I was born on 28 September 1977 in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, northeastern India – bordering Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet/China.

Alma Mater

I did my schooling in the most prestigious public school of the state – Tashi Namgyal Academy. In 1993, I topped the school and state in the O-Levels exams. In 1995, I topped the A-Levels. I was the Head Boy and was awarded the Founders’ Medal for the Best All Round Student. I was also the Vice President of All Sikkim Students’ Association.

That year, I won an SIA/NOL scholarship for undergraduate studies in Singapore, which came with a 6-year bond. I was awarded the Bachelor of Applied Science, Computer Engineering (Honours – Upper Second Class) from the Nanyang Technological University in 1999.

I'm currently pursuing my PhD in Information Systems at the National University of Singapore.

Industry Experience (5 1/2 years)

From May 1999 – Feb 2001, I worked for MediaRing Ltd, the first loss-making company in Singapore to go public and benefited from the Employee Share Option Scheme. As part of a 5-member team, I learnt the technology behind Voice-over-IP – that enabled people to make calls from computer-to-computer and from computer-to-phone.

As part of the core strategy group, I worked with Innova Solutions in California (Santa Clara) and India (Hyderabad) from Feb 2001 – Feb 2002, identifying technology gaps and developing prototypes/solutions to meet the deficiencies in existing products/technologies.

I was then exposed to Biotechnology, working for a Singapore startup – HeliXense Pte Ltd, for the remainder of 2002.

My experience in Digital Cinema came from GDC Technology Ltd, providing Cinema technology to India, Singapore and venturing into China and US.

Marriage

In December 2003, I married Dr Archana Agarwal, an MBBS doctor from India – from the tea hills of Darjeeling.

University/Teaching Experience (3 years)

I'm currently a PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, National University of Singapore (NUS). I've published a number of papers in top-ranked journals and conferences. I also serve as the Chairman of Association of Pacific-Rim Universities Doctoral Students' Network (APRU DSN).

After I complete my PhD, I hope to get a faculty or post-doctoral position at a US university, preferably in the New York City region where my wife Dr. Archana Agarwal is doing her medical residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Jacobi Medical Center .

Other Aspects

I’m an Oil and Water-Colour Artist, something I’ve done as a child. I'm also a part-time actor/model for Singapore television. My other important hobbies are public-speaking/debating (was President of the NTU Debating Society 1998-1999), writing, traveling/trekking and reading. World affairs interest me a lot. I've read both volumes of Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs. I am a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi.

Beliefs

I believe in the universality of brotherhood. I want to do great things and make a lot of difference during my stay on earth. Contact me!

- Naresh 2004