ACM-W Above and Beyond: Dr Raazia Sosan’s Journey

Dr Raazia Sosan’s expertise spans computer graphics, visualization, high-performance computing, and remote sensing. She has been the focal person for multiple national research collaborations with SUPARCO and has led GPU-accelerated rendering and satellite image processing projects. She has published in international journals, co-authored a Springer Nature book (2025), and delivered numerous invited talks on CUDA programming, AI pedagogy, and the metaverse. A recipient of three gold medals for highest GPA in her academic programs, she continues to empower women in computing through mentoring, leadership, and academic excellence.

What has been a highlight of attending the conference (utilizing the ACM-W Scholarship)? 

Attending SIGGRAPH 2020 through the ACM-W Scholarship—even in its virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic—was an immensely valuable learning experience. Despite the global restrictions, the conference provided a unique opportunity to interact with leading researchers and explore the latest advancements in computer graphics, visualization, and GPU computing.

At that time, I was in the critical phase of my PhD thesis, and the sessions on physically based rendering and GPU acceleration directly influenced my research direction and experimental methodology. The exposure I gained helped me refine my technical approach and broaden my understanding of high-performance computing.

This experience later proved instrumental in securing multiple funded research projects from SUPARCO, where I applied similar GPU-based parallel-computing and image-reconstruction techniques. The ACM-W Scholarship thus became a catalyst in transforming my academic learning into impactful, real-world research applications.

How did attending the ACM-W-sponsored conference impact your career? Did it lead to any important connections in your field? 

Although SIGGRAPH 2020 was held virtually, it provided me with tremendous learning opportunities and deep insight into GPU computing, visualization, and graphics. I attended several technical sessions and workshops, which refined my research approach during my PhD and later guided my funded projects with SUPARCO. While it didn’t lead to direct international connections, it significantly broadened my academic perspective and strengthened my expertise in high-performance computing.

What has been your career highlight? What are you most proud of?

My greatest career highlight came right as I completed my PhD. My defense was on 5th January 2024, and just a few days earlier, on 1st January 2024, I signed my first funded research project with SUPARCO. Winning this national-level grant was a proud moment that allowed me to apply my research in GPU computing and satellite image processing to real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully at a national scientific level.

What aspects of your career have you found challenging?

One of the main challenges in my career has been building and sustaining research in high-performance and GPU computing within limited local resources. Despite these constraints, I successfully established an HPC–AI Research Lab at Salim Habib University, equipped with 10 high-end GPUs, to support advanced research in parallel computing, AI, and visualization. Balancing administrative responsibilities, teaching, and research has also been demanding, but each challenge has strengthened my leadership and persistence as a researcher.

Was the connection to ACM-W helpful or important in any immediate and lasting way?

The ACM-W connection was both inspiring and lasting. It provided me with international exposure and confidence at a crucial stage of my PhD journey. The recognition motivated me to initiate the ACM Student Chapter at Salim Habib University and mentor students—especially female students—about the benefits of ACM-W and the opportunities it offers for growth, collaboration, and leadership in computing.

Is there anything else we can highlight about your story?

I successfully organized the 1st International Conference on Computing and Artificial Intelligence at Salim Habib University, where I had the honor of serving as the Conference Convener. My experience at SIGGRAPH 2020 through the ACM-W Scholarship broadened my vision and confidence to lead such large-scale academic events that promote research and innovation in computing.

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