Dr. Rahul V. Tikekar

👋Welcome

Hi! I'm Dr. Tikekar — computer science educator, AI enthusiast, database fan, and lifelong learner. I love helping students discover that databases are not only powerful but surprisingly fun. My classes mix real world examples, hands on practice, and a bit of humor to keep things lively.

🎓Education

• Ph.D., Computer Science - Wayne State University
(Advisor: Farshad Fotouhi)
• M.S., Computer Science - Wayne State University
• B.E., Computer Science and Engineering - Bangalore University

📚What I Teach

• Database Systems (my Ph.D. specialization)
• Systems Programming

🗓️Current Courses

• CS 450 – Database Systems Concepts
• CS 367 – Computer Systems and Programming

🎓Teaching Style

• Focus on concepts — because without a strong foundation, no building - however fancy - can stand
• Active learning — because watching someone else type is not a sport
• Hands on labs with real tools and real data
• Lots of support, feedback, and encouragement
• Real world examples from my years at the IRS (no, I can’t check your refund)

🧠Research & Interests

• Generative AI & Agentic AI
• Graph analytics & data engineering
• Quantum computing (because why not?)
• Innovative teaching & CS pedagogy

🧰Resources for Students

• Office hours: A judgment free zone for questions, debugging, and caffeine powered brainstorming
• Canvas: All assignments, slides, and announcements live here
• Google Colab: Our playground for AI and data experiments
• GitHub: Great for version control and showing off your projects
• Career advice: Always happy to help you plan your next steps

✨Fun Facts