MEET OUR COMMITTEE!
GEARS Executive Committee 2026-27 session
Chair: Gaurav Shinde
Gaurav is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Information Systems Department, working on embodied AI and collaborative perception for robotic systems. As GEARS Chair, he strives to enrich the graduate student experience through meaningful professional development initiatives and engaging activities that promote connection and well-being. Outside of work, he enjoys playing and watching sports, particularly cricket and tennis.
Events Lead – Soumik Sarker
Soumik Sarker is a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His research focuses on heat transfer and thermal radiation using nanoscale materials and on developing materials for thermal regulation. As the Events Lead for the GEARS Committee, he contributes to the academic and professional community through leadership, event planning, coordination, and collaborative initiatives. Outside his academic work, Soumik enjoys hiking, gaming, traveling, and cooking, embracing new experiences, cultures, and cuisines.
Ops Manager – Yatharth Parmar
Yatharth Parmar is an Engineering Management grad student at UMBC who loves turning ideas into structured reality from data dashboards to community events. When he is not deep in project plans or analytics, you’ll find him outdoors. He is passionate about playing sports, staying active, and exploring new trails, always up for a good challenge both on and off the field.
Graphics Manager – Khushi Shah
Khushi is a Master’s student in Data Science at UMBC who enjoys combining creativity and technology to bring ideas to life. As the Graphics Manager for the GEARS Committee, she creates engaging visuals and promotional materials for graduate student events and initiatives, helping make opportunities across the UMBC community more accessible and exciting. Outside of academics and design, she enjoys exploring new ideas, working on creative projects, and connecting with people from different backgrounds.
Public Relations Manager – Srushti Dharmale
Srushti Dharmale is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at UMBC, with research interests in artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and computing education. As the Public Relations Manager, she works to keep graduate students informed, connected, and engaged by sharing opportunities, resources, and events. She also aims to strengthen collaboration by communicating with different centers and departments across campus and creating more opportunities for graduate students to connect and engage with the wider UMBC community. Outside of academics, she enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and meeting new people.
Secretary – Swathi Namburi
Swathi Namburi is a Ph.D. student in Information Systems specializing in human-centered computing. Her research explores immersive analytics, AR/VR, human–AI interaction, cognitive workload, and the ethical design of emerging technologies. Before beginning her doctoral studies, she had industry experience in technology consulting, product ownership, and cross-functional leadership. As Secretary of the GEARS Committee, Swathi is committed to supporting well-organized programs, strengthening graduate student connections, and helping students discover valuable academic, research, and professional-development opportunities at UMBC.