Ashoka University

Ankita Sarkar is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Ashoka University. Their research focuses on correctness-first algorithm design. Their theoretical work has produced algorithms in clustering and social choice, while their interdisciplinary contributions appear in diverse fields, including robotics, natural language processing, and data visualization. They are especially interested in how uncertain inputs affect clustering objectives and how this affects infrastructural application areas like mass transit.

Prof. Sarkar is a theoretical computer scientist by training, with a PhD in Computer Science from Dartmouth College, earned in 2026. Their dissertation, titled “Approximation Algorithms for Center-Based k-Clustering”, was supervised by Prof. Deeparnab Chakrabarty. Their Master’s and Bachelor’s education is from Chennai Mathematical Institute, with a Master’s thesis supervised by Prof. Prajakta Nimbhorkar. Prof. Sarkar is also a student of vocal music and is interested in interdisciplinary work that utilizes this competency.

In addition to algorithms research, Prof. Sarkar is interested in the meta-science of LLM assistance in proof-based disciplines, with an orientation towards replicable and human-positive practices. They are also invested in mentoring scholars of computing and algorithms at all levels and in removing structural barriers that affect marginalized researchers.