world impact: Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security, Wildlife Conservation, Climate Change and Social and Economic Issues. I am also a strong beleiver of Open Science and good Science Communication, Governance of AI and global access to technological innovation.
From a technological point of view, I am interested in engineering robust software system that enable large scale data processing, developing ML/DL solutions in computer visions and exploring how to combine physical models with data driven approaches.
Outside of work, I enjoy the outdoors - hiking, long-distance bicycle travelling, and playing volleyball. I also enjoy making music and playing around with hardware projects.
Recent News
- November 2024 - NASA Harvest: Started a new position as a software engineer & research scientist with NASA’s Food Security and Agricultural Program “NASA Harvest”!
- November 2024 - Better World Award: Received the “Better World Award” for my Masters Thesis.
- October 2024 - Master of Science: Completed my Masters in Computer Science (IT-Systems Engineering) with Distinction at the Hasso-Plattner Institute in Potsdam, Germany.