India I Gitarth Vaishnav

Meet Gitarth

Originally from India, Gitarth developed a keen interest in technology­—programming and micro-controllers­­—during his high school years. His passion for cutting-edge technology inspired Gitarth to seek a Bachelor of Computing Science abroad. After extensive research, he narrowed down his choices of study destinations to two technology hubs—the United States and Australia.

“Despite the US’ global recognition for technological advancements and educational reputation, Australia stood out for its balanced lifestyle, high quality of education, and particularly its innovation in tech. The clincher was Australia’s congenial climate and the welcoming, diverse cultural environment, which I felt would provide a more rounded and enriching educational experience.”

Sensing that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning were on the cusp of a boom, Gitarth found the field that he wanted to pursue would give him the best chance in the job market. He was particularly interested in the unique educational opportunities offered at UTS.

The Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) program at UTS emerged as a clear choice for its depth in AI-related subjects and the flexibility it offered in tailoring the course according to my interests and career aspirations. This level of customisation meant that I could dive deeper into specific areas of AI, enhancing my expertise and preparing me for a specialised role in the industry. The integrated Honours component of the degree not only deepened my technical knowledge but also opened a direct pathway to research opportunities, including the potential for PhD studies. This aspect was particularly appealing as it aligned with my long-term goals.

Along with his offer to attend UTS, Gitarth received the Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship based on his achievements in high school. At the time, he received a $10,000 grant towards his tuition. As of 2024, the scholarship covers 25% of UTS tuition fees for the entire study duration for qualifying international students.

Gitarth enrolled in a Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) and majored in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. He took full advantage of the opportunity to tailor his coursework to cater to his professional goals and industry trends including Deep Learning, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Reinforcement Learning, and more.

“The dynamic curriculum, tailored to include the latest in AI and Data Analytics, alongside the option to incorporate newly introduced subjects, ensured that my education was not only current but also predictive of future technological trends.”

With hard work and diligence, Gitarth built a network at UTS that would lead him to his future career and employer. As part of the final year of study, all Bachelor of Computing Science (Honours) students are required to complete a one-year, research-based program devoted to a project. Through events like AI showcases and the UTS Tech Festival, Gitarth met representatives from DroneShield, a company pioneering AI technology in counter-UxS (Unmanned aerial/ground/surface/etc. systems).

“I first connected with DroneShield during a UTS AI showcase where the CTO gave a keynote. As an organizing member of the AI showcase and leader of the UTS Data Science, AI Society, and Google Developer Student Club, I had the opportunity to present my projects. Among them was a Techcelerator award-winning project for prohibited object detection in luggage x-rays. This demonstration led to my meeting with the CTO, and we exchanged contacts.”

One year later, Gitarth reached out to DroneShield’s CTO about opportunities for his honours project. The company offered him a challenging project involving threat analysis for their Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) product, DroneSentry C2.

“This system uses multiple sensors to detect drones in protected airspace, and my task was to develop an AI feature to identify high-threat objects. I worked on this project for twelve weeks under the guidance of the CTO, AI Lead of DroneShield, and my UTS supervisor, Dr. Nabin Sharma, co-director of the UTS Intelligent Drone Lab. The project was successful, leading to my job offer as an AI Software Engineer at DroneShield. My excellent academic and extra-curricular track record and a successful honours project with an industry partner earned me a first-class honours and a university medal.”

Today, Gitarth is an AI Software Engineer at DroneShield in Sydney. His role encompasses the design, development, deployment, and testing of innovative AI-driven solutions for flagship C-UAS products, with a significant focus on Sensor Fusion and Threat Intelligence.