Ojasvi Khanna named 2026 Data Science Distinguished Alum

Millions of gaming consoles around the world sit idle at any given moment, quietly consuming energy in the background. While many resign themselves to this overlooked cost of “always on” technology, Ojasvi Khanna recognized an opportunity to prove that data science can drive sustainability at scale.

Currently a senior data scientist at Microsoft Xbox, Khanna has been named the recipient of the 2026 Data Science Distinguished Alum Award. This annual honor, the highest bestowed by UC Berkeley’s Data Science Undergraduate Studies (DSUS) program, recognizes her landmark contributions to environmental conservation in the technology industry and her dedicated work building professional pipelines for the next generation of Berkeley data scientists.

From reducing global energy waste to mentoring students finding their own paths, Khanna’s work reflects a singular vision: technical excellence is most powerful when it leads to positive human impact.

Innovation at the intersection of data and sustainability 

While Khanna has always been drawn to entertainment, it was a passion for a "behind-the-scenes" societal challenge that drove her to innovate: environmental sustainability in the tech industry.

At Xbox, Khanna built machine learning systems that predict when players are likely to step away, allowing consoles to automatically shift into lower-power states without disrupting the user experience. This innovation alone can reduce a device’s carbon footprint by approximately 20%.

She has since led other projects at Xbox focusing on forecasting and behavior prediction, all with an environmental lens. 

“Ojasvi doesn’t just solve technical problems, she applies machine learning with purpose and vision,” said nominator Anup Shah, Principal Data Science Lead at Xbox, Microsoft. “Her work exemplifies how data science can be a tool for positive, lasting change.”

It’s also exactly the kind of work Khanna set out to do, though not in the way she first imagined.

When she arrived at UC Berkeley, she planned to study environmental science. However, she quickly realized that policy alone wasn't the right fit.

“I wanted to actually build things,” she said. “I wanted to create systems that could make change at scale.”

That realization led her to the Data Science major. Its interdisciplinary focus gave her the tools to design solutions that operate across geographic boundaries. After landing a transformative internship using machine learning to predict wildfires, Khanna knew she had found her calling. 

“That was the moment,” she says. “I realized this is what I want to do.”

The Art of the “People Data Scientist”

While her technical work is grounded in logic, Khanna’s approach is deeply informed by a human-first perspective she calls being a "people data scientist." This mindset is a direct inheritance from her upbringing in a family of artists. Growing up surrounded by painting, music, and dance, she learned to see the world not as a series of data points, but as a collection of expressions.

“Gaming is one of the few places where art, music, storytelling, and technology all come together,” she explained. “It’s really about human experience.”

By using data to advocate for the value of a game’s score or the draw of hand-drawn art styles from independent creators, she ensures the "human" element isn't lost in the algorithm. This multidisciplinary lens benefits both the users and the artists, demonstrating the unique value of data scientists who bring diverse perspectives to the table.

This focus on the human impact of her work not only drives her interest in solving complex sustainability challenges, it has also led to a commitment to the students coming up behind her. As she innovates, she also reaches back to pull others forward.

Building Pathways for the Next Generation

Over the past several years, Khanna has become a central figure in the Berkeley data science community, mentoring through the DSUS Career Connections Program and the Data Story student organization. She has hosted technical interview workshops, provided one-on-one mentorship, and helped develop resources to support students navigating early career decisions.

Her motivation is simple: giving back is part of who she is.

“It was always expected growing up,” she said. “Being part of your community, contributing in whatever way you can. It’s just something you do.”

For Khanna, that means giving her most valuable resource: time. Whether it’s mentoring a student through the job search process or writing a recommendation letter for a graduate program, it’s the human connection she finds most fulfilling.

“You meet people with such different backgrounds and motivations,” she said. “It expands how you see the world. And I hope I can do the same for them.”

The 2026 Distinguished Alum

Ojasvi Khanna’s recognition as the 2026 Distinguished Alum reflects a career defined by stewardship – of the environment, of art, and of the Berkeley community.

“Berkeley shaped me in so many ways,” she says. “Being able to stay connected, to give back, and to be part of the next generation…it’s really meaningful.”