CSpotlight: Expanding Research on Campus

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in computer science specifically at the University of Minnesota? 

I’m originally from Minneapolis and I always thought that I would go to the University of Minnesota. It was the obvious choice as it’s only a few miles from where I grew up, and it’s a well-ranked program. 

How did you become interested in computer science? What are your specific interests within the field? 

I became interested in computer science as a kid by messing around with the family computer, specifically with audio software that my dad used. When I was about 12, I tried coding for the first time and ever since then, I knew I wanted to do stuff with computers. My specific interests are networks and wireless networks. 

Tell us more about your internship experiences. 

This summer I was a wireless research intern for a software company in Virginia. I spent 10 weeks there, and I learned a lot about radios. 

Are you involved in any student groups? What inspired you to get involved?

I am the president of the University of Minnesota’s Amateur Radio Club. I joined freshman year before my first semester started. I have an amateur radio license and I was curious if there were any other amateur radio operators on campus, and luckily we have a great group of people. 

Congratulations on your CS&E Scholarship! How will this scholarship impact your academic and extracurricular work? 

This scholarship allows me to spend more time on my studies, in the community, in extracurriculars, and doing research. I am both less worried about the financial side of things, and I have more time to do stuff I enjoy. It allows me to focus on more important things than how to pay for college. 

What do you hope to contribute to the computer science community at the University? 

I try to be helpful if anyone has questions or wants advice related to the major. In my campus jobs and student groups I get to help younger CS students with coding and software engineering principals which has been a lot of fun. I also represent students as a student member of the CSE Curriculum Committee, which oversees new courses and significant syllabus changes for CSE. 

Have you been involved with any research on campus? 

I have been doing wireless networkings and, such as tele-operational vehicles research since my second semester. I am working on a research project that relates to the security of sensor data streams from tele-operational vehicles or remote driving cars. The goal is to ensure that the data is secure and no one can steal or mess with the data, while keeping things fast enough so that the car does not get into any crashes. 

What advice do you have for incoming computer science students? 

Find something specific about computer science that you are interested in. Find a student group or a professor who does related work and ask to do research with them. Get involved as much as possible. 

What are your plans after graduation? 

I am planning to return to the University of Minnesota to pursue a PhD in computer science, where I hope to continue my current research in wireless networks and teleoperational vehicles. 

Are there any additional experiences that you would like to highlight in this article? 

I am also in the University of Minnesota Small Satellite Research Lab where I am the communications team lead. I am in charge of the communications to and from both of our satellites. It has been a great place to learn more about wireless communications and software development for critical systems.