About Me

My name is Maithilee Kunda (pronounced like "mightily" with a "th"), and I am currently in my second year of the PhD program in computer science at Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, GA.

Research

I work with Ashok Goel in the Design Intelligence Lab. My research interests include cognitive modeling and especially the role of representations in guiding our understanding of cognitive and neurological deficits. My current work focuses on developing a cognitive model of autism towards better understanding of and communication with individuals on the autism spectrum.

When I first got to Georgia Tech, I worked with Tucker Balch on modeling the behavior of social agents for the Biotracking project. In particular, I developed AMBID, a software package for Agent Modeling using Biotracking Data. During my undergrad years, I did research in robotics and path planning with Nick Roy at MIT. I also worked for several summers at Oak Ridge National Lab through the DOE's Global Change Education Program. At Oak Ridge, I worked with Gregg Marland and Tristram West, looking at carbon and energy cycle impacts on climate change and their relationships with human agricultural practices. I have also worked off and on for Aerotonomy, Inc., an aerospace company based in Atlanta, GA, that specializes in autonomous systems and other advanced flight technologies.

Publications

Neidhoefer, J., Gibson, C., Kunda, M., and Johnson, E. "Determinism in Autonomy for Applications in the National Airspace System (NAS)." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace. Rohnert Park, California, May 2007.

Kunda, M., Bird, N., Canella, L., Marland, G., and Schlamadinger, B. "Carbon Management, Earth Surface Albedo, and Biomass Fuels." 14th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition: Biomass for Energy, Industry, and Climate Protection. Paris, France, October 2005.

Marquez, J., Cummings, M., Roy, N., Kunda, M., and Newman, D. "Collaborative Human-Computer Decision Support for Planetary Surface Traversal." AIAA Infotech@Aerospace. Washington, D.C., October 2005.

Kunda, M., Marland, G., Canella, L., Schlamadinger, B., and Bird, N. "Impact of Albedo Change on Carbon Sequestration Strategies." Third USDA Symposium on Greenhouse Gases & Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture and Forestry. Baltimore, MD, March 2005.

Education

I've been fortunate to attend four great schools over the years, all of which contributed immensely to my learning. A shout-out to these excellent institutions: St. Nicholas School and Girls Preparatory School, both in Chattanooga, TN, MIT in Cambridge, MA, and, of course, Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA.

Links

I LOVE to cook. My favorite place to get recipes is this great food blog by Elise Bauer.

If you ever need advice on weighty life matters, Margo Howard is the person to ask. Or, if you're like me, she can be a great source of advice for other people's weighty life matters. (:

I am an avid reader of Slate, the most addictive online magazine ever.

I also watch lots of movie trailers, way more than I watch actual movies.

Trivia

I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN.

I love being outside. I love wearing flip-flops.

I was a varsity ice hockey player and a varsity diver in undergrad, during which times I became WELL acquainted with the surface of water in both its solid and liquid forms.

My arm span is five inches greater than my height.

Contact