s.moka@unsw.edu.au

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About Me

I am an academic researcher and educator at the School of Mathematics and Statistics at The University of New South Wales (UNSW). I also hold a honorary research fellow position in the School of Mathematical and Physical Science at Macquarie University.

My research interests encompass applied probability, computational statistics, machine learning, and deep learning. I have made contributions to optimization methods for efficient model selection in high-dimensional settings, and I have developed fast unbiased sampling and estimation techniques for spatial point processes and random graphs. Moreover, my research focus extends to efficient pruning methods for deep neural networks. In addition to research, I have been actively teaching advanced statistical and deep learning courses.

Prior to joining UNSW in 2023, I served as a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Mathematical and Physical Science at Macquarie University for nearly two years. Prior to that, I held the position of ACEMS (ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical & Statistical Frontiers) Postdoctoral Researcher in School of Mathematics and Physics at The University of Queensland for four years. My academic journey includes earning a PhD in Applied Probability from the School of Technology and Computer Science at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Engineering with a focus on Electricals, Electronics, and Communications, at Indian Institute of Science and Andhra University, respectively. Before pursuing my doctoral studies, I was a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization (SHAR, Sriharikota), where he worked on Communication Networks that support rocket launch activities.