We’re excited to introduce Shardul Sapkota, a doctoral student from Stanford University. As part of our cooperation with Stanford, Shardul has joined the Hasso Plattner Institute’s Chair for Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability for the project "Smart home spaces for aging in place" from July to September.
In our photo interview, we asked him about his background, his time at HPI and what he’s taking away from this unique experience:
Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI): Where are you from in the United States and how long have you been at Stanford?
Shardul Sapkota: I’m a second-year Computer Science PhD student at Stanford University, advised by Professors James Landay and Scott Delp. I was born and raised in Nepal and before coming to Stanford, I completed my undergrad at Yale-NUS College in Singapore.
HPI: Do you have a photo that best captures your time at HPI?
Shardul: It’s hard to choose just one, but this photo of the villa where I worked with Professor Ralf Herbrich’s group. It captures a space that became both – a workplace and a community. I’ve had such a wonderful time there. (Image 1 below)
HPI: Was there a spot in Potsdam or Berlin where you especially enjoyed spending your free time?
Shardul: The peaceful evening runs along the Spree. It was a great way to unwind after work—something I’ll really miss. (Image 2 below)
HPI: Is there a song, book, or movie you associate with your stay at HPI?
Shardul: The TV show Dark—I’d watched it before coming to Potsdam, but finding out that much of the studio work was done at Studio Babelsberg, just a short distance from where I was working, was super cool.
HPI: If there is one thing at HPI you would love to take back home with you, what would it be and why?
Shardul: What I’ll miss most about HPI is the strong sense of community. People here look out for each other and that’s what really made my time here. (Image 3 below)
A big thank you to Shardul for sharing his experiences and for being part of our community at HPI!
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HPI's villa -
View of the Spree River in Berlin -
Shardul Sapkota with his research colleagues at HPI
