Computational Astrophysics · Machine Learning · Scientific AI

Rhea Senthil Kumar

M.S. Computer Science at UC San Diego. Previously at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory. Researching generative emulators, graph neural networks, autonomous sensing systems, and machine learning for science.

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Machine learning researcher and computational astrophysicist building intelligent systems for scientific discovery.

Photo Rhea Senthil Kumar

I am currently pursuing an M.S. in Computer Science at UC San Diego, researching scientific machine learning, autonomous sensing systems, graph neural networks, and generative AI for simulation and scientific discovery.

Previously, I worked at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in the Space Systems Analysis and Test Group, where I developed signal processing pipelines, RF system interfaces, reinforcement learning systems for satellite coordination, and generative models for radar image classification.

At UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, I worked on machine learning reconstruction systems for gamma-ray astrophysics missions including COSI, GAPS, BTO, and AMEGO-X in collaboration with NASA teams.

Image Space systems

Space Systems & Autonomy

Researching intelligent sensing systems, autonomous coordination, and machine learning for orbital environments.

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Scientific Machine Learning

Building generative models and AI systems for scientific simulation and computational discovery.

Research, engineering, and scientific systems development.

2023 — Present MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Space Systems Analysis & Test Group

Developing ML systems for radar classification, autonomous sensing coordination, and signal cross-correlation pipelines.

Python GNNs Reinforcement Learning Signal Processing
2020 — 2023 UC Berkeley SSL

COSI Collaboration

Developed ML reconstruction algorithms for gamma-ray event classification and scientific software pipelines used across Berkeley and NASA teams.

TensorFlow Keras Astrophysics Scientific Computing

Current projects and scientific systems.

Generative Emulators for Scientific Simulation

Building conditional generative models for paleontology and population synthesis applications using modern deep generative architectures.

Diffusion Models Scientific ML Simulation

Autonomous Sensor Coordination with GNN-RL

Multi-agent graph neural network reinforcement learning systems for intelligent sensor pointing and target tracking in space environments.

Graph Neural Networks PPO Space Systems

Signal Cross-Correlation Infrastructure

High-performance distributed signal processing infrastructure achieving large-scale acceleration for radar and RF workflows.

Distributed Systems GPU Computing RF

Research presentations, conference publications, and scientific communication.

2024

Impact of Grid Processing on Signal Cross-Correlation

IEEE High Performance Extreme Computing Conference (HPEC) · Poster Presentation

Virtual · September 2024
2023

The Background and Transient Observer: A Gamma-Ray Detector System for Time-Domain Astrophysics

American Astronomical Society 241st Meeting · Presentation

Seattle, WA · January 2023
2022

Evaluation of Compton Event Reconstruction Approaches using Simulations, Lab Measurements, and Astrophysical Observations of COSI

IEEE NSS MIC RTSD Conference · Talk

Milan, Italy · November 2022
2022

Physics-based Validation of Machine-learning Approaches for the COSI Space Mission

Baylearn Machine Learning Symposium · Poster

San Francisco, CA · October 2022

Education, mentorship, outreach, and interdisciplinary community building.

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MIT BeaverWorks Summer Institute

Instructor & Program Lead

Lead organizer for the national “Build a CubeSat Challenge,” coordinating student satellite mission teams and staff across MIT, NASA, MITRE, AIAA, and NSBE Aerospace.

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UC Berkeley DeCal Program

Course Creator & Facilitator

Designed and taught a student-led course exploring the sociopolitical context, visual language, and history of Studio Ghibli films.

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UC Berkeley New Student Services

Orientation Mentor & Leader

Managed orientation programming, mentor training, leadership development, and student support initiatives across campus.

Awards, fellowships, and academic recognition.

2025

AIAA New England Leadership Award

2024

MIT Advanced Study Program Fellow

2023

Berkeley URAP Summer Fellow

2019

National Merit Scholarship

Berkeley

Dean’s List — College of Letters & Science

Machine learning, scientific computing, systems engineering, and software development.

Machine Learning & AI

TensorFlow Keras Graph Neural Networks Reinforcement Learning Diffusion Models Neural Network Design Scientific ML

Programming & Software

Python C++ Go JavaScript MATLAB SQL PyQT Git HTML/CSS

Scientific Computing

ROOT Geant4 MEGAlib TMVA Signal Processing Data Visualization Pipeline Development

Laboratory & Instrumentation

Thermal Vacuum Testing Instrumentation Payload Calibration Electronics Optical Telescopes Systems Integration

Get in touch.

senthilkumarrhea@gmail.com GitHub LinkedIn