Naturally, the consensus in CSE is that all department grads are brilliant. Now Popular Science magazine has declared Santosh Kumar (Ph.D. '06) as one of its Brilliant 10, America's Young Geniuses. This list has been compiled for the past 9 years. During a six-month process, Popular Science approaches hundreds of scientists, university department heads and journal editors asking for the names of those researchers who are working beyond the norm. They define brilliant as not just being "smart. Brilliance is marked by insight, creativity and tenacity. It's the confidence to eschew established wisdom in order to develop your own. It's the foolishness needed to set out for the edge of understanding and sail right past it."
Dr. Santosh Kumar is researching sensors with life improving abilities. Dr. Kumar does not want to do work that will only affect Society on the macro level, AutoWitness, but also the micro level, AutoSense. His AutoWitness program may give police a tool to capture thieves and reclaim property faster and more efficiently. Small sensors are attached to large, valuable items when emit a data pulse if they removed from home. Police departments in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee, are testing the units. AutoSense is a system for humans to wear that monitors the activities and basic life signs. It notifies a doctor for therapist of significant changes in stress levels or, with addicts, the behavior is becoming self-destructive.
Dr. Kumar expressed his pleasure about Popular Science's Brilliant 10 designation saying, "It is very kind of Popular Science to recognize the potential societal impact of our research on the AutoWitness and AutoSense systems. The mission is yet to be accomplished though. The real satisfaction will come when these projects are adopted widely and make a difference to real people for AutoWitness when it helps reduce burglary incidents in Memphis and elsewhere, and for AutoSense when it helps individuals reduce their daily stress level and help them abstain from addictive behavior.
As for the recognition, while I am named in the article, this selection recognizes the hard work of my students and postdocs and generous contributions of my esteemed collaborators that together has translated the vision of AutoWitness and AutoSense systems into reality that it is today."
Santosh Kumar is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Memphis, where he received an Early Career Research Award from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2008. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Ohio State University in 2006, where his dissertation work won the SBC Presidential Fellowship award.