Nishant Bhakar
Computer Science and Physics student
@ UC Berkeley
nishant.bhakar@berkeley.edu
About Me
Hello! I'm Nishant, an undergraduate student studying Computer Science and Physics at UC Berkeley.
As an undergraduate researcher, I am advised by Prof. Dan Klein in the Berkeley NLP Group. My current research interests are in natural language processing, particularly in developing algorithms for solving complex language tasks. I'm broadly interested in the intersection of NLP and artificial intelligence, focusing on enhancing AI's logical reasoning capabilities.
Outside of research, I'm also involved with teaching and competitive programming. I've served as a TA for CS189 Machine Learning and CS198 Intro to Competitive Programming. I'm also the cofounder and VP of Competitive Programming at Berkeley, fostering a community of problem-solvers on campus.
Research Experience
Researcher, Berkeley NLP Group
May 2023 - Present
Advised by Prof. Dan Klein
- Developed novel algorithms to solve cryptic crossword puzzles, improving accuracy from 37% to 85%.
- Expanded upon Berkeley Crossword Solver, focusing on deconstructing clues and applying complex wordplay strategies
Awards and Achievements
- ICPC World Finalist: 36th at World Finals in Luxor, Egypt
- 1st in Pacific Northwest Division 1; 13th at North American Championship
- USA Math Olympiad Qualifier (top 250 nationwide)
- USA Computing Olympiad Platinum (top 200 nationwide)
- USA Physics Olympiad Qualifier (top 150 nationwide)