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Krithika Manohar

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Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering

Education

  • Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, 2018
  • M.S. in Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, 2015
  • B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2013

Previous appointments

  • Von Kármán Instructor in Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech, Sep - Dec 2020
  • Postdoctoral Scholar in Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech, Oct 2018 - Aug 2020

Research Statement

Dr. Manohar’s research focuses on developing algorithms for data-driven prediction and control of complex dynamical systems. Her work uses dimensionality reduction techniques rooted in operator theory and manifold learning to discover physically meaningful features from data, and optimize sensors and actuators for downstream decision-making (sparse sensing). Target applications of sparse sensing optimization include fluid flow reconstruction, control, image recovery, and aircraft manufacturing. She is also interested in sparse sensing and forecasting in the context of partially observed multiscale systems, which commonly occur in fluid dynamics, materials science, and biology.

Select publications

  1. Manohar, K., Kaiser, E., Brunton, S. L., & Kutz, J. N. (2019). "Optimized sampling for multiscale dynamics." Multiscale Modeling & Simulation, 17(1), 117-136.
  2. Manohar, K., Brunton, B. W., Kutz, J. N., & Brunton, S. L. (2018). "Data-driven sparse sensor placement for reconstruction: Demonstrating the benefits of exploiting known patterns." IEEE Control Systems Magazine, 38(3), 63-86.
  3. Manohar, K., Hogan, T., Buttrick, J., Banerjee, A. G., Kutz, J. N., & Brunton, S. L. (2018). "Predicting shim gaps in aircraft assembly with machine learning and sparse sensing." Journal of manufacturing systems, 48, 87-95.
  4. Manohar, K., Brunton, S. L., & Kutz, J. N. (2017). "Environment identification in flight using sparse approximation of wing strain." Journal of Fluids and Structures, 70, 162-180.

Honors & awards

  • National Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 2018
  • Boeing Award for Excellence in Research, University of Washington, 2017
  • Seattle ARCS Foundation Fellowship, University of Washington, 2013-2017

News

NSF grant funds composites research

The grant was awarded to Assistant Professor Mohammad Malakooti and Assistant Professor Krithika Manohar.

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AI for engineering

The AI Institute in Dynamic Systems isn’t quite a year old, but its directors are already laying the groundwork to transform engineering education and, ultimately, the field.

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