🔍 On the Job Market! Available for full-time positions starting 2025! Contact me
Bhavana Mehta

Bhavana Mehta

Ph.D. Candidate · University of Pennsylvania

Distributed Systems · Adaptive Databases · ML for Infrastructure

About

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Computer & Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania, advised by Prof. Boon Thau Loo and co-advised by Prof. Mohammad Javad Amiri. I also collaborate closely with Prof. Ryan Marcus on adaptive data management and distributed learning systems.

My research focuses on high-performance distributed databases, intelligent blockchains, and machine learning for systems optimization. I develop algorithms and systems that make data-intensive applications more efficient, adaptive, and reliable—combining rigorous quantitative analysis with practical engineering solutions.

📢 Currently on the job market! I'm seeking full-time industry positions starting 2025! Please reach out at bhavanam@upenn.edu

Research Interests

My research interests span distributed systems, machine learning for systems, and high-performance computing:

Selected Projects

Adaptive Query Optimization Engine

Developed a self-tuning query optimizer that uses reinforcement learning to dynamically adjust execution plans based on workload patterns, reducing query latency by 40% in high-concurrency environments.

Technologies: PostgreSQL, TensorFlow, C++
Distributed Consensus Framework

Designed and implemented a Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus protocol that scales horizontally while maintaining strong consistency guarantees, enabling secure transactions in untrusted environments.

Technologies: Go, Rust, Distributed Systems
High-Frequency Data Processing Pipeline

Built a low-latency streaming data processing framework capable of handling 100K+ events per second with sub-millisecond processing guarantees for time-sensitive financial applications.

Technologies: Java, Kafka, CUDA
Quantitative Performance Modeling

Created statistical models to predict system performance under varying loads, optimizing resource allocation and reducing infrastructure costs while maintaining SLAs.

Technologies: Python, PyTorch, Time Series Analysis

Selected Publications

View Full Publication List Google Scholar

Experience

Research Assistant

2019 - Present

University of Pennsylvania

  • Conducting research in adaptive distributed databases and machine learning for systems.
  • Worked on TCP migration projects in collaboration with Microsoft Research.

Teaching Assistant

2020 - 2024

University of Pennsylvania

  • CIS 471: Computer Architecture (Instructor: Joe Devietti)
  • CIS 548: Operating Systems (Instructor: Boon Thau Loo)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

2015 - 2018

Nirma Institute of Technology

  • Research in embedded systems, IoT optimization, and human action recognition using deep learning.

Research Intern

Summer 2017

RISE Lab, IIT Madras

  • Worked on FPGA-based high-speed divider architectures (radix-4 SRT dividers).

Design Engineer

2018 - 2019

Bluespec Inc.

  • Architected and optimized RISC-V cores with a focus on pipelining and timing closure.
  • Automated deployment of hardware cores from high-level specifications
  • Developed testing frameworks for hardware validation