Santi Phithakkitnukoon is originally from Chiang Mai, Thailand. He received both of his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Digital Signal Processing and Communications from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. He is currently working with Dr. Ram Dantu as a research assistant. His interest has been about applying machine learning techniques to real world problems to design and develop algorithms that allow computing devices to assist people for a better quality of life. His current research studies include context-aware mobile computing, mobile/online social analysis, and email shaping. Santi has published his works and served as program committee member and reviewer for several international journals and conferences such as IEEE, ACM, and AAAI. He has been collaborating with researchers from MIT Media Lab, British Telecom, and UT-Dallas.

Santi has won the Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities Award in March 2009, the University Scholarship Committee Scholarship in 2008, the Robert B. Toulouse Dissertation Award in 2008, the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award from the Federation of North Texas Area Universities in 2007, and UNT Doctoral Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2007. Santi is a member of Phi Kappa Phi (National Honor Society), Eta Kappa Nu Association (National Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society), Tau Beta Pi (Electrical Engineering Student Honor Society), Golden Key International Honor Society, and a student member of IEEE, ACM, and AAAI. He has completed his dissertation proposal in June 2008 and is preparing to defend his dissertation in September 2009.