Panshul Jindal is using his computer science expertise to analyze data for rail research conducted in the RailTEC program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jindal is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science from Illinois and expects to graduate in May 2025. He received a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2023 from VIT in Vellore, India. Jindal arrived at Illinois in January 2024 and learned about the RailTEC program from his roommate Yash Kakde who also is involved with RailTEC. “I was looking for opportunities to analyze data, and Yash introduced me to RailTEC,” he said.
So far, Jindal has worked on two research projects during his tenure at RailTEC. One project involves working with Senior Principal Research Engineer Marcus Dersch and using a Power BI dashboard to visualize and analyze data to measure track health and capacity. “I look at how much load we can carry on the track and use cloud computer techniques on Microsoft Azure to do parallel data processing,” he explained. His other research project entails track health maintenance at an out-of-state site. “It’s never-ending research,” he said. “I’ve had a lovely time utilizing my research and computer science expertise in the rail industry. “The management team are the most helpful people in my life,” he added. “We learn from them every day. We get to push ourselves and know we have something in ourselves to succeed.”
In addition, Jindal said being involved in the RailTEC program has provided him the opportunity to attend conferences and has helped him hone his presentation skills. “It has been a good learning opportunity for me, especially how to make presentations,” he said. “My presentation skills have really improved, and the quality of my presentations has improved. Also, I get to learn something new when I go to conferences,” he added.
One of his favorite RailTEC experiences was attending the AREMA (American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association) conference in September 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky. “My time at AREMA was magical. I had never experienced anything like that,” he said. “It has increased my interest in the rail industry.” Because of his RailTEC experience, Jindal said he now plans to stay in the United States after graduation and secure a job working in the rail industry.