The Interview

Janice: What led you to your current major?

Manas: It started in high school, I was always fascinated in Sci-Fi movies like Star Wars. The humanoids and robots really sparked my desire to build things like that. Later on AI started gaining traction and I realized that was exactly what I was looking for.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

There’s a stereotype that people studying STEM, like Computer Science, are introverted or don’t socialize, but I actually love to have fun and definitely enjoy a good party.

What was the hardest part of your research in the LUNR Lab so far?

The hardest part is definitely recognizing how different it is from an internship or engineering job. It definitely depends on  problem solving and flexibility as a lot of things can be spontaneous. There were times where my mentor would call me suddenly at 7:00pm to talk about test results.

What motivated or inspired you to create NotiSentry? How long have you been working on it?

I started NotiSentry over the summer. It is a work in progress, but I decided to create NotiSentry as I found the "Do Not Disturb" feature on my phone to be quite limited. I wanted to be able to filter specific messages or notifications from specific apps, as well. This was a problem I faced everyday, and I wanted to be able to filter important messages or notifications, thus I decided to build it myself. 

How are you testing the app and what feedback have you received? Do you have an estimated launch date?

Currently, I’m testing NotiSentry with two users. Once I expand and test with 10 or more users I will be able to publish it. Some feedback I’ve received is that the user interface is not as intuitive or appealing. I’ve found myself having to guide my testers through every step of the app. 

I don’t have an estimated launch date yet, but hopefully winter break. The open source is already linked in my GitHub though. 

Are there more features you’d like to integrate in the future?

I was considering changing the name, but other than that some of the features I’d like to integrate is a filter that lets a notification through if it contains certain information, keywords, or are from certain individuals. I’d also like to include chatbots that allow users to search for certain messages or notifications and an AI feature but that requires funding.

Was there any coursework that you found relevant to your research and the development of NotiSentry? 

I’d say the courses CSE 316: Fundamentals in Software Design and CSE 220: Systems Fundamentals I helped a bit, but not much. I didn’t take any AI courses prior to my involvement in the LUNR Lab so a lot of things I know now were self-taught. I’ve found Andrew Ng’s lectures on YouTube super helpful, and I even bought an online course on Machine Learning.

What are your other future plans or goals?

I’m considering two plans as of right now, which would be to get my Masters degree and eventually get a PhD in AI or going straight into the industry after I graduate to get hands-on experience.

Are you involved with CEAS in any other ways?

I used to be much more involved, but right now with research and my courses picking up I haven’t been able to find the time to be involved on campus. When I did have a little more time though, I used to sail with the sailing club about once a week. I was also a University Scholars Fellow for 2024 and in the Computer Science Honors program, and while I’m not a fellow this year I still am a Scholar and in the Honors program. Hopefully in the next few months I will have the time to join more clubs.
 
Do you have any advice for those who are also looking to develop their own platforms?

I would say start research. I know others usually recommend talking to professors, but in my experience I found independent research more effective. Most professors–Computer Science at least–do not have a lot of time for undergraduate students, so I focused on building my experience. Joining Open Source which gave me credibility, especially when I started reaching out to Dr. Niranjan Balasubramanian. I would go find him and speak with him after his graduate course and I kept in contact with him through email. 

For app development, I’d say expect to self-teach a lot. You should expect to fail but also remember you can ask for help. I’d also say be prepared to spend months on it. Running into walls is inevitable, but you will get over it eventually.

What do you think was the most important part of your experiences?

In terms of research, I’ve learned how to properly write a research paper. I was previously part of the SUNY SOAR Program over the summer which taught me how to be a proper researcher. The program also taught me that I should be connecting with others and building a strong network. 

As for developing NotiSentry, I came across a lot of roadblocks and every one of them has been a learning opportunity. It was tough figuring things out on my own, but it’s also given me valuable experience.