Outstanding Undergraduate Honored

Outcome/Accomplishment

The Center for Smart Streetscapes (NSF CS3) is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Columbia University with core partners including Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Nidhi Begur, a dual-enrollment student at FAU and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) student at CS3, was named as a Finalist for the Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award. This recognition highlights students with exceptional promise in computing research across North America.

Impact/Benefits

In addition to the CRA award, Ms. Beghur has one accepted peer-reviewed paper; two manuscripts under submission; and was awarded “Best Presentation of Session” at the 2025 IEEE UEMCON conference. Her CS3 research on pedestrian flow inference won 1st Place in the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair, as well as the prestigious U.S. Naval Award. 

Explanation/Background

Ms. Beghur is dual-enrolled at FAU High School and FAU itself. She joined CS3 as a summer REU student in 2025.

Nidhi Beghur is a dual-enrolled high school undergraduate REU student at CS3 who has won numerous awards for her exceptional promise in streetscape-related computing research.

Location

New York City, NY

e-mail

streetscapes@columbia.edu

website

https://cs3-erc.org/

Start Year

Microelectronics and IT

Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon
Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon

Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT

Lead Institution

Columbia University

Core Partners

Florida Atlantic University, Lehman College, Rutgers University, University of Central Florida

Fact Sheet

CS3 Fact Sheet.pdf
Nidhi Beghur is a dual-enrolled high school undergraduate REU student at CS3 who has won numerous awards for her exceptional promise in streetscape-related computing research.

Outcome/Accomplishment

The Center for Smart Streetscapes (NSF CS3) is a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) based at Columbia University with core partners including Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Nidhi Begur, a dual-enrollment student at FAU and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) student at CS3, was named as a Finalist for the Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award. This recognition highlights students with exceptional promise in computing research across North America.

Location

New York City, NY

e-mail

streetscapes@columbia.edu

website

https://cs3-erc.org/

Start Year

Microelectronics and IT

Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon
Microelectronics, Sensing, and Information Technology Icon

Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT

Lead Institution

Columbia University

Core Partners

Florida Atlantic University, Lehman College, Rutgers University, University of Central Florida

Fact Sheet

CS3 Fact Sheet.pdf

Impact/benefits

In addition to the CRA award, Ms. Beghur has one accepted peer-reviewed paper; two manuscripts under submission; and was awarded “Best Presentation of Session” at the 2025 IEEE UEMCON conference. Her CS3 research on pedestrian flow inference won 1st Place in the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair, as well as the prestigious U.S. Naval Award. 

Explanation/Background

Ms. Beghur is dual-enrolled at FAU High School and FAU itself. She joined CS3 as a summer REU student in 2025.