Research

From intuition to inquiry.

Building Unburden made me realise that good intentions are not enough. If I wanted to design technology for children experiencing bullying, I needed to understand behaviour, evidence, ethics, and the limitations of my own assumptions.

Research Focus

My work explores questions at the intersection of:

  • Human-computer interaction
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Behavioural science
  • Child-centred technology
  • Emotional wellbeing
  • Responsible design

I am particularly interested in how technology can support vulnerable users without oversimplifying their experiences.

2025–Present

Independent research under Dr. Robert Chun

Mentorship of Dr. Robert Chun, PhD (UCLA)

I am conducting independent research on artificial intelligence and AI chatbots — analysing scholarly literature on advancements, applications, and ethical considerations. The process has challenged me to move beyond having an interesting idea and instead define a focused research question, engage critically with existing literature, examine methodology, interpret evidence, and communicate findings with precision.

One of my most important learnings is that research is not about proving what you already believe. It is about being willing to discover that your assumptions may be incomplete.

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Published Research

November 2025 · Published

Investigating the Use of AI to Detect Cyberbullying

Agastya Desai — International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT)
Volume 10, Issue 11 · Article Digital No. IJISRT25NOV532

Published research examining AI approaches to cyberbullying detection. This work grew from my interest in understanding whether artificial intelligence could help identify harmful online interactions and support earlier recognition of cyberbullying — while considering how technology can interpret human behaviour without losing sight of context, ambiguity, and emotion.

This work strengthened my interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and behavioural science.

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Key Milestones

November 2025

Research Paper Publication — IJISRT

"Investigating the Use of AI to Detect Cyberbullying" — published in the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, Volume 10, Issue 11 · Article Digital No. IJISRT25NOV532.

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February 6–8, 2026

IRIS National Fair — Gold Medal

Unburden: Support System for Children Affected by Bullying received the Gold Medal in Behavioural and Social Sciences. This recognition was particularly meaningful because Unburden began with a problem I had experienced personally.

February 2026

Sanjay Palsamudram Award — Behavioural & Social Sciences

This award strengthened my belief that technology becomes most meaningful when it begins with empathy and remains accountable to the people it is designed to serve.

May 9–15, 2026 · Phoenix, Arizona

Regeneron ISEF 2026 Finalist

Being named a Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist marked one of the most significant milestones in my research journey. For me, ISEF represents the evolution of an idea that began with personal experience, grew through research and development, and was strengthened through testing, feedback and iteration.

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