Shalini De Mello
Shalini De Mello is NVIDIA's Director of Research, New Experiences, and leads its AI-Mediated Reality and Interaction group, which works on AI for human-computer interaction and dynamic 4D worlds. She earned master's and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and has researched human-centered vision at NVIDIA since 2013. By 2021, she led NVIDIA's Learning and Perception group, and her inventions contributed to DriveIX and Maxine. Her work includes a 2020 model for gaze and head redirection, plus 2025 research on streaming dynamic Gaussian scenes and generating 3D head avatars.
Timeline
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2004–2008
Electrical engineering at UT Austin
She earns a master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2004 and a doctorate in 2008 at the University of Texas at Austin.
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Since 2013
Leading Learning and Perception
Since 2013, she researches human-centered vision at NVIDIA; by 2021, she is a principal research scientist and lead in its Learning and Perception group.
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2020
Self-learning gaze models
In 2020, she coauthors a NeurIPS paper that proposes a generative face model with fine-grained control over eye gaze and head orientation.
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By 2021
DriveIX and Maxine
By 2021, her research contributes to NVIDIA DriveIX for AI-based automotive interfaces and Maxine for smart video conferencing.
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2025
Streaming dynamic Gaussian scenes
In 2025, her work includes QUEEN, which compresses and streams dynamic Gaussian splats, and GAIA, a generative model for realistic 3D head avatars.
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As of October 2026
Directing NVIDIA's AMRI group
As of October 2026, she is Director of Research, New Experiences, at NVIDIA and leads its AI-Mediated Reality and Interaction group. The group aims to create interactive physical AIs for dynamic 4D worlds.
Sources and credits
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