TPP student Anthony Valiaveedu SM ’26 is a highly experienced AI researcher and systems engineer with a background in system safety and a current graduate student at MIT. With a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Anthony has held various roles at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including supporting the agency’s AI Strategic Plan and conducting reactor inspections. His skills include data analysis, project management, and engineering design.
What is the focus of your research? What sort of knowledge and disciplines does it bring together? How will it make an impact?
The focus of my research was to evaluate energy development and deployment within Ukraine in a reconstruction context. This research merges aspects of data analytics, structural engineering, and energy systems to evaluate energy system deployment within Ukraine. The hope would be to provide insights into the feasibility of meeting Ukraine’s broader energy goals by considering infrastructure requirements.
This summer you interned with DiXi Group. Who did you work with and what did you do?
My MISTI summer work focused on energy resilience in Ukraine through research with the DiXi Group. This work integrated technical, policy, and geopolitical considerations, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russian invasion. I explored how infrastructure planning, engineering analysis, and policy development intersect in wartime conditions. The project contributes to Ukraine’s future energy security by supporting strategic planning for energy resource distribution and system resilience. Additionally, this summer I held a visiting professorship at King Danylo University, and gave a seminar on engineering risk analysis for AI systems, sharing insights with students and faculty in public and applied sciences.
How does the internship connect to your current research and future plans?
This internship broadened my understanding of engineering risk analysis by adding an international and wartime planning perspective. I gained exposure to European energy law, geospatial analysis, and resilience strategies—skills that directly support my current research. The experience also deepened my interest in the role of engineers in public policy and global security, aligning with my long-term goal of working at the intersection of engineering, policy, and international development.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge MIT-Ukraine and MISTI for this opportunity to provide engineering support and the chance to learn international engineering philosophies. I would also like to thank the DiXi Group and the Florence School of Regulation for providing me with this unique experience and allowing me to grow as an engineer.
