Aashish Rai Email & Phone Number

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Leading initiatives in data science and statistics to improve predictability, reliability, and forecasting. Automating workflows and democratizing data to expand the capability of various teams.

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Employee #1 at Toplyne, a Sequoia and Tiger Global-backed AI platform, where the future of product led growth is being built. From the very first predictive machine learning model to automated data pipelines that enable many incredible software companies to increase their revenue. Whether that's finding free users who are likely to pay or finding paying users who are likely to pay more, we find the "needle in the haystack".

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Data Engineer and Business AssociateWorking in a start-up means using all one's skills to make a difference. I have taken the lead in collecting and analysing data to provide insights into possible improvements. I continuously communicate with the testing team to understand motor/battery performance and recommend necessary future testing. As an analyst, I investigate alternative technologies that could be a part of future business strategy.

Golden, Colorado

The Biorefinery Analysis Group conducts techno-economic analysis and process modeling on various chemical pathways in renewable energy. In my first project, I used Aspen Plus to develop a model that converted a biomass stream to a biofuel product through a transesterification reaction. The second project had me diagnose a multiple hierarchy Aspen flowsheet with many possible products from an Algae feed. Diesel and Naphtha were primary products, with co-products of succinic acid and 'animal feed'. A final excel tool was produced that allowed users without Aspen to simulate the process and analyze how the final fuel price would alter with changing input parameters, co-product value and economic assumptions. Another project had me finalize models and research papers on biogas/methane to product pathways. For these projects, detailed economic analysis is constructed through a Discounted Cash Flow Rate of Return methodology that uses capital expenditures, operating expenditures, internal rate of return, and tax considerations to provide a parameter called the Minimum Fuel Selling Price (MFSP). This parameter enables researchers to understand how close technological pathways are to commercialization and provides navigation for what aspects must be improved within individual pathways. The MFSP allows research institutes to compare the competitiveness of different technological pathways and accordingly allocate funding appropriately. Finally, I created an Excel VBA tool that can automatically run many process scenarios and generate financial parameters, that could be used by the group to become more efficient.

West Lafayette, Indiana

Undergraduate Researcher under Dr. Rakesh AgrawalSpring 2018 for credits, Full time paid Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)Although working during the semester provided an opportunity to understand research techniques, SURF was a complete experience which started in a detailed literature search and culminated in a technical presentation to the Solar Energy Research Group and a simplified poster in an open formal symposium. Working full-time as a researcher in the laboratory, I developed a great relationship with the solar team, where I had to receive and provide input, so that I could further my work and help the group. As even the slightest contaminant can ruin any laboratory experiment, I had to be extremely patient and detail oriented. Outside of the laboratory, I had the privilege of captaining my SURF Soccer team to the semi-finals and attending seminars that showed me how professors develop solutions in a variety of fields. Overall, I coupled traditional methods of producing nanoparticles with recent advancements in amine-thiol chemistry to develop a novel impurity-free route of producing solution processed solar cells. The synthesis method had a successful proof of concept, and I varied multiple parameters to optimize nanoparticle properties which were analyzed through Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction. In conclusion, this new synthesis route is viable, warranting future work to extend its applicability to other material systems. This could enhance the ability to fabricate uniform thin films over large area substrates, thus reducing the overall cost of solar energy production. Given that some of the results are unpublished, only the title and abstract of my paper are displayed in the link below.

India

Evaluated waste to energy technologies as an alternative to solar in order to improve rural livelihoods. The technology investigated was biomass gasifiers, and its ability to make self-sustaining systems. Rice husk is usually a waste by-product of rice processing and I analyzed whether enough could be accumulated to produce electricity through a biomass gasifier. The second application was thermal and in the plate making industry. An Areca nut is a special fruit which is typically processed and consumed, with its shell being a constant source of waste. At present, the leaf of the areca palm is heat pressed into disposable plates and utensils, generating plenty of waste in the form of leaf scrap. The possibility of using these wastes in a biomass gasifier to produce a flame as a means to replace the current LPG bunsen burner in the heat press was examined. If enough waste can be accumulated and efficiently used, a self-sustaining system where the waste powers the original process is ideal.I communicated with companies to build partnerships and obtain techno-commercial details as this was imperative to move the project forward. In order to check the viability of the technology, both theoretical and on-site investigation of biomass gasifiers was conducted by determining the payback period, required engineering modifications and understanding the logistics of implementation in off-grid locations.

West Lafayette, Indiana

Undergraduate Researcher under Dr. Enrico MartinezCoffee is one of the most traded and consumed products in the world. Extracting oil from spent coffee grounds provides a non-conventional source of lipids. In this research project, I conducted experiments using a reactor with the aim of producing jet fuel from coffee and vegetable castor oil. First, previously conducted experiments were examined for possible improvements and up-scaling. Then, reactions were carried out and the products were analyzed using gas chromatography. The quality of the fuel product determines its eligibility in the aviation industry.

Bachelor’S Degree, Chemical Engineering, Graduated - Gpa:3.91/4.0

Activities and Societies: Student Fundraiser at Rally Line - communicated with possible donors to raise money for research, various causes.

High School, Science And Economics, Final Grade: 90%

Activities and Societies: Student Body Government, Class Representative: Obtained one of only two possible positions in my class.