Rakesh Balamurugan is a Ph.D. student in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering (SoMAM) at the University of Connecticut, where he is advancing research at the intersection of computational design, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing. Under the mentorship of Dr. Horea Ilies and in collaboration with the U.S. Army DEVCOM GVSC, Rakesh is developing next-generation methods for design automation and failure prediction, using GPU-accelerated algorithms and optimization frameworks.

His academic journey began in India, where he completed his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering at Anna University. During the pandemic, Rakesh pivoted to entrepreneurship—launching a construction materials business that scaled rapidly to a turnover of 1.4 million INR within six months. This early experience ignited his passion for blending innovation with impact. He went on to complete a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Arizona State University, where his thesis was later featured in NewsRX and his research story profiled in UConn Today under the title “D2REAM Engineering: Where Research Meets Imagination.”

Rakesh brings a unique lens to JLLA—as both an academic and an entrepreneur. Now a general body member of the John Lof Leadership Academy, he chaired a workshop in Fall 2024 and actively participates in JLLA programming. “I came to JLLA to sharpen the leadership skills I’ll need not just to run a company—but to lead impactful, scalable ventures,” he shares.

Beyond the lab, Rakesh has founded Codex Genie, a venture he nurtured through the NSF I-Corps Northeast program. He is currently evaluating its long-term potential while exploring ways to apply his technical expertise toward broader societal problems. Whether it’s AI-driven optimization or meaningful entrepreneurship, Rakesh is focused on building tools that leave a legacy.

“JLLA introduced me to diverse leadership styles and decision-making frameworks across academia and business,” he notes. “That exposure has helped me think more strategically, both in research and in life.”