Alumna Endows SURF to Honor Parents

Sukhada Fadnavis with her parents and then Caltech President Jean-Lou Chameau at graduation.

Sukhada Fadnavis' parents gave her the freedom to explore, which took her from India to Caltech. Now she's giving other students the opportunity to chart their own course by endowing a summer undergraduate research fellowship.

Growing up in Pune, India, Sukhada Fadnavis (BS ’07) had everything she cared about within one square mile of her home: family, friends, and school. Most importantly, she had parents who gave her the freedom to explore her interests and ideas.

Those interests led her half a world away to Caltech, where she earned a BS in mathematics. That set her on a path to earning a PhD from Stanford University and then teaching at Harvard University. She transitioned to the tech industry where she worked for YouTube, owned by Google, for nearly a decade.

Now Fadnavis wants others to have the same opportunity to explore and succeed as she did. Ahead of the 20th anniversary of her graduation from Caltech, she's established the endowed Shubhangi and Sharad Fadnavis Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) to support undergraduate students conducting research through the Institute’s signature program.

By naming the fund for her parents, she enshrines their legacy of intellectual generosity and encouragement.

"The most important thing my parents did for me was let me explore. They didn't try to change me or force me down a path," she says. "Caltech was also a place where I could be myself. It allows you to keep your inner child alive and come out of your shell. Caltech made me feel like this is my place. I want others to get that same opportunity to experience this environment."

Endowing a SURF fellowship felt like a meaningful way for Fadnavis to give back after reaching stability in her own life and career. It also became a way to honor her parents through something enduring and deeply connected to the values they encouraged in her.

"I love the idea that my daughter and nieces will remember my parents in connection with something rooted in knowledge and research that ultimately benefits society," says Fadnavis. "We look forward to learning about the SURF projects supported through this fellowship for many years to come."

Mathematics as a Path to Caltech

In eighth grade, when Fadnavis took an interest in mathematics, her parents encouraged her to pursue Math Olympiad training. "The questions on the entrance exam were so different from what I was used to in school," says Fadnavis. "They made you think." She was hooked.

By ninth grade, she was learning calculus and enjoying access to a library of math and science books that were hard to come by in her hometown. One of those books was Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman, a 1985 bestseller by Nobel Laureate and Caltech physicist Richard Feynman.

The book sparked Fadnavis’ interest in Caltech. That interest was reinforced through conversations with her mathematics mentors, many of whom spoke admiringly of Caltech faculty and culture.

The encouragement to apply to Caltech came from a friend who had lived in the United States. "She convinced my parents by painting a picture of me studying at this prestigious university," she recalls.

Her friend followed through by signing Fadnavis up for the SAT, sending her scores to Caltech, and letting Fadnavis use her father's credit card since her family didn't have one.

Fadnavis was admitted to Caltech. The freedom her parents gave her, according to Fadnavis, came with real uncertainty. Financially, emotionally, and logistically, sending their daughter alone to the United States was a leap into the unknown. Not only would she be the first in her family to travel by airplane, she would also be the first to go abroad to college. Caltech’s financial aid program made the opportunity possible, but her parents also had to accept that they could not support her in many of the usual ways from halfway across the world. Still, they encouraged her to go.

"My father made sure I knew they were always here for me," she says. "My mom was a very brave person. She said 'We'll figure it out. Jump!'"

Making Connections at Caltech

Caltech's International Student Programs helped Fadnavis transition from life in India to college in California, starting with a two-week orientation before the start of classes. That included an introduction to culture in the United States and at Caltech, while also getting to know other international students.

"Caltech knows how to cocoon you and really take care of you," says Fadnavis. "I don't know whether I would have adapted as well anywhere else."

Beyond academics, Caltech’s culture also helped Fadnavis feel comfortable being herself.

"I wasn’t very used to openly expressing my own quirks growing up," she says. "At Caltech, people were passionate about all kinds of things: Rubik’s cubes, elaborate pranks, colorful tie-dye shirts. Being surrounded by people who were unapologetically themselves made me feel like it was okay for me to be myself too."

She also remembers countless acts of kindness from fellow students. One memory in particular has stayed with her over the years. Because she did not own a computer during her first year, she often spent long hours alone in Fleming House's basement computer lab. Eventually, the student who managed the House computers noticed and moved one into her room so she would not have to keep working alone.

Fadnavis chose to endow a SURF program based on her experiences completing two of the summer research fellowships in Caltech's math department.

"It was great spending 10 weeks not in the structure of class and homework, but exploring a problem through research," says Fadnavis. "SURF gives students a taste of what an academic or research career can feel like if they are considering that path. It’s also one of the first chances students get to make real contributions rather than simply complete assignments. The professors gave us research problems that were open-ended, challenging, but still approachable for undergraduates."

The SURF program also introduced her to other students who were far from home. "We had students from Cambridge who were housed in our dorm," she recalls. "It was fun to hang out with them and discuss our research. We became really good friends. The SURF program was the best way to spend a summer."

From Caltech to Harvard and Google

Fadnavis first imagined a life in academia after Caltech. She taught mathematics for three years at Harvard University, but then once again let her interests guide her. She spent a year helping a friend with a startup that promoted Indian artists and pivoted to work for Google.

Initially she worked on software that recommends what users should watch based on their viewing history. Today, as a senior software engineer, she focuses on enhancing user trust and safety. To identify problematic content, she uses machine learning techniques.

"Machine learning is deeply rooted in mathematics," she says. "With a strong math foundation, the data and systems become intuitive. Caltech helped set me up for success. It feels like a natural language for me."

For Fadnavis, intellectual curiosity and meaningful societal contribution have never been separate ideas. "I hope students leave Caltech with the confidence to pursue what genuinely fascinates them while also finding ways to contribute meaningfully to society," she says.

Looking back, Fadnavis sees the impact her parents, mentors, faculty, and Caltech has had on her life. "I hope this fellowship becomes part of that same chain of encouragement for future students," she adds.