Manas Srinivas Gowda

Manas Srinivas Gowda was drawn to computer science by an interest in building and problem-solving. What kept him in the field was discovering how much deeper it goes — and how many real-world problems it can help solve.

He says that when he first learned about algorithms, he began to see that his earlier work was only skimming the surface.

“A lot of people think computer science is just about writing code, but that is only a small part of it,” Gowda says. “It is also about understanding algorithms and computer systems, and knowing why a solution works.”

A Grand Challenge Scholar graduating in spring 2026, Gowda earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

He chose ASU for its research opportunities and strong industry connections, a decision that quickly paid off. 

During his time as a student, he explored machine learning and worked on projects that required both technical skill and adaptability. These experiences helped him build a strong foundation and grow more confident in tackling unfamiliar challenges.

One of his most impactful experiences took place in Germany through the German Academic Exchange Service Research Internships in Science and Engineering, or DAAD RISE. There, he worked on improving traffic signal systems using reinforcement learning. The project pushed him to adapt to a new environment while delivering results under pressure.

“The moment that stands out most was when the reinforcement learning agent I had been training finally started making smarter decisions at intersections on its own,” Gowda says. “I realized I could take on something completely new and still make it work.”

Back at ASU, he continued exploring artificial intelligence through several projects, including an audio-to-image generation system.

While the idea sounds simple, training multiple AI systems to work together was quite the challenge. Eventually, he built an agent to manage communication between them and ensure the system worked smoothly from start to finish.

“It was one of those projects where the real challenge was not any single model, but how everything worked together,” Gowda says.

Looking ahead, Gowda plans to pursue a master’s degree in computer science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he aims to contribute to research and apply his skills to solving meaningful challenges.

Favorites

Hobby: Tennis
Movie: Mission Impossible 1-8
TV show: How I Met Your Mother and Suits
Game: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
Performer: The Weeknd

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Aisha Kaddi