Theoretical Computer Science · IIT Gandhinagar

Priyanshi
Agrawal

I look for hidden shapes inside graphs, and how fast we can find them. Off the page, I write poetry, rap, and pick up any instrument or puzzle I can get my hands on.

कहकशां की हर अदा को शिद्दतें जब रास आईं,
चुनौतियां उन जगनुओं की आफ़ताब को भी भाईं

— अज़ीज़
Priyanshi Agrawal
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01 — About

Equations by day, poems by night

Priyanshi Agrawal

I'm a PhD student in Computer Science at IIT Gandhinagar, working in theoretical computer science — specifically on algorithms for finding small patterns inside large graphs.

My path here wasn't straight. I did a B.Sc. in Mathematics at St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad, then an M.Sc. in Mathematics at IIT Gandhinagar. Somewhere along the way, I got pulled toward the algorithmic side of math — the point where a proof turns into something you can actually run.

Outside the department, I'm a core member of the Ahmedabad Literary Society and outgoing Secretary of the Literary Club at IIT Gandhinagar. Research and poetry feel like the same instinct to me, just pointed in two directions — both are about finding structure in something that looks messy at first.

2024– PhD, Computer Science — IIT Gandhinagar
2022–24 M.Sc. Mathematics — IIT Gandhinagar
2019–22 B.Sc. Mathematics — St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad

02 — Research

Finding small patterns inside big graphs

current focus

Give me a large graph and a small pattern — a path, a cycle, some fixed shape — and I want to know how fast we can tell if that pattern sits inside it, as an induced subgraph. I work with polynomial-based methods and exploit automorphism parity to speed up detection, with a close eye on patterns like P₇ and C₇.

master's thesis · 2023–24

Mathematical Structures in Data and Music

Semester I — Data

I studied single-linkage clustering on high-dimensional data, coded it up in Python, and ran it on real institutional datasets.

Semester II — Music

I looked at how to rank Swara permutations in Rev-Colex order and their metrical patterns, and built the ranking algorithms in Python.

A conference talk slide with a poem about Alice and Bob, at IISc Bangalore

even our conferences quote poetry — Frontiers of Graph Algorithms, IISc Bangalore

03 — Teaching

Time in front of the classroom

4 semesters

I've worked as a Teaching Assistant for four semesters at IIT Gandhinagar, helping students work through course material, grading, and running problem-solving sessions. Course details coming soon.

04 — Record

Conferences, talks & service

Academic visits & conferences

  • 2026 FSTTCS — BITS Pilani, Goa Campus
  • 2025 Frontiers of Graph Algorithms — IISc Bangalore
  • 2024 FSTTCS — IIT Gandhinagar
  • 2024 Frontiers of Geometric Algorithms — IISc Bangalore

Papers and preprints are on the way — this list will grow.

Positions of responsibility

  • 2025–26 Secretary, Literary Club, IIT Gandhinagar
  • 2025–26 Co-organiser, CS Theory Seminar Series
  • 2024 Content Analyst, TEDxIITGandhinagar
  • — Core Member, Ahmedabad Literary Society
IISc Bangalore campus building

05 — Achievements

Academic, cultural, and beyond

Academic

  • World Rank 47, State Rank 1 — International Informatics Olympiad, 2017
  • Admitted to the Early Admit M.Sc. Program, IIT Gandhinagar (1 of 500 applicants), 2022
  • Certified, A.R. Rao Mathematics Competition, 2022
  • Zonal Topper, Mimamsa — IISER Pune, 2022
  • Gold Medalist, Insight Coding Competition, L.D. Engineering College — 2020, 2022

Cultural

  • Winner, Annual Poetry Competition Unkahi, IIT Gandhinagar — 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
  • Winner, Kavyanjali Poetry Competition — PDEU
  • Wrote & directed the winning Street Play, Inter IIT Cultural Meet 7.0 — 2024
  • Participant, Inter IIT Cultural Meet 8.0
  • Top 16 Poets of India, Kshitij Poetry Foundation — 2023
  • Winner, Poetry Competition, DA-IICT Cultural Meet — 2025

Leadership, service & sports

  • NCC — 'A' Grade in B & C certificates; Leading Cadet, trained junior cadets at CATC, 2021–22
  • NSS — Volunteer, community outreach and social service, 2019–22
  • Bronze Medalist (×2), State Wushu Championship — 2014–15
  • Gold Medalist (×2), District Wushu Championship — 2014–15
Team photo from Inter IIT Cultural Meet street play

Inter IIT Cultural Meet — the street play crew

06 — Creative

What I do when I'm not proving things

Poetry is where it started. But I get restless, and I'll pick up almost anything with a learning curve.

Priyanshi performing spoken word on stage
blog

Read my poems →

A growing collection of my poetry. New pieces posted as I write them.

performance

Rap

I write and perform rap — same instinct as poetry, just with a beat under it.

music

Instruments

Self-taught on flute, guitar, harmonium, and kalimba. I love the learning almost as much as the playing.

puzzles

Speedcubing

I solve Rubik's cubes — including 2×2 and 3×3 blindfolded — plus a few other twisty puzzles.

A handmade 3D origami peacock
craft

3D origami

Folding paper into modular 3D forms — a different kind of structure.

off duty

Reading & staying active

An avid reader, and a regular at the gym, the pool, and on a bicycle.

Priyanshi at the Kavyanjali poetry event Feminist Lit Fest poster featuring Priyanshi

07 — Contact

Let's talk graphs, papers, or poems