Aug 2024 –May 2029
University of Southern California
Ph.D. in Computer Engineering
- GPA: 3.94/4.00
- Advisor: Prof. Feng Qian
Prediction-Driven QoE Optimization for Video Calls over LEO Satellite Networks
IEEE Conference on Computer Communications
Ph.D. Student in Computer Engineering at University of Southern California
Ritvik Janamsetty
I am a third-year Ph.D. student in Computer Engineering at the University of Southern California, advised by Prof. Feng Qian in the USC IMMERSE Lab. My research lies at the intersection of networking, machine learning, and interactive systems. I build adaptive systems that anticipate network behavior rather than react to it, so that interactive applications feel seamless even on imperfect networks. Previously, I earned degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science from Duke University, working on mobile augmented reality under Prof. Maria Gorlatova.
- Video Streaming
- Mobile Systems & 5G
- JEPAs & World Models
- Mixed Reality
News
- May 2026Our work on prediction-driven QoE optimization for video calls over LEO satellite networks, led by Bin Hu, appeared at IEEE INFOCOM 2026. Link
- Jun 2025VitalWave, our open-source high-frequency wearable platform led by Lauren Lederer, was accepted at IEEE BSN 2025. Link
- Aug 2024Started my Ph.D. at USC in the IMMERSE Lab, advised by Prof. Feng Qian.
- Jul 2024Our paper on environment texture optimization for mobile AR, led by Tim Scargill, was published in IMWUT. Link
- May 2024Graduated from Duke University with a B.S.E. in ECE (with Distinction) and a B.S. in Computer Science.
Publications
VitalWave: An End-to-End Open-Source High-Frequency Wearable Device and Data Collection Platform
IEEE-EMBS International Conference on Body Sensor Networks
Environment Texture Optimization for Mobile Augmented Reality
Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies
Demo Abstract: Edge-based Augmented Reality Guidance System for Retinal Laser Therapy via Feature Matching
IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks
Machine Learning Models for Paraphrase Identification and its Applications on Plagiarism Detection
IEEE International Conference on Big Knowledge
Education
Aug 2020 –May 2024
Duke University
B.S.E. in Electrical & Computer Engineering (with Distinction)
B.S. in Computer Science
- GPA: 3.80/4.00
- Thesis: Environmental Manipulation in Augmented Reality
- Advisor: Prof. Maria Gorlatova
Experience
Aug 2024 –Present
USC IMMERSE Lab — Graduate Research Assistant
- Built a compact JEPA-based world model pretrained on network telemetry to have one shared learned representation that can drive many network control tasks such as adaptive bitrate streaming and congestion control.
- Leading the first measurement study of WebRTC under 5G mobility using a custom Android testbed that aligns app-layer stats with radio signaling to explain mobility-induced quality drops.
- Designed a mixed reality user study that measures how latency-based cognitive attacks affect human performance in immersive fire-evacuation training.
Jan 2022 –May 2024
Duke I³T Lab — Pratt Research Fellow
- Built an extensible edge-computing architecture for computer vision on the HoloLens 2 that uses gaze data to prioritize processing, cutting processing time by 75%.
- Designed and ran a user study measuring how environmental textures affect cognitive workload in AR using head- and eye-gaze analytics and surveys.
Oct 2021 –Present
Duke Big Ideas Lab — Undergraduate Research Assistant
- Designed the hardware and firmware for an nRF52840-based wearable that samples vitals faster than commercial devices to enable ML-based infection detection.
Awards & Honors
Feb 2024
USC Viterbi School of Engineering/Graduate School Fellowship ($45,000)
Sep 2023
Duke Christensen Family Center for Innovation Fellowship ($4,000)
Dec 2021
Duke Pratt Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($5,000)
Mar 2020
National Merit Scholarship ($2,500)
Jun 2019
Congressional Award Gold Medal
Teaching
Spring 2024
ECE 350: Digital Systems (Teaching Assistant) — Duke
Spring 2024
CS 308: Advanced Software Design (Teaching Assistant) — Duke
Student Activities
Aug 2025 –Present
UAW Local 872 — Union Organizer
- Organized graduate workers across the ECE department at USC to grow union membership and participation.
Sep 2023 –May 2024
Duke Christensen Family Center for Innovation — Tech Equity Fellow
- Advanced community-based entrepreneurship in Durham by building a formal support process for local organizations seeking funding.
Aug 2021 –May 2023
Duke Open Design Studio — Open Design Strategist
- Led a research team developing sustainable models for engagement between communities and technologists.
May 2021 –May 2023
Duke Tech for Equity — Co-Director
- Ran a summer tech-for-good internship program coordinating five agile student teams.
Jun 2019 –Apr 2021
Climate Activism — Youth Media Lead
- Connected underrepresented voices in the climate movement to press resources as a youth media lead, with work featured in Time, Al Jazeera, and Teen Vogue.