Pradeep Kumar Yellapu

Pradeep Kumar Yellapu is a Research Assistant at the Xylem Lab, University of Maryland, where his work covers Earth observation (EO), artificial intelligence (AI), and user experience (UX) design. His focus is on translating complex satellite data into clear, actionable intelligence for users who need it the most, including farmers, government analysts, and policymakers who may not have a technical background but whose decisions shape food security across regions.

In his role, Mr. Yellapu leads the design and architecture of the Xylem AutoPilot, a satellite data platform operational across six East and Sounthern African countries, building AI-augmented systems that convert complex remote sensing signals into decision-ready intelligence. He conducts stakeholder research directly with government analysts to ensure the tools meet their needs, and is currently developing a usable area estimation interface that connects geospatial workflows to something non-technical users can actually work with. His belief is simple; thoughtful design decisions must be built on listening to users' voices through data, to ensure that evidence is turned into impact.

Beyond the technical work, Mr. Yellapu leads the visual identity of the entire Xylem ecosystem, including the Xylem Lab, the Xylem Institute, and Dr. Catherine Nakalembe's personal website. Drawing on his background in UX research and product design, he builds Figma design systems that use LLM-assisted tooling and MCP-powered agentic workflows to maintain consistent branding across all platforms.

Mr. Yellapu holds an M.S. in Data Science and a B.Tech. in Computer Science and Business Systems, a foundation that bridges science, technology, and design, reflecting the versatility in his field of work.