Tech careers can take you in unexpected directions, and each of us—Clary, Anh, Melita, and Ramisa—has traveled a different path this summer. From optimizing large-scale systems and exploring scientific data storage, to applying machine learning and enhancing robotic privacy, our experiences have stretched across various tech domains. In this panel, we’ll talk about how we adapted to new environments, tackled real-world problems, and built skills that will shape our future careers. It’s not just about the technical work; it’s about the lessons, teamwork, and growth we experienced along the way. Whether you’re starting your journey or looking for insights, join us as we share what we learned and how you can apply it to your own path in tech. Also, the panel features students with diverse experiences in the tech field, with some focusing on industry internships and others on academic research. They will discuss how their respective experiences have influenced their understanding of technology and career aspirations. This session offers a well-rounded view of industry practices and research innovation.

Moderator: Isabelle Beaudry, Assistant Professor of Statistics

Maximizing Efficiency: Enhancing System Performance Through Database Query Optimization
Clary Nguyen ’25, Computer Science and Math double major

HPC and Large Data Storage
Anh Nguyen ’26, Computer Science and Statistics double major

Estimating COVID-19 Daily Infections Using Wastewater RNA Data and Artificial Neural Network
Melita Madhurza ’26, Computer Science and Statistics double major

Enhancing Privacy in Domestic Robotics
Ramisa Tahsin Rahman ’25, Computer Science major, Mathematics minor