Vasav Srivastava

For Vasav Srivastava, curiosity was the first step toward engineering. Growing up in Chandigarh, India, he spent hours exploring the technology around him — from video games and computers to his dad’s old wristwatch and remote-controlled toys. 

“I was fascinated by what goes on ‘under the hood,’” Srivastava says. “That curiosity eventually led me to computer science, where I could understand and build the technology that shapes our world.”

Srivastava graduates this December with a bachelor’s degrees in mathematics as well as computer science from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

As part of the Grand Challenges Scholar Program, or GCSP, Srivastava explored how engineering can improve lives. 

“My biggest achievement would be graduating as a GCSP scholar,” he says. “It taught me how engineering goes beyond just technical problem-solving. It’s about understanding the interdisciplinary, cultural and ethical dimensions that shape the challenges we face today.”

During his time at ASU, Srivastava immersed himself in rewarding experiences. He participated in undergraduate research and the Engineering Projects in Community Service program, or EPICS, and worked as a tutor and undergraduate teaching assistant. He also served as a volunteer for Feed My Starving Children.

One highlight was collaborating with NASA on his capstone project to develop an asteroid sampling simulator for the Psyche mission, designed to increase public awareness about space exploration.

He also conducted research with Joshua Daymude, a Fulton Schools assistant professor of computer science and engineering, on the CancerSim project, exploring how computer science can be applied in health care. 

“Working with Dr. Daymude helped me understand the intricacies of research and how theory meets real-world impact,” Srivastava says. 

He also credits engineering Teaching Professor Haolin Zhu for shaping his growth as a student and mentor.

“Her patience with students has the ability to bring out the best in them,” he says.

After graduation, Srivastava plans to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science, focusing on artificial intelligence research. His long-term goal is to contribute to building ethical and human-centered technologies that address challenges in health care, education and sustainability.

“What makes engineering fun is the freedom to turn imagination into reality,” he says. “Every challenge feels like a puzzle, and every solution has the potential to make someone’s life better.”

Favorites

Hobby: Learning guitar
Performer: Mohit Chauhan
Activity: Hiking
Sport: Soccer
Game: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ fall 2025 class.

Written by Kelly deVos