Student profile – Dhirendra Singh

I have been interested in computers ever since I got my first computer at the age of seven. It was a Radio Shack TRS80, essentially a keyboard with a tiny bit of memory that you could connect to the television set and write simple programs in.

That interest eventually resulted in me completing an undergraduate double degree in Computer Science/Computer Systems Engineering at RMIT. Following that, and after several years in the industry as a Software Engineer, I decided to return to University and undertake my PhD in Computer Science.

RMIT was the obvious choice due to the strong connections I made with staff members during my undergraduate days. Over the years I've had time to evaluate other Universities, and I honestly believe that RMIT Computer Science is one of the leading schools in Australia. For my area of research, it is among the best in the world. My PhD research is partly funded by CSIRO and has given me the opportunity to collaborate with researchers working on smart energy solutions in Newcastle and Sydney. I have also had the chance to present my work at a leading conference in Canada and connect with key researchers from around the world.In 2011, I have been fortunate enough to receive an Australian Endeavour Award for post doctoral research. Following the completion of my PhD, I will join a leading group in the Netherlands on a project that involves programming humanoid robots.