CV
An extended version of my curriculum vitae is available here
Rajesh Neupane
College Station, TX
📧 rajesh@tamu.edu | 📞 (979) 739-8174
🔗 rajesh-neupane.github.io
Summary
Applied Machine Learning Engineer and Ph.D. candidate with 5+ years building production ML systems for agriculture. Expertise spans the full ML lifecycle: sensor data pipelines (accelerometer, thermal, robotic-milking telemetry), computer vision (YOLOv8/v11, segmentation), time-series modeling, and clinical validation against ground-truth labels. Published research in lameness prediction, mastitis detection, and heat-stress quantification. Proven ability to deploy models that work at scale — processing 80M+ records across 150+ commercial herds. Seeking applied AI engineering roles where I can build ML solutions that improve animal health, farm efficiency, and food system resilience.
Education
- 🎓 Ph.D. in Animal Science (ABD) — Texas A&M University
Expected Dec 2026- Dissertation: Precision Technologies for Dairy Cattle Health, Welfare, and Management
- 🎓 M.S. in Dairy Science — Agricultural Engineering — University of Kiel, Germany
May 2023- Thesis: Machine Learning Approaches to Predict Lameness in Dairy Cattle
- 🎓 B.V.Sc. & A.H. (DVM Equivalent) — Tribhuvan University — IAAS, Nepal
Dec 2019- Licensed Veterinarian, Nepal Veterinary Council (License No. 1330)
Technical & Clinical Expertise
- Disease Detection & Clinical ML: Ground-truth labeling protocols, sensitivity/specificity & ROC-based diagnostic validation, feature engineering from physiological time-series.
- Computer Vision & Deep Learning: YOLOv8/v11, CNNs, semantic & instance segmentation, keypoint/pose estimation, multi-frame tracking.
- Sensor & Time-Series Integration: Accelerometer behavior classification, thermal imaging, robotic-milking telemetry (Lely, DeLaval, AfiMilk), point-cloud/depth reconstruction.
- ML Frameworks & Tools: PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, hyperparameter tuning & experiment tracking (MLflow, Optuna).
- Programming & Pipelines: Python, R, SQL, Bash, HPC/Slurm, Docker, Git/GitHub.
- Clinical & Field Skills: Locomotion/lameness scoring, BCS, linear type traits, hoof-health & digital dermatitis assessment, cattle handling across robotic and conventional systems.
Professional & Research Experience
Genetics Data Analytics Intern — Genus ABS
May 2026 – Present
- Retrieved and analyzed robotic milking data (Lely) across 150+ commercial herds (~80M records).
- Developed novel phenotypes and estimated genetic parameters from continuous sensor streams to improve traits selection and animal health.
Data Science Ambassador — Texas A&M Institute of Data Science (TAMIDS)
May 2026 – Present
- Selected to promote interdisciplinary research and collaboration in data science.
- Delivered applied workshops on computer vision and accelerometer-based behavior modeling for animal-science audiences.
- Organized an Agro-Cybersecurity seminar on data integrity risks in sensor-driven livestock infrastructure.
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant — Texas A&M University, Dept. of Animal Science
Aug 2023 – Present
- Built and clinically validated an ML framework distinguishing genuine animal-health events from sensor noise or artifact—layering a lactation curve model, a THI-adjusted milk response model, and behavioral predictors (rumination, water intake) to flag physiologically real deviations.
- Developed YOLOv11 computer vision models for automated detection and staged classification of digital dermatitis lesions from on-farm hoof imagery; validated against trained-classifier ground truth.
- Designed and validated deep learning pipelines quantifying behavioral indicators of heat stress in robotic milking environments, integrating video, sensor, and herd-management records.
- Mined literature and public datasets (Semantic Scholar, PubMed, CrossRef) to inform detection-threshold design and track adoption trends in precision dairy technology.
- Instructor of Record for ANSC 429 (Dairy Production & Management) and ANSC 111 (Basic Animal Science)—trained students in precision monitoring systems and herd health interpretation.
R&D Intern — Precision Livestock Monitoring — STgenetics
May 2025 – Aug 2025
- Analyzed calf health and welfare sensor datasets.
- Built ground-truth review workflows and optimized processing pipelines for field-deployed monitoring hardware.
Master’s Thesis Researcher — ML for Lameness Detection — University of Kiel, Institute of Agricultural Engineering
Dec 2022 – May 2023
- Developed and clinically validated Random Forest, SVM, and gradient-boosting models on locomotion accelerometer data to predict lameness; published in PLOS ONE.
Data Analyst — University of Kiel, Institute of Animal Nutrition
Jun 2022 – Dec 2022
- Analyzed RumiWatch sensor data on grazing behavior, feeding patterns, and animal health using R and Python.
Selected Professional Development
- 🛠️ Building Real-Time Video AI Applications — NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (Oct 2025)
- 🛠️ Fundamentals of Accelerated Data Science — NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (May 2025)
- 🛠️ Fundamentals of Deep Learning — NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (Mar 2024)
- 🛠️ Fundamentals of Accelerated Computing with CUDA C/C++ — NVIDIA (Jan 2024)
Awards & Honors
- 🏆 Texas A&M Institute of Data Science Ambassador (2025–2026)
- 🏆 Travel Award — Dairy Cattle Welfare Council, ADSA, and Texas A&M University (2025)
- 🏅 Graduate Teaching Award of Merit — North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) and Texas A&M University (Jan 2025)
- 🎓 Interim Financial Aid – DAAD — German Academic Exchange Service (2023)
Publications & Conference Presentations
Journal Articles
- Evaluating machine learning algorithms based on thermal imaging and milk-based parameters to identify subclinical mastitis in dairy cows
Paudyal S., Neupane R., Shrestha B., Chiang H. I., & Aryal A.
Veterinary Quarterly, 2026, 46(1). - Characterization of failed milking events in a voluntary milking system and their implications for cow welfare and management
Neupane R. et al.
Journal of Dairy Science, 2026. (In-Press) - Impact of pen move events on rumination time, milk yield, and water intake in dairy cows
Neupane R. et al.
JDS Communications, 2026. - Evaluating machine learning algorithms to predict lameness in dairy cattle
Neupane R. et al.
PLOS ONE, 2024, 19(7), e0301167.
Extended Abstracts & Conference Proceedings
- Use of computer vision to detect and classify digital dermatitis conditions in dairy cattle — Animal — Science Proceedings, 2025, 16(4), 741–743.
- AI-driven quantification of heat stress indicators in individual dairy cattle — Animal — Science Proceedings, 2025, 16(4), 666–667.
- Evaluating effects of heat stress on welfare and efficacy of robotic milking systems — Animal — Science Proceedings, 2025, 16(4), 572–573.
Presentations & Posters
- Characterizing Failed Milking Events in a Robotic Milking System — Oral Presentation, ADSA 2024
- Evaluating the Effects of Heat Stress on Robotic Milking Systems — Poster Presentation, ADSA 2024
- Machine Learning Approaches to Predict Lameness in Dairy Cattle — Poster, Data-Driven Intelligent Agricultural Systems Symposium 2024
- Use of Machine Learning Tools for Disease Surveillance in Dairy Cattle — Oral Presentation, SWEETER Winter Computing Festival 2023
References
Dr. Sushil Paudyal
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science — Texas A&M University
📧 sushil.paudyal@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Angelika Haeussermann
Assistant Professor, Institute of Agricultural Engineering — University of Kiel, Germany
📧 ahaeussermann@ilv.uni-kiel.de
Publications
Neupane, R., Paudyal, S., Shrestha, B., Chiang, H.-I., & Aryal, A. (2026). "Evaluating machine learning algorithms based on thermal imaging and milk-based parameters to identify subclinical mastitis in dairy cows". Veterinary Quarterly.
Neupane, R., Ceja, G., Daigle, C., Tedeschi, L. O., Khanal, P., Valeris-Chacin, R., Xu, Z., & Paudyal, S. (2026). "Characterization of failed milking events in a voluntary milking system". Journal of Dairy Science. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2025-28232.
Shrestha, B., Pinedo, P. J., Neupane, R., Valeris-Chacin, R., Piñeiro, J. M., & Paudyal, S. (2026). "Dynamics of culling risk of Holstein cows in U.S. organic dairy herds". Journal of Dairy Science. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2025-28205.
Shrestha, B., Neupane, R., & Paudyal, S. (2026). "Impact of Summer Calving on Milk Production, Reproduction, and Culling Risk in Organic Dairy Cattle". Ruminants. 6(1).
Neupane, R., Fagundo, N., & Paudyal, S. (2026). "Impact of pen move events on rumination time, milk yield, and water intake in dairy cows". JDS Communications.
Paudyal, Sushil, Piñeiro, Juan M, Pilati, Artur Grando, Dauscheck, Douglas, Shrestha, Bhuwan, Neupane, Rajesh,. (2025) "Evaluating the impact of milk sample-based pregnancy test procedures on milk production and daily time budgets of dairy cows.". JDS Communications.
Neupane, R, Shrestha, B, Rodriguez, N, Paudyal, S,. (2025) "93. AI-driven quantification of heat stress in dairy cattle". Animal-Science proceedings. 16(4): 666-667.
Neupane, R, Shrestha, B, Paudyal, S,. (2025) "44. Evaluating effects of heat stress on the efficacy of robotic milking systems". Animal-Science proceedings. 16(4): 572-573.
Neupane, R, Pinedo, P, Paudyal, S,. (2025) "134. Use computer vision to detect different digital dermatitis conditions". Animal-Science proceedings. 16(4): 741-743.
Neupane, Rajesh, Aryal, Ashrant, Haeussermann, Angelika, Hartung, Eberhard, Pinedo, Pablo, Paudyal, Sushil,. (2024) "Evaluating machine learning algorithms to predict lameness in dairy cattle". Plos one. 19(7): e0301167.
Rana, Chandrakala, Subedi, Deepak, Kunwar, Shanti, Neupane, Rajesh, Shrestha, Birendra, Khan, Sharun, Singh, Dinesh, Kaphle, Krishna,. (2024) "Cystic Urolithiasis in Dogs: A Case Report and Review of The Literature".
Rana, C, Subedi, D, Kunwar, S, Neupane, R, Shrestha, B, Khan, S, Singh, DK, Kaphle, K,. (2022) "Cystic urolithiasis in dogs: A case report and review of the literature". Veterinary Sciences: Research and Reviews. 8(1): 1-7.
Neupane, R, Kaphle, K,. (2020) "Recent dynamics of poultry production in Nepal: Food security to sustainable production". Nepalese Veterinary Journal. Pages: 179-190.
Maharjan, Bishal, Neupane, Rajesh, Bhatta, Dikar Dev,. (2020) "Antibiotic residue in marketed broiler meat of Kathmandu Metropolitan City". Archives of Veterinary Science and Medicine. 3(1): 1-10.
Neupane, R, Kaphle, K,. (2019) "Bacteriological quality of poultry meat in Nepal". Int J Vet Sci.
Talks
June 17, 2024
Poster Presentation at American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Annual Meeting, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
June 16, 2024
Oral Presentation at American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Annual Meeting, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
May 15, 2024
Poster Presentation at Data-Driven Intelligent Agricultural Systems Symposium, College Station, TX, USA
December 05, 2023
Oral Presentation at SWEETER Winter Computing Festival, College Station, TX, USA
Teaching
