Vijay Rajanna

Who Am I ?

Google Scholar

I am a Machine Learning and Computer Vision researcher with over 12 years of experience translating advanced research into commercial products scaled to millions of end-users. My work has focused on driving innovations in perception systems, human–computer interaction, novel input technologies, eye tracking, industrial robotics vision, and AR/VR.

Currently as Principal Research Engineer at HarmonEyes, I lead the end-to-end development of eye-tracking-based deep learning models that predict cognitive load, fatigue, and attention in real-time. My work bridges neuroscience and machine learning by developing and optimizing ML models and inference pipelines for deployment in consumer applications.

Previously, I spent over six years at Sensel leading R&D for intelligent touch and haptic sensing technologies. There, I engineered signal processing pipelines and ML/CV models to enable high-accuracy finger tracking, force distribution, multi-finger classification, palm rejection, and dynamic gesture recognition across diverse touch-sensing surfaces. By combining classical ML, CNN architectures, and real-time signal processing, my research directly contributed to commercial haptic touchpads now deployed in flagship OEM devices from Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft. I bring a deep research foundation coupled with a demonstrated ability to invent, build, and ship successful mass-market products.

I received a Doctoral Degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M University, and I was advised by Dr. Tracy Hammond

. I was a member of the Sketch Recognition Lab. My doctoral research advanced accessibility in Human-Computer Interaction through gaze-assisted, multimodal interaction methods for users with impairments. I also developed ML models for predictive analytics on eye movement data, with applications in cybersecurity, edtech, and behavioral economics.

My Areas of Research

Applied AI, Machine Learning & Deep Learning: Time-Series Sequence Modeling , Deep Neural Architectures (Transformers, ViTs, CNNs, U-Net) , Low-Latency Inference & Model Optimization (Quantization, Edge Deployment) , Predictive Analytics , Class Imbalance Mitigation.

Computer Vision & Spatial AI: Semantic Segmentation , Object Detection, Tracking, Counting, Optical Character Recognition, Shape Detection, Gesture Recognition, Activity Recognition, Facial Analytics & Gaze Estimation , Spatial Touch Map Processing , Industrial Vision Systems.

Processing & Telemetry: Eye Tracking Analytics & Pupillometry , Physiological Signal Processing (EEG, EOG) , Digital Filtering & Resampling , Real-Time Human State Estimation (Cognitive Load, Fatigue, Attention).

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) & Multimodal Sensing: Gaze-Assisted & Multimodal Interaction , Force & Haptic Sensing Technologies , Virtual Reality (VR) & Accessibility , Gaze Contingent VR, Wearable Computing.

User Experience (UX) & Empirical Research: Quantitative & Qualitative User Studies , Parametric & Non-Parametric Statistical Analysis (SPSS, Stata) , Interaction Modeling & Usability Evaluation (Fitts' Law) , Empirical Sensor Performance Validation , Human-Centered Interface Prototyping.

Texas A & M University

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Science

Graduation - December 2018

Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. USA

Master of Science, Software Systems

Graduation - December 2011

Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, India.

Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering

Graduation - June 2008

Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka, India

Work Experience

Organization	HarmonEyes. Bethesda, Maryland
Designation	Principal Reserach Engineer. July 2025 - Present.
HarmonEyes pioneers a next-gen eye-tracking intelligence platform, powered by state-of-the-art ML models In this role, I am leading research and development efforts in the areas of eye tracking and artificial intelligence to create real-time, high-fidelity, human perception systems. This involves end-to-end ML Model development from raw data acquisition and preprocessing through feature engineering, model design, training, validation, and production-grade inference for Cognitive Load, Mental reserve, Fatigue, Attention, and Visual Search tasks. I lead joint research efforts with neuroscientists to drive research on novel eye-movement feature development, experimentation design, and model development and validation. Also, I collaborate closely with the MLOps team to deploy real-time, eye-tracking–based predictive models across various consumer applications.

Organization	Sensel, Inc. Sunnyvale, California
Designation	Principal Research Engineer. February 2024 - May 2025. Senior Research Engineer. March 2021 - February 2024. Research Engineer. January 2019 - March 2021.
Led core research and algorithm development for the world’s most advanced touch, force, and haptic sensing technologies. Partnered with tier-1 OEMs (Lenovo, Dell, Microsoft) to ship ML/CV-powered haptic touchpads now integrated into millions of flagship laptops. Collaborated cross-functionally with R&D, software, and hardware engineering teams to architect intelligent sensing solutions, embedding ML modeling and computer vision capabilities to advance core force sensing, touch tracking, and tactile haptics. Developed robust signal processing pipelines along with classical ML and computer vision models to enable high-accuracy finger tracking, multi-finger classification, palm rejection, and dynamic gesture recognition across diverse touch-sensing surfaces. Collaborated directly with major OEM clients to design, prototype, and tune intelligent haptic feedback systems, leveraging user-behavior interpretation models to deliver intuitive tactile responses. Collaborated extensively with UX and engineering teams at Lenovo ThinkPad and Dell XPS to invent next-generation touchpad interactions powered by ML models enabling real-time touch and force interpretation. Spearheaded end-to-end development and evaluation of novel user experience concepts and prototypes that showcase Sensel’s touch, force, and haptics technologies. Designed and conducted user studies to establish target accuracy and sensitivity metrics for sensors. Also, I developed automated robotic tests to validate sensor quality on mass production lines.

Organization	Ocular Data Systems, Inc. Pasadena, California [advised by: Dr. Rich Diephuis, Ron Waldorf.]
Designation	Research Internship. June 1st, 2018 – Aug 24th 2018, and Jan 10th, 2018 - May 3rd, 2018
Work Experience	Developed the initial version of a virtual reality eye tracking system and related algorithms to analyze pupil and smooth pursuits. The system has an application for workplace safety.

Organization	GazeIT Lab, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark. [advised by: Dr. John Paulin Hansen ]
Designation	Research Internship. May 16th, 2017 - August 31st, 2017.
Work Experience	Developed gaze typing interfaces for virtual reality, and investigated how the keyboard design, selection method, and motion in the field of view impact typing performance and user experience.

Organization	IBM - Cognitive Environments Lab, Watson Research Center, New York. [advised by: Dr. Rachel Bellamy, Dr. Maryam Ashoori ]
Designation	Research Internship. May 16th, 2016 - August 26th, 2016.
Work Experience	Developed a visual feedback system and implemented abilities to handle a meeting in a voice-enabled cognitive agent powered by IBM Watson cognitive services.

Organization	IBM - CIO Lab, New York.
Designation	Research Internship. May 26th, 2015 - August 14th, 2015.
Work Experience	Developed mobile interfaces with human-centered design, which assist in navigating robots in a data center, floor map generation, temperature monitoring, and asset management.

Organization	National Instruments Corporation, Austin, Texas.
Designation	Intern/Co-op-Software Eng/IMAQ Software. May 19, 2014 - August 8, 2014
Work Experience	1) Redesigned the User Interface and Interaction aspects of IMAQ Software. 2) Conducted a feasibility study on leveraging vision-based object tracking algorithms to track user activities.

Organization	National Instruments, Bangalore, India.
Designation	Staff software engineer. July 2012 to July 2013
Work Experience	1) Conducted research and development in "Computer Vision" for implementing image-processing algorithms, deployed in industrial inspection systems. 2) Performed multicoring and platform portability of vision algorithms on to various real time architectures.

Organization	NOKIA India Private Limited. Bangalore, India.
Designation	Engineer, System Software. June 2010 to July 2012
Work Experience	Conducted research and development toward implementing FlashLite adaptation layer on Symbian operating system to enable flash content on Webkit, Symbian WRT based browsers, and standalone applications.

Organization	Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, Bangalore. India
Designation	Software Engineer. July 2008 to May 2010
Work Experience	Developed windows based applications that aid in calibration and analysis of Electronic Control Units in automobiles. Calibration tunes engine parameters for desired performance metrics.

Organization	NDS Services Pay TV Technologies, Bangalore. India.
Designation	Project Trainee - Internship. February 2008 to July 2008
Work Experience	Developed applications for Set-Top Box which are broadcasted on Media Highway Core platform.

Teaching, Recognition, Organization, and Professional Service

TEACHING
Spring 2017: Instructor of Record
Course: CSCE 206 - Strctured Programming in C++.
Number of students: 71.
Resonsibilities: Composing syllabus, teaching, creating exams and assignments, and final grading
Students' Feedback: URL
Fall 2016: Instructor of Record
Course: CSCE 206 - Strctured Programming in C++.
Number of students: 46.
Resonsibilities: Composing syllabus, teaching, creating exams and assignments, and final grading
Students' Feedback: URL
Teaching Assistant: Graduate and Undergraduate Courses
Computer-Human Interaction (CSCE 436)
Artificial Intelligence (CSCE 420)
Human-Centered Computing (CSCE 655)
Strctured Programming in (CSCE 206).

RECOGNITION
COGAIN Impact Award - A Fitts' Law Study of Click and Dwell Interaction by Gaze, Head and Mouse with a Head-Mounted Display. Authored by John Paulin Hansen, Vijay Rajanna, Scott MacKenzie, and Per Bækgaard. ETRA 2023, University of Tübingen, Germany
Beyond Scope Award - ACM Symposium on Eye Tracking Research and Applications, Seattle, WA, June 8-11, 2022.
First place winner - Student Research Week, graduate engineering poster category - Texas A&M University, Spring 2018.
Finalist - US south regional 3 Minute Thesis Competition, Conference of Southern Graduate Schools. Arkansas, Spring 2018.
Invited speaker at the Professional Development Award Ceremony by the Offfice of Graduate and Professional Studies. TAMU, Spring 2018.
Winner - challenge by the College of Engineering - Hackathon ’18 - Diversifying Space and Place (24 Hrs) - Texas A&M University, Spring 2018.
First place winner - 3 Minute Thesis Competition, doctoral category - Texas A&M University, Fall 2017.
People's choice award - 3 Minute Thesis Competition, doctoral category - Texas A&M University, Fall 2017.
Texas A&M representative at the - US south regional 3 Minute Thesis Competition, doctoral category - Fayetteville, AR in Feb 2018.
Certificate of appreciation for supporting Teaching for Transformational Learning, Texas A&M, Spring 2018.
Beyond Scope Award, in recognition of duties beyond expectation as the Video and Demo Chair at ETRA-2022, WA ,.
Research training program on Human Computer Interaction, Expert Resource Person, Nirma University, India, 2022.
Awarded the Basic Level Professional Development Certificate by the Offfice of Graduate and Professional Studies. Texas A&M, Spring 2018.
The Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) Travel Award sponsored by the Vice President of Research, Texas A&M, Fall 2017.
The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS) Research and Presentation Grant, Texas A&M, Fall 2017.
Received Graduate Teaching Fellow award by the Dwight Look College of Engineering - Texas A&M University, Spring 2017.
Received X - Factor award at the TAMU Diversity Accessibility Hackathon (24 Hrs) - College of Architecture, Texas A&M, Feb 2017.
Awarded second place in the IAP Research Poster Competition at Texas A&M, March 2017.
Finalist - ACM Student Research Competition, TAPIA 2017, Atlanta, GA.
Received Graduate Teaching Fellow award by the Dwight Look College of Engineering - Texas A&M University, Fall 2016.
Publication “Let Me Relax” received the Best Student Paper award at MobiHealth 2015, London, UK.
Awarded first place in the Graduate Poster Competition at the TAPIA 2016 conference, Austin, TX.
Awarded third place in the Student Research Competition at the ASSETS 2016 conference, Reno, NV.
Recognized as a CIRTL Associate - Fellow of the Academy for Future Faculty, Texas A&M University, Fall 2016.
Awarded second place in the university-wide “Student Research Week 2015” at Texas A&M University.
Awarded second place in the Accessibility Mapping Challenge at GIS Day 2016, Texas A&M University.
MS thesis research “Accelerometer-Based Gesture Recognition Framework” was awarded as an excellent project.
Department of Computer Science and Engineering one time scholarship - Spring 2016.
Received Graduate Teaching Fellow award by the Dwight Look College of Engineering - Texas A & M University, Fall 2016.
ACM Travel Grant - Student Research Competition - ASSETS 2016, Reno, Nevada - Fall 2016
ACM Travel Grant - Doctoral consortium and Poster presentation - IUI 2016, Sonoma, California - Spring 2016
TAPIA Scholarship - Doctoral consortium and Poster presentation - TAPIA 2017, Atlanta, Georgia - Fall 2017
TAPIA Scholarship - Doctoral consortium and Poster presentation - TAPIA 2016, Austin, Texas - Fall 2016
Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - CHI 2017, Denver, Colorado - Spring 2017
Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - ETRA 2016, Charleston, South Carolina - Spring 2016
Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - SAP 2016, Anaheim, California - Summer 2016
Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - TAPIA 2015, Boston, Massachusetts - Spring 2015
Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - TAPIA 2014, Seattle, Washington - Spring 2014
Honored with the Best Performance Award for the year 2009 at Bosch.
Received Best Performance Award at NOKIA for FlashLite design and other contributions.

RECOGNITION

COGAIN Impact Award - A Fitts' Law Study of Click and Dwell Interaction by Gaze, Head and Mouse with a Head-Mounted Display. Authored by John Paulin Hansen, Vijay Rajanna, Scott MacKenzie, and Per Bækgaard. ETRA 2023, University of Tübingen, Germany

Beyond Scope Award - ACM Symposium on Eye Tracking Research and Applications, Seattle, WA, June 8-11, 2022.

First place winner - Student Research Week, graduate engineering poster category - Texas A&M University, Spring 2018.

Finalist - US south regional 3 Minute Thesis Competition, Conference of Southern Graduate Schools. Arkansas, Spring 2018.

Invited speaker at the Professional Development Award Ceremony by the Offfice of Graduate and Professional Studies. TAMU, Spring 2018.

Winner - challenge by the College of Engineering - Hackathon ’18 - Diversifying Space and Place (24 Hrs) - Texas A&M University, Spring 2018.

First place winner - 3 Minute Thesis Competition, doctoral category - Texas A&M University, Fall 2017.

People's choice award - 3 Minute Thesis Competition, doctoral category - Texas A&M University, Fall 2017.

Texas A&M representative at the - US south regional 3 Minute Thesis Competition, doctoral category - Fayetteville, AR in Feb 2018.

Certificate of appreciation for supporting Teaching for Transformational Learning, Texas A&M, Spring 2018.

Beyond Scope Award, in recognition of duties beyond expectation as the Video and Demo Chair at ETRA-2022, WA ,.

Research training program on Human Computer Interaction, Expert Resource Person, Nirma University, India, 2022.

Awarded the Basic Level Professional Development Certificate by the Offfice of Graduate and Professional Studies. Texas A&M, Spring 2018.

The Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) Travel Award sponsored by the Vice President of Research, Texas A&M, Fall 2017.

The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS) Research and Presentation Grant, Texas A&M, Fall 2017.

Received Graduate Teaching Fellow award by the Dwight Look College of Engineering - Texas A&M University, Spring 2017.

Received X - Factor award at the TAMU Diversity Accessibility Hackathon (24 Hrs) - College of Architecture, Texas A&M, Feb 2017.

Awarded second place in the IAP Research Poster Competition at Texas A&M, March 2017.

Finalist - ACM Student Research Competition, TAPIA 2017, Atlanta, GA.

Received Graduate Teaching Fellow award by the Dwight Look College of Engineering - Texas A&M University, Fall 2016.

Publication “Let Me Relax” received the Best Student Paper award at MobiHealth 2015, London, UK.

Awarded first place in the Graduate Poster Competition at the TAPIA 2016 conference, Austin, TX.

Awarded third place in the Student Research Competition at the ASSETS 2016 conference, Reno, NV.

Recognized as a CIRTL Associate - Fellow of the Academy for Future Faculty, Texas A&M University, Fall 2016.

Awarded second place in the university-wide “Student Research Week 2015” at Texas A&M University.

Awarded second place in the Accessibility Mapping Challenge at GIS Day 2016, Texas A&M University.

MS thesis research “Accelerometer-Based Gesture Recognition Framework” was awarded as an excellent project.

Department of Computer Science and Engineering one time scholarship - Spring 2016.

Received Graduate Teaching Fellow award by the Dwight Look College of Engineering - Texas A & M University, Fall 2016.

ACM Travel Grant - Student Research Competition - ASSETS 2016, Reno, Nevada - Fall 2016

ACM Travel Grant - Doctoral consortium and Poster presentation - IUI 2016, Sonoma, California - Spring 2016

TAPIA Scholarship - Doctoral consortium and Poster presentation - TAPIA 2017, Atlanta, Georgia - Fall 2017

TAPIA Scholarship - Doctoral consortium and Poster presentation - TAPIA 2016, Austin, Texas - Fall 2016

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - CHI 2017, Denver, Colorado - Spring 2017

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - ETRA 2016, Charleston, South Carolina - Spring 2016

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - SAP 2016, Anaheim, California - Summer 2016

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - TAPIA 2015, Boston, Massachusetts - Spring 2015

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Travel Grant - TAPIA 2014, Seattle, Washington - Spring 2014

Honored with the Best Performance Award for the year 2009 at Bosch.

Received Best Performance Award at NOKIA for FlashLite design and other contributions.

ORGANIZATIONS
LEAD - Google Developer Group TAMU, Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
LEAD - Google Developer Group TAMU, Fall 2016 - Spring 2017
Organizer - Google Developer Group TAMU, Spring 2016 - Fall 2015
Executive Committee - TAMU Academy for Future Faculty, Fall 2016 - Spring 2017
Vice President, Social Events - Computer Science and Engineering Graduate Student Association, Spring 2015 - Fall 2015
Social Officer - Computer Science and Engineering Graduate Student Association, Spring 2014 - Fall 2014

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Conferences - Members of the program committee: ETRA 2023: Presentation Chair ETRA 2022: Demo and Video Chair ESIDA 2022: Exploratory Search and Interactive Data Analytics IUI 2022: Accessibility Chair IUI 2021: Tutorial Chair \| Student Consortium - Mentor MedAI 2020: EAI International Workshop on Medical Artificial Intelligence - Member of technical program committee IUI 2020: Member of the paper review committee ETRA 2019: Area Chair IUI 2017: Member of the paper review committee WIPTTE 2014, 2015: Member of the paper review committee
Reviewer - Conferences and Journals: 2026: CHI, IUI, EuroHaptics 2025: IMX 2024: CHI, CSCW, EuroHaptics, CogSci, IDC, IMX, UIST, UbiComp 2023: CHI, MobileHCI, HAI, COGAIN 2022: TEI, IMWUT, ETRA, CHI, IJHCS, IDC 2021: CHI, IEEE VR, IUI, IJHCS, MobileHCI 2020: IUI, IDC, IEEE VR 2019: CHI, ETRA, IEEE VR 2018: IUI, CHI, DIS, ETRA 2017: CHI, UIST, IDC, DIS, IUI, CSCW, CIPTTE 2016: UIST, IUI, ETRA, CIPTTE 2015: WIPTTE, IJHCI, CAD
CHI: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems IUI: Intelligent User Interfaces TEI: Tangible and Embedded Interaction IMWUT: Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies DIS: Designing Interactive Systems HAI: International Conference on Human-Agent Interaction ETRA: Eye Tracking Research and Applications COGAIN: Communication by Gaze Interaction MobileHCI: Human Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services IEEE VR: IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces UIST: User Interface Software and Technology IDC: Interaction Design and Children UbiComp: ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing IMX: ACM International Conference on Interactive Media Experiences CogSci: Cognitive Science Society IJHCS: International Journal of Human-Computer Studies IJHCI: International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction CAD: Computer-Aided Design WIPTTE: Workshop on the Impact of Pen and Touch Technology in Education
External Examiner: Ph.D. thesis review A novel hybrid MAC Schemes for optimizing network parameters in WSN [ Visvesvaraya Technological University, 2021 ] Design and Implementation of Techniques for Optimal Virtual Machine Utilization in Cloud Computing [ Visvesvaraya Technological University, 2020 ]
Judge CES 2022 Innovation Awards [ Judges panel ] CES 2021 Innovation Awards [ Judges panel ] Student Research Week - 2017 IDEA challenge - 2015
Mentoring - Research Aadil Hamid (MS, 2016 - 2018) Rahul Bhagat (MS, 2016 - 2018) Amy Li (BS, 2017 - 2018) Jeff Zaho (BS, 2017 - 2018) Purnendu Kaul (MS, 2014 - 2016) Siddhartha Karthik (MS, 2014 - 2016)
Mentoring - Senior Capstone Spring 2018: GoCooking, Team: Fall 2017: Evaluation of Artistic Works Through Web-based Eye Tracking, Team: Bailey Bauman, Regan Gunhouse, Antonia Jones, Willer Da Silva, Shaeeta Sharar. Fall 2015: PhysiotherAPPy, Team: Alex Davis, Rin Davis, Jacob Hile, Kavila Krishnan, Patrick Sheehan. Fall 2015: Gaze Interaction on Larger Displays, Team: Nick Hanneman. Fall 2014: KinoHaptics, Team: Patrick Vo, Jerry Barth, Matthew Mjelde, Trevor Grey Spring 2014: PebFit, Team: Chris Lowetz, Hunter McElroy, Aurea Del Moral
Mentoring - Aggie Challenge: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014.