Yashovardhan Sushil Chati, PhD

March 2018

Cambridge, MA-02139
Email: yschati@mit.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashovardhan-chati/
Personal Website: web.mit.edu/yschati/www
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=yI_7qhEAAAAJ

Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA. (Sep. 2012 – Jan. 2018)

• Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Thesis: Statistical Modeling of Aircraft Engine Fuel Burn.
• Minor: Statistical learning.
• CGPA: 5.0/5.0.

• Relevant coursework: Statistical Learning and Data-Mining, Statistics for Engineers and Scientists,
Statistical Methods, Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence.
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Mumbai, India. (Jul. 2007 – Jun. 2012)
• Master of Technology (M.Tech.) and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) (Dual Degree Program).
Dissertation: Experimental Investigation of Tip Leakage Flows in an Axial Flow Compressor.
• Major: Aerospace Engineering; Minor: Electrical Engineering.
• CGPA: 9.84/10.00.
• Relevant coursework: Computer Programming and Utilization (C++), Calculus, Data Analysis and
Interpretation, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Engineering Design Optimization.

Projects and Internship Experience

Data-Driven Statistical Models of Aircraft Performance: Doctoral Research. (Sep. 2012 – Jan. 2018)
Advisor: Prof. Hamsa Balakrishnan, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT.
• Developed statistical models of aircraft engine fuel burn in MATLAB; achieved up to 60% reduction
in mean error over current models prevalent in industry, while also providing uncertainty estimates.

• Proficient in state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms, such as least squares regression, Classifica-
tion and Regression Trees, Random Forests, Least Squares Boosting, Hierarchical Bayesian Multiple
Linear Regression, and regularization techniques.
• Applications include improving the ability of aircraft performance modeling tools to estimate fuel burn
impacts of air traffic operations.

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Estimation of Aircraft Weight Using Machine Learning: Doctoral Research. (Sep. 2012 – Jan. 2018)
Advisor: Prof. Hamsa Balakrishnan, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT.
• Used Gaussian Process Regression, a Bayesian nonparametric technique, to predict aircraft weight
(and associated uncertainty) using takeoff roll information.

• Achieved up to 76% smaller error than current industry standards.

• Best paper award in USA/Europe Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar 2017.
Experimental Investigation of Tip Leakage Flows in an Axial Flow Compressor: Master’s Thesis.
Advisor: Prof. A. M. Pradeep, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay. (May 2011 – Jun. 2012)

• Conducted experiments to characterize the behavior of a compressor to rotor tip clearance variations.
• Experimental results helped design a novel rotor blade less sensitive to changes in tip clearance.
• Experienced in compressor rig and wind tunnel testing, use of pressure and velocity probes, uncertainty
analysis.

Intercooling in Multi-Spooled Axial Compressors: Bachelor’s Thesis. (Aug. 2010 – Apr. 2011)
Advisor: Prof. A. M. Pradeep, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay.
• Simulated intercooling in a compressor using ANSYS CFX and studied the influence of temperature,
pressure, direction of coolant air, and the number of injection ports on the cooling achieved.
• Achieved a specific thrust improvement of 4 – 5 % by implementing intercooling.

Conceptual Design of 30 – 50 Seater Transport Aircraft: Course Project. (Jul. 2010 – Apr. 2011)
Advisor: Prof. K. Sudhakar, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay.
• In a team of six students, captured the requirements for the aircraft in an Indian scenario.

• Developed a detailed baseline configuration of the aircraft from first principles with the help of Raymer
Design Software (RDS), including making of three view drawings and rapid prototype.
• Devised a detailed code to estimate the component weights and centre of gravity of the aircraft;
successfully validated the code for similar existing aircraft.
Study of Space Elevators: Summer Internship Project. (May – Jul. 2010)
Advisor: Dr. Georg Herdrich, Institute for Space Systems, University of Stuttgart, Germany.
• Theoretically analyzed terrestrial, lunar, and Martian space elevators for their physical properties.
• Extensively employed the principles of orbital mechanics to develop transportation scenarios from the
space elevator in MATLAB, from the point of view of reducing fuel requirements.

• Demonstrated up to 88% launch energy savings for a space elevator over the conventional rocket.
• Internship funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) WISE scholarship.
IIT Bombay Student Satellite Program. (Jan. 2009 – Mar. 2010)
Mentors: Profs. K. Sudhakar, H. B. Hablani, H. Arya, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay.

• In a team of 8 students, performed mathematical modeling and high fidelity simulation of the Attitude
Determination and Controls (ADC) of the satellite with the help of MATLAB/SIMULINK.
• Implemented Monte Carlo Simulations for the validation of the whole ADC.
• Successfully designed the ADC to achieve three axes pointing accuracy within a tolerable error of 10◦ .

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Publications
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “Modeling of Aircraft Takeoff Weight Using Gaussian Processes,”
AIAA Journal of Air Transportation (submitted).
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “Data-Driven Modeling of Aircraft Engine Fuel Burn in Climb
Out and Approach,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board,
2018 (to appear).
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “Statistical Modeling of Aircraft Takeoff Weight,” USA/Europe
Air Traffic Management Research and Development Seminar, 2017 (Best Paper Award in the
Trajectory and Queue Management-TP Track).
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “A Gaussian Process Regression Approach to Model Aircraft
Engine Fuel Flow Rate,” ACM/IEEE International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems, 2017.
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “Statistical Modeling of Aircraft Engine Fuel Flow Rate,”
Congress of the International Council of Aeronautical Sciences, 2016.
• Halbe, C. V., Chati, Y. S., George, J. T., Pradeep, A. M., Roy, B., Yu, H., and Townsend, P., “Study
of Effects of Rotor Tip Tailoring in Axial Flow Compressors,” ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine
Technical Conference and Exposition, 2015.
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “Analysis of Aircraft Fuel Burn and Emissions in the Landing and
Take Off Cycle using Operational Data,” International Conference on Research in Air Transportation,
2014.
• Chati, Y. S., and Balakrishnan, H., “Aircraft Engine Performance Study using Flight Data Recorder
Archives,” AIAA Aviation Conference, 2013.
• Mulay, S. S., Joshi, J., Chati, Y. S., Unhelkar, V. V., Bandyopadhyay, S., Tamaskar, S., Bommanahal,
M., Talnikar, C., Kumar, A., and Hablani, H. B., “Attitude Determination and Control of Pratham, In-
dian Institute of Technology Bombay’s First Student Satellite,” Advances in the Astronautical Sciences,
Vol. 145, 2012, pp. 1509 – 1528.
• Chati, Y. S., Herdrich, G., Petkow, D., Fasoulas, S., and Roeser, H. P., “Space Elevator: Physical
Properties and Transportation Scenarios,” The Journal of the International Space Elevator Consortium,
Vol. 1, No. 1, 2011, pp. 23 – 45.

Awards and Scholarships/Fellowships

• Airport Cooperative Research Program Graduate Research Award on Public-Sector Aviation Issues
(Transportation Research Board, USA). (2016)
• IITB Institute Gold Medal and Silver Medal for the best graduating Dual Degree student in the entire
institute and the Department of Aerospace Engineering, respectively. (2012)
• Department Citation (Academics) by the IITB Aerospace Engineering Association for the best overall
academic performance in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. (2012)
• Boeing Scholar Award for the highest CGPA in the 2007 batch of the Department of Aerospace Engi-
neering, IIT Bombay. (2009)
• National Talent Search Examination scholarship (conducted by NCERT, New Delhi). (2005)
• Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana fellowship (conducted by IISc, Bangalore). (2005)
• All India Rank (AIR) 3 in National Level Science Talent Search Examination (conducted by Unified
Council, Hyderabad). (2005)

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Leadership Experience
MIT-Imperial College Global Fellows Program, Imperial College, London, UK. (Jun. 2016)
• One of 20 students chosen from MIT for the week-long program.
• Coached in team-building, forming collaborations, improving communication skills.
Tang Hall Residents Association, MIT.
• As President: Oversaw the functioning of the governing council of 15 officers. (Jun. 2015 – May 2016)
• As Social Chair: Organized social events for up to 250 graduate students. (Jun. 2013 – May 2015)
• Received a best officer award three years in a row.
Treasurer, MIT Samskritam Club. (Jun. 2014 – May 2016)
• Raised funds (up to USD 300 in a quarter) for holding classes and workshops of the Sanskrit language.
IITB Institute Student Mentor. (Jul. 2011 – Jun. 2012)
• Mentored 12 freshmen by addressing the issues they face while settling down at IITB.
• Coordinated between students and various institute authorities in case of any problems faced.
IITB Department Academic Mentor. (Jul. 2011 – Jun. 2012)
• Provided academic guidance to 5 undergraduate students of the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

Teaching Experience and Outreach

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (TA).
• TA at MIT to about 40 students in two courses (Unified Engineering). (Sep. 2015 – May 2016)
• TA at IITB to about 50 students in one theory (Introduction to Aerospace Engineering) and one
laboratory (Aircraft Structures Laboratory) courses. (Jul. 2011 – Apr. 2012)
• Formulated recitation problems, graded examinations, held help sessions in the theory courses, and
conducted experiments, organized viva, created an instruction manual in the laboratory course.
Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program, MIT. (Feb. – Apr. 2016)
• Instructed in different aspects of academic teaching by members of the Teaching and Learning Lab.
• Participated in mock microteaching sessions.
Teacher, National Service Scheme, India. (Aug. 2007 – Apr. 2008)
• Taught Science to a class of about 25 students in the 9th grade at the Campus School, IITB.

Certifications
• Convolutional Neural Networks by deeplearning.ai on Coursera. (Feb. 2018)
• Competent Communicator by Toastmasters International. (Jan. 2018)
• Improving Deep Neural Networks: Hyperparameter tuning, Regularization and Optimization by
deeplearning.ai on Coursera. (Dec. 2017)
• Neural Networks and Deep Learning by deeplearning.ai on Coursera. (Dec. 2017)

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Professional Activities
Student member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); reviewer for the AIAA
Journal of Aerospace Information Systems and the Transportation Research Part C Journal; presentations at
the United Technologies Research Center, the NSF Foundations of Resilient Cyber-Physical Systems review
meetings, INFORMS and TRB annual meetings, and several technical conferences.

Skills
Computer: MATLAB, Python (Deep Learning with TensorFlow), C++, SIMULINK, CFX, GasTurb.
Analytical: Statistical analysis, machine learning, and deep learning, computational fluid dynamics, experi-
mental aerodynamics, gas turbine propulsion and turbomachinery, design of aircraft and satellite systems.
Languages: Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, English.

Extra-Curricular Activities
• Successfully completed the four-level Distance Learning Program for Sanskrit language learning (con-
ducted by Samskrita Bharati, USA). (May 2014 – Sep. 2015)

• Successfully cleared the National Standard Examinations in Physics (in national top 1%) and Chemistry
(conducted by the Indian Association of Physics and Chemistry Teachers, respectively). (2006)
• Secured All India Rank 3 in National Level Science Talent Search Examination (conducted by the
Unified Council, Hyderabad). (2005)
• Secured All India Rank 5 in National Science Olympiad (conducted by the Science Olympiad Founda-
tion, New Delhi). (2004)
• Represented school in All Asia Bournvita Quiz Contest; runners’ up in the quarter final. (2003)
• Personal interests: Toastmasters International, learning Sanskrit language, playing chess and bad-
minton, reading non-fiction.

Personal
Date of birth: 24 October 1989. Indian citizen on an F1 (student) visa in the USA. F1-Optional Practical
Training employment authorization received.

References
• Prof. Hamsa Balakrishnan
Associate Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT
Email: hamsa@mit.edu
Website: http://web.mit.edu/hamsa/www/
• Prof. A. M. Pradeep
Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay
Email: ampradeep@aero.iitb.ac.in
Website: http://www.aero.iitb.ac.in/~ampradeep/

Additional references are available upon request.