As we head into another summer, we’re excited to extend a warm welcome to the latest additions to our Upper Hand team! Meet Valeria Castillo, Harshwardhan Raghunath Patil, Trishita Dhara, and Evan Chung!
At Upper Hand, we believe in the power of bringing in fresh perspectives that continue to improve our product and our brand, and we’re excited to see what each of these individuals can bring to our team.
Let’s get to know Val, Harshwardhan, Trishita, and Evan!
Valeria Castillo is one of Indiana’s newest residents, coming from Houston, Texas. She is a recent graduate of Ball State University, where she majored in Marketing! Val is fluent in Spanish, and lived in Mexico for about 10 years!
Val has joined our team as a marketing content specialist, where she is responsible for growing our organic marketing channels. By creating engaging content for our social media platforms (Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X), contributing to The Playbook, and more, Val is excited to help increase brand awareness of Upper Hand. And of course, we’re excited to have some fun on our socials along the way (Rumor has it, some mini mic interviews are coming soon!).
A: I am excited to further my knowledge and experience within the Marketing field and other aspects while learning all about the company. In addition, I am excited to work with a close team like Upper Hand is, while doing it in a comfortable environment like it is at the office!
A: Achieving a set goal, at the right time, at the right place.
A: I have moved homes four different times throughout my life!
A: My hobbies include attending hot yoga and hot pilates classes as well as Orange Theory. I like to spend a lot of time with my friends and going out to try new restaurants or get drinks. I enjoy reading rom com and watching/listening to podcasts! I enjoy practicing golf and am getting better at it every time!
Harshwardhan Patil is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, where he majored in Data Science. While at IU, Harsh represented the Data Science Club, holding positions as Secretary, Director of Public Relations, and President. He was also a member of IU’s chess team D, helping his team to a runners-up finish in the NACE Starleague Collegiate Chess Tournament last fall.
Harsh joins our team as a Machine Learning Engineer. In this role, he is responsible for designing and implementing database pipelines that help us uncover patterns and trends in complex datasets. His efforts will help us scale our Upper Hand AI platform.
A: I bring a unique blend of skills to the Upper Hand team, backed by 2 years of experience as a Data Engineer at Infosys Limited and a prior experience in Software Development. My expertise includes handling and working with data, data analysis, data visualization, machine learning, and developing downstream applications for large language models (LLMs).
A: I define success as completing a task within the specified timeframe with ease and efficiency. To me, success is a byproduct of careful planning. I always keep in mind the quote, ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’
A: A fun fact about me is that if you make me believe in something, I’ll hold onto that belief for the rest of my life. Also, I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes in my free time.
A: Outside of work, I enjoy playing chess, listening to music, reading books(latest hobby), doing origami, and watching stand-up comedy.
Trishita Dhara is a data scientist with a Masters in Data Science from Indiana University Bloomington. She joins the Upper Hand team as a Machine Learning Engineer, helping us grow and scale our Upper Hand AI offerings.
Trishita has experience in Data Science and Machine Learning. Her experience includes working as a Data Science Intern at Indiana University and as a Machine Learning Data Engineer at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Trishita has also interned at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna. She has expertise in various technologies, including AWS, Azure, and several programming languages, and my work includes publications and research recognized in academic conferences.
A: I bring a unique combination of advanced technical skills and practical experience in machine learning and data science. My professional background includes developing state-of-the-art machine learning models, demonstrating my ability to leverage complex algorithms and frameworks. My proficiency in AWS and Databases, along with various programming languages, allows me to handle diverse technical challenges effectively. Additionally, my experience in both research and industry, including roles at Indiana University and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), equips me with a broad perspective and innovative problem-solving skills
A: Working at Upper Hand excites me because of the opportunity to apply my machine learning expertise in a dynamic and forward-thinking environment. I am eager to collaborate with a talented team that values innovation and continuous improvement.
A: Success is achieving meaningful outcomes through my skills, delivering high-quality solutions, and creating value for the company and its customers. It involves continuous learning, effective collaboration, and making a positive impact through my work.
A: I am a chocolate lover, I eat chocolates every day! Also I am a big fan of Roger Federer.
A: I love to travel and explore new places. Wildlife and nature photography is my hobby. I like trying new things…it can be new food, new places, new hobbies, or new technologies!
Evan Chung has joined the Upper Hand team as a Machine Learning Engineer, while also collaborating with our product development team. A resident of the Chicago area, Evan is currently a student-athlete at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he is majoring in Software Engineering and minoring in Japanese. Evan is also a member of the Rose-Hulman baseball team.
Evan is already making a big impact on our product team, having built a few new features inside the Upper Hand app in his first couple of weeks! Be sure to check out what’s new to Upper Hand to stay up-to-date on the latest upgrades.
A: I’m excited to be able to use my technical skills of coding and finally be able to apply it to a company that works with sports, one of the things I have a lot of fun doing and watching.
A: I define success as being able to perform to the best of your ability and to leave nothing on the table. If you did that, then you gave it all you could and that is a success in my eyes.
A: I have watched countless different movies over the past years.
A: Outside of work, I’m interested in baseball, Jazz music, learning languages and instruments
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