Vishwak Srinivasan

Vishwak Srinivasan is a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science working at the intersection of sampling and optimization theory. He develops sampling methods inspired by optimization techniques that leverage geometric structure of constrained spaces, including preconditioned variants that replace expensive nonlinear subroutines with efficient matrix operations. A complementary line of inquiry explores how Hamiltonian dynamics—a staple in state-of-the-art sampling algorithms—can accelerate convex optimization, with Vishwak demonstrating that trajectory aggregation yields provably accelerated algorithms. MATLAB is central to his work, enabling rapid prototyping of complex algorithms, verification of analytical results, and visualization of geometric concepts that guide theoretical development. As a MathWorks Fellow, Vishwak will develop a MATLAB toolbox implementing these algorithms with visualization capabilities for practitioners and researchers. His work could strengthen connections between optimization theory and practical application, making advanced sampling and optimization techniques accessible across multiple disciplines.