Research project –

This project was a very significant and difficult undertaking for me, as it was the first time I had ever done formal research. But I learnt a lot from the process, including Python (for which I also did a course before starting research) and machine learning (which I taught myself through youtube and other resources), problem solving and critical thinking, writing a formal scientific paper, peer-review process, etc. Throughout the project I was collaborating with a mentor (also a co-author), which significantly helped me in the process. I learnt the benefit of discussing ideas and getting things reviewed. Another very big learning was how to present research, since I also had to present my research paper at a conference (ICECET 2022).

The difficulties I faced were mostly due to my inexperience in machine learning, where I was unable to get models to perform accurately. I overcame this by rigorous research and spending a lot of time on experimentation. It was also the first time I was writing a paper, so my first-draft was very poor, but through multiple revisions and suggestions, I was able to produce a paper that got accepted in the conference. I also learnt about the importance of citation and academic honesty in formal research.

If I had to do it again, I would probably spend more time doing research and learning before starting the experimentation itself. Overall, it was a great experience in which I learnt a lot and benefited from at having my paper accepted and published.

Evidence – https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9873073