Computing Off Campus: Creating Boundaries and Experiencing New Things
Tell me about your research! What are your responsibilities? What tasks are you working on over the summer?
My research at the university is human-centered artificial intelligence (AI). We are trying to get people to rely appropriately on AI, which involves designing interfaces, and testing or evaluating how people use AI in experimental settings. I traveled and attended a conference for my research this summer.
Where did you travel to and what did you like most about it?
I traveled to Athens, Greece, and it was my first international trip. I enjoyed being around other researchers working on similar problems. They each had different perspectives and this conference in particular was very interdisciplinary. Outside of computer scientists, there were psychologists, economists, and lawyers. This opened my eyes to new research problems and new ways of looking at my work. I did not have time to dedicate to sightseeing, but I ended up seeing quite a bit of the city. My hotel was about 30 minutes away from the conference venue by foot, and I managed to get lost on more than a few commutes.
What is the most important thing you have learned thus far?
The most important thing I have learned this far is finding balance, because a PhD involves a lot of self-sufficiency and autonomy. It is known for taking hold of people's entire lives, and you have to be able to practice self-sufficiency and autonomy while still creating boundaries. How I like to approach it is I treat research as a 9-5, like any other job. After 5 p.m., I feel free to not think about my PhD. Having those boundaries is very helpful for mental health.
How did your school work prepare you for this role?
A lot of the school work that I did did not directly help me with my PhD. If I am developing an interface that I’m going to test on people, my foundational computer science skills come in handy, because that involves programming. The 8000 level classes and seminars where we read and discuss papers were incredibly helpful. Those taught me skills that I need to use in my research all the time.
How did you become interested in computer science and what are your specific areas of interest?
My interest in computer science extends far back to middle school, because I coded using Code Academy which kicked off my interest. I was first interested in how games could randomly generate worlds and I wanted to pursue more into that topic of creative procedural generation. Currently, my focus has shifted more to human relationships with those models and how we use them due to drastic technological advancements.
What are your future career goals? How has this research opportunity impacted your goals?
I want to do research in industry, and my latest experience helps with that significantly. I am building up my research experience, getting publications, and going to the conference was extremely helpful, because the main thing you can get out of those conferences is networking. Getting to meet people and getting those perspectives was extremely helpful.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue research in the future?
I would recommend expanding and leveraging your network. A huge part of education in academia beyond being an undergraduate is who you know, which factors into everything. I would recommend to try and get into research immediately and reach out to faculty that you have taken classes with to establish a connection. If they don’t have space in their lab or they are not doing the type of research that you want, they can help connect you with other people. Getting your foot in the door with that first experience is the most difficult, but once you get the ball rolling and figure out what you want to do, you’re setting yourself up for success.