Letter from the dean

As this calendar year comes to a close, I wanted to reflect and express gratitude for many of the accomplishments that have happened during the last quarter in the School of STEM.

As you know, the school is committed to serving all students, especially those from underserved communities, and creating opportunities to raise awareness and participate in activities beyond the traditional classroom is essential for their success.

Holly Gion, STEM Advisory Board chair, and I would like to highlight some of the investments that have been making a meaningful impact for students. The first STEM Advisory Board scholarships were awarded this autumn quarter, providing critical financial support for students with significant financial need. The first endowed faculty fellowship was awarded to recognize outstanding success in undergraduate research mentorship.

The board also launched an ambitious series of events focused on raising awareness of career pathways across the spectrum of STEM disciplines. These events provide students with guidance about what to do while they are students as well as how to transition to the workforce. Keep watch for events and updates on social media聽(,听,听)聽鈥斅爐his is a great way to stay connected to STEM! I am deeply grateful for the advice and support advisory board members provide to the school. In this newsletter you can read about the legacy of Ralph and Doreen Boy. Ralph is one of the first STEM Advisory Board members and our first emeritus board member.

I am excited to report that the School of STEM fundraised $28,700 at the recent I heart 56吃瓜网 Bothell luncheon. Some of the proceeds from this event will fund research scholarships to increase experiential learning opportunities for students who collaborate with faculty or community and industry partners. Experiences like these help students discern their professional pathway, which is especially important to 56吃瓜网 Bothell鈥檚 large population of first-generation college students. Thank you for your generous contributions and support  鈥� they help STEM students significantly!

Now that we have settled into Innovation Hall, we hosted a STEM Soir茅e, a night of innovation and impact, in October to celebrate this new space that transforms traditional classrooms and offers improved and expanded lab spaces. At the event we unveiled the newly named electrical engineering student project/capstone lab, the 鈥淒ecuir Room,鈥� thanks to the generous gift from Joseph Decuir in honor of his father Laurence Decuir.

The School of STEM has been anticipating an announcement about who will be named the next permanent dean for the School of STEM. With this newsletter planned for Tuesday, it was nice timing that the 56吃瓜网 Bothell Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs announced on Monday that I will have the privilege to continue on in this role as the official spokesperson for the school. A big thank you to everyone who participated in contributing to this process.

We are looking forward to launching a new year and exploring innovative ways that we can continue to collaborate to enhance the student experience. Together with you, we will transform lives, one student at a time.

Happy Holidays to everyone from the School of STEM!

– Jennifer McLoud-Mann

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Hovesepian realized during her undergraduate path that studying Biology and going into research probably wasn鈥檛 the right path for her and she didn鈥檛 really know where to go from there. 

鈥淏asically, it was really just a combination of knowing that I needed to do something else 鈥� not knowing what that was,鈥� Hovesepian said.  

From Biology to bytes 

As an employee at the University of Washington, she decided to utilize the and began taking entry level software engineering courses. She tried auditing and sitting in on an introduction to software engineering course but stopped attending two weeks into class. Her interest was sparked, but she lacked the belief in her abilities to be able to do the work. The following summer after chatting more with her friends who work in the software engineering industry, she found the motivation to enroll in the course.  

“The second time around, for some reason, things just started making sense,鈥� Hovesepian said. 鈥淪o I stuck with it. I finished it. Did pretty well.鈥� 

Hovesepian looked into ways to further her education and pivot her career path, and she found the GCSDD program at 56吃瓜网 Bothell.  

“It is an actual degree, even though it’s not a bachelor’s or a master’s,鈥� Hovesepian said.  

鈥淎 lot of boot camps that I was looking at, they’re good in their own way and you get a different kind of experience,鈥� she expanded. 鈥淏ut you don’t really get anything that you can show as a form of a degree, which tech doesn’t care about nearly as much as other industries.鈥� 

Speed-running a tech transition 

The GCSDD is a part-time, nine-month curriculum intended for people interested in switching careers towards the software engineering industry. The program also provides a pathway for individuals to continue their education and pursue a Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering or Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering. 

The program’s structure offered a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, tailored for individuals from non-traditional backgrounds. Hovesepian said that the courses gave her an understanding of the basics of a software engineering degree in a very short time frame which helped her to land a job in the field.  

鈥淭here’s only so much you can teach people in a part-time program in nine months,鈥� Hovesepian said. 鈥淵ou get the basics of a software engineering degree, and a good amount of preparation for what you need to know to be able to interview for a job.鈥� 

Community impact on career changes 

Despite the long hours of commitment to both the program and working a full-time job, Hovesepian said the greatest thing she gained from the program was her connections to her classmates. They all became a support system for each other, creating study groups and friendships to last much longer than nine months.  

鈥淵ou’re just all in the same boat together, but you also are coming from similar backgrounds,鈥� Hovesepian said. 鈥淚 met at least two other people there who were also from Biology or basic science backgrounds who are now trying to switch into tech.鈥� 

The study groups she and her peers formed supported each other through the classes and switching to the technology field in general.  

鈥淚t’s really hard to switch from any career to another, but tech especially is difficult to learn; it’s difficult to do,鈥� Hovesepian said. 鈥淚t’s so easy to get discouraged. Just being able to talk to people who have gone through the same thing or something similar was so huge for me.鈥� 

Looking to the future 

Upon finishing her graduate certificate program, Hovesepian enrolled in the Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering. She completed two quarters of the program before putting it on hold to invest all her time in a software development engineer position at Amazon. She didn鈥檛 want to stress about managing a new program while starting a new job and learning how to be a better engineer in a workplace was her priority.  

鈥淚 might come back to it,鈥� Hovesepian said. 鈥淭hat just really depends on how work goes and how my goals change.鈥� 

Hovesepian acknowledges that while formal education is incredibly helpful, practical experience can often be just as crucial. Her ability to adapt and prioritize her career goals has been key to her success following the GCSDD.  

Hovesepian鈥檚 journey underscores the impact that educational programs like the GCSDD at 56吃瓜网 Bothell can have on career transitions. While the path from Biology to software engineering held challenges, Hovesepian’s story highlights the importance of perseverance, practical experience and the support from community. As she continues to navigate her career her experience reflects a broader truth: with dedication, belief in yourself, and the right resources, career shifts can lead to fulfilling new opportunities.  

The post Navigating the tech transition: A journey from Biology to Software Engineering with 56吃瓜网 Bothell’s graduate certificate聽 appeared first on School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

The School of STEM hosted its inaugural award recognition ceremony and recognized students and faculty for their outstanding achievements, academic excellence, resiliency, engagement, leadership and service during the academic year.

Faculty awards

Sr. Chief Ronald G. Gamboa Endowed 56吃瓜网 Bothell STEM Faculty Fellowship Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions in undergraduate research mentorship, broadening participation from underserved communities and inspiring the next generation of 56吃瓜网 Bothell School of STEM graduates to make a positive impact in their broader community and the world.

Recipient: Dr. Joey Shapiro Key, associate professor, Physical Sciences Division

Michelle Gamboa created this endowment in honor of her father, Sr. Chief Ronald G. Gamboa. But a special thanks to Michelle, your endowment will leave an everlasting impression on our School and your father’s legacy will support undergraduate research, inspire students and change lives. Thank you, Michelle, for founding this in the School of STEM at 56吃瓜网 Bothell. Read more about the .

Read the 56吃瓜网 Bothell story “A gift to 鈥榯he faculty who make 56吃瓜网 Bothell so special鈥�.”

I believe that someone’s path in life can change in a moment, all it takes is a person or an experience that influences that person and gives them a spark of inspiration.

Michelle Gamboa, endowment founder, STEM advisory board co-chair, alumna

Physical Sciences Division (PSD) awards

Student Success Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the chemistry or physics program through achievements in mentoring, service, scholarship, and research.

• Chemistry: Lauren Woods
• Physics: Roland Rothwell

Academic Achievement Award

In recognition of outstanding performance in chemistry or physics coursework.

• Chemistry: Sam Bowers
• Physics: Abby Wang
• Earth System Sciences: Neil Hicks
• Earth System Sciences: Sylvia Gholson

Outstanding Peer Facilitator

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments as a peer facilitator and helping other students achieve their goals and potential.

• Chemistry: Ben Green
• Physics: Parbeen Sekhon

Outstanding Researcher

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in chemistry or physics research.

• Chemistry: Shiho Higuchi
• Physics: Randall Te

Earth System Sciences Recognition of Community Engagement

Recipient: Aidan McQuilkin

Biological Sciences (BIO) awards

Engagement and Leadership Award

In recognition of contributions to the biology program through achievements in community building and student engagement.

• Recipient: 56吃瓜网 Bothell Biology Club
  • Tavleen Singh
  • Shrinithi Arun
  • Tavleen Singh
  • Ilhan Dirie
  • Michelle U. Vo
  • Esha K Gill
  • Ethan Y Park
  • Jiwan Kaur Tib
  • Dang Truong

Computing & Software Systems (CSS) awards

CSS Best Poster

In recognition of the best Computing & Software Systems (CSS) Division poster presentation during the Capstone Colloquium.

Recipient: Chrishansel Raphael Dimiputra

Engineering & Mathematics (E&M) awards

E&M Academic Excellence Award

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in mathematics or engineering research.

• Mathematics: Andrew Cheney
• Mathematics: Martin F. Martinez
• Mathematics: Lana Young

E&M Leadership and Service Award

In recognition of contributions to the mathematics or engineering programs through achievements in mentoring, service, scholarship, and research.

• Electrical Engineering: Casey Duncan
• Mechanical Engineering: Cory Morin

E&M Resilience Award

In recognition of resilience in overcoming significant obstacles and challenges in the mathematics and engineering programs.

• Mathematics: Marie Culp
• Mathematics: Morgan Futty
• Mathematics: Taylor Gibbons
• Electrical Engineering: Majeedah Abdul-Azeem

Service to the School of STEM

In recognition of exceptional work at the School of STEM Capstone Symposium and dedication to serving the students of 56吃瓜网 Bothell.

Recipients:

• Haydn Tamura
• Anna Ritchie
• Erika Lee

Celebrating achievement

Each award recipient demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation within their respective fields. Their accomplishments not only reflect academic excellence but also underscores their commitment to advancing research, fostering community engagement, and pushing the boundaries of STEM education.

The 56吃瓜网 extends its heartfelt congratulations to all award winners and expresses gratitude to the faculty, staff, and student community for their continuous support and contributions to making the STEM Symposium a resounding success.

Learn more information about the School of STEM Symposium.

鈥� Enter password: STEM2024

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Enter the Founded in 2013 by Dr. Ambareen Siraj of Tennessee Tech University, WiCyS aims to recruit, retain, and advance women in cybersecurity, providing a platform for networking, mentorship, and professional development. As a leader in cybersecurity research and education, the 56吃瓜网 School of STEM Division of Computing & Software Systems (CSS) sponsored three students and one faculty member to attend the 2024 WiCyS conference in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Forging new paths  

Among the attendees was Anne Ha, a former medical resident and 56吃瓜网 Bothell alumna of the bachelor鈥檚 degree in Computer Science & Software Engineering, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity option. Ha found reassurance in her academic journey as she noted the diverse backgrounds of the other attendees and speakers. 

“I realized that there are so many other women that have come to the field with different backgrounds, and that’s inspired me a lot,” Ha said. 

As Ha continued through her undergraduate journey, she became more interested in cybersecurity and landed her current internship in a security engineer role. She decided that she should take some cybersecurity classes to help prepare her for the internship when she received the invitation from the CSS division to apply for the WiCyS conference. 

Comprised of keynote speakers, workshops, resume reviews, and socials, the conference offered attendees valuable career insights and networking opportunities. Ha highlighted that this conference was unique in that connections with professionals didn鈥檛 feel transactional. She was able to speak with people for up to an hour about her resume, career tracks, interviewing skills, and more 鈥� an experience that she felt was unique to the WiCyS conference.    

Ha noted that she鈥檚 generally an introverted person but the genuine kindness and encouragement from industry professionals at the conference helped grow her confidence.  

鈥淭his conference made me more open to other people,鈥� Ha said. 鈥滱nd I’d like to offer the same help to other women, to other students, if I have a chance to.鈥� 

Expanding expertise  

Graduate student Rithi Afra Jerald Jothi was working in a computer science role when she applied to 56吃瓜网 Bothell鈥檚 Computer Science & Software Engineering master鈥檚 program. While in the program, she took classes to dive deeper into the cybersecurity side of computer science since she was already doing some of the work in her job. Seeking more guidance about career and academics paths, Rithi applied for the CSS scholarship to attend the WiCyS conference because she felt like it would be a good opportunity to learn more about the security side of the computer science field.  

鈥淚 was a little confused if I have to direct my career toward the software development side or security,鈥� Rithi said. 鈥淪o, I was just looking out for opportunities which would enhance my ideas on these domains so that it would give me a clearer picture.鈥�  

At the conference, Rithi connected one on one with industry professionals and received a lot of advice on her career 鈥� valuable wisdom that she says she would not have been able to receive had she not attended.   

鈥淎ll of them were able to give me insights on how to find professions which would combine both of these fields,鈥� Rithi said. 鈥淪o that was the first benefit, the biggest benefit, which helped me to shape my career at this point.鈥�  

“I want to see more women in cybersecurity in my own classrooms and then in the industry and so on.鈥�  

Dr. Geethapriya Thamilarasu

Empowerment through community  

For Dr. Geethapriya Thamilarasu, associate professor in the CSS division, the conference offered more than just professional development; it provided a sense of community and support.  

“I’m the only female faculty in cybersecurity here, so sometimes meeting with other women in the cybersecurity field provides that sense of community and support in a way that I don’t usually find here,” Thamilarasu said. 

Thamilarasu attended the conference twice before but shared that it鈥檚 always an inspiring experience because of all the different keynote speakers sharing their stories. 

鈥淣o matter what stage of career you are in, hearing from these successful women in cybersecurity can be extremely inspiring, motivating and empowering,鈥� Thamilarasu said. 鈥淎nd then you come back ready to pass the torch on to get more women in the field. I want to see more women in cybersecurity in my own classrooms and then in the industry and so on.鈥�  

Elevating voices  

Gender diversity in cybersecurity is something that resonates deeply with Thamilarasu as she is currently the only female faculty in cybersecurity at 56吃瓜网 Bothell. She believes that recruiting and encouraging women to join these fields of study will be 鈥渆xtremely important for the growth of the industry as a whole.鈥�  

Thamilarasu notes that a diverse workforce brings a broader range of perspectives and experiences to the table 鈥� essential for developing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies.  

鈥淵ou don’t know if this is a field for you unless you go and see people who look like me, who talk like me, who think like me are leading this field in so many different ways,鈥� Thamilarasu said.   

Thamilarasu’s commitment to diversity echoes the broader efforts at 56吃瓜网 Bothell, where initiatives like sponsoring student conference attendance are championed to support women in STEM fields. The university’s investment in fostering diversity and inclusion is further demonstrated by the proactive actions of students like Lily Aguirre and Margaret Lanphere, the president and vice president of the , who secured funding through the Student Academic Enhancement Fund to attend the WiCyS conference. Their initiative underscores the importance of empowering students to take ownership of their learning and professional growth.

The students and professors who attended the conference all echo the same sentiment鈥� they gained so much from their attendance.   

鈥淭he feeling of the inspiration and the empowerment that comes from the conference is unmatchable,鈥� Thamilarasu said. 鈥淚 think that is something everybody should experience.鈥� 

The post Investing in diverse futures: Bothell students and faculty find community at the 2024 Women in Cybersecurity conference聽 appeared first on School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

Letter from the dean

On February 1, I was honored to step into the role of interim dean for the School of STEM. My immediate focus was to provide continuity for faculty and staff as the school conducts a national search to identify the next permanent dean later in the calendar year. I have been utilizing my super power 鈥� listening 鈥� to ensure that those around me have the support they need to be successful.

I have been excited to collaborate with others to enhance the student experience for STEM students. We have increased industry engagement on campus by hosting a variety of events such as the Avanade-sponsored hackathon and the Boeing AI Innovation Challenge that you will read about later in the newsletter. We generated $21,346 on Husky Giving Day from contributions to the STEM Excellence Fund, STEM DEI Excellence Fund, and STEM Scholarship Fund 鈥� thank you again for these generous contributions and support!

I would like to encourage everyone to join us on June 7 for the STEM Symposium, a signature event where students present results from experiential learning opportunities and are recognized for their excellence by the faculty. As a part of the STEM Symposium, we will host the first Annual All STEM Recognition Ceremony from 1:00-1:45 p.m. in Discovery Hall, room 061 to celebrate our amazing students receiving awards and the new Sr. Chief Ronald G. Gamboa Endowed 56吃瓜网 Bothell STEM Faculty Fellowship Award winner!

To our STEM students graduating this year, I extend a heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you! You have demonstrated excellence in challenging STEM programs and the triumphs you have achieved are remarkable 鈥� a true testament to your unwavering dedication and brilliance. I am proud of you and excited for you to continue on your journey.

As I finish my 11th year in the School of STEM, I continue to be extremely proud of how my community supports students both inside and outside the classroom. Together, we transform lives, one student at a time.

– Jennifer McLoud-Mann

The post Spring Quarterly Crossroads appeared first on School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

As a university that primarily serves underrepresented student populations 鈥� comprised of about 40% first-generation, 72% students of color, and 44% eligible for federal Pell Grants 鈥� imposter syndrome is a common feeling amongst 56吃瓜网 students.

Michael Cho, a 2022 56吃瓜网 Bothell alumnus knows this feeling exactly.

鈥淚 struggle with it a lot still myself,鈥� Cho said regarding imposter syndrome. 鈥淏ut it is just about having the confidence in yourself that you can do these kinds of things.”

Second chance

Cho began his journey into academia from a prison cell through the This experiment grants people who are incarcerated eligibility to receive the Pell Grant for postsecondary programs. Cho was part of one of the six pilot programs through Centralia College and was the first graduate for Washington State Prisons. Following his release, Cho was admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering program at 56吃瓜网 Bothell.

鈥淚 realized that education’s really a great way to get out of the system and transformational for your life,鈥� Cho said. 鈥淚 was always learning, growing and I liked the academic environment.鈥�

As an undergraduate student, Cho engaged in research with Assistant Professor Afra Mashhadi, focusing on federated machine learning. This research utilized edge devices 鈥� mobile phones 鈥� to collaboratively train a machine learning model to mitigate biases. This process allows for more diverse user-driven data, which ultimately can lead to more comprehensive research.

鈥淗e’s been a very inspirational person with the way he challenges himself, like really being motivated to learn more,鈥� Mashhadi said. 鈥淲hen he said he wanted to do a Ph.D., I was just so happy because I think it really fits his personality of craving to be on top of research and learn more.”

Pursuing excellence

Cho accepted an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. offer from the University of Georgia Institute of Technology after completing his degree at 56吃瓜网 Bothell and is now working in a research lab focusing on the use of biosignals. More specifically, Cho is working on denoising, or making clearer, the signals from devices like smart watches and chest monitors. When the devices move on your wrist or chest, it can interrupt the signal and make it more difficult to interpret.

Inspired by his current work and the research he did as an undergraduate student, Cho decided to submit a research proposal to the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The NSF GRFP is the country鈥檚 oldest fellowship program that directly supports graduate students in various STEM fields. It provides students with a three-year stipend and access to opportunities for professional development. NSF GRFP fellows can become knowledge experts who significantly contribute to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering.

鈥淚 thought it would be a good opportunity to tell my story and try to apply for things that would make more of an impact,鈥� Cho said.

Cho鈥檚 proposal for the fellowship combines his research in biosignals with his undergraduate work in federated machine learning. With enough user-generated data from a system like the one Cho proposes, the hope is that these biosignal watches or patches could more accurately detect things like cardiac diseases.

鈥淚t’d be cool to have a system that would be able to gather data from different sources and train it on these phones,鈥� Cho said. 鈥淵ou can get more diversity of data and have the system more inclusive to other populations and demographics.鈥�

Upon learning that he had received the fellowship, Cho recalled feeling excited, surprised, and very fortunate that he would be able to make his professors and advisors who helped him along the way proud.

Embracing the past, shaping the future

Previously, Cho stated his plans to one day teach science behind bars, and while that is still a goal, he is not entirely sure of his path going forward. While he completes his doctorate and fellowship, Cho has begun looking locally for opportunities to give back. One nonprofit he reached out to is Common Good Atlanta, an organization that provides people who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated with access to higher education.

鈥淚 definitely want to bring back some of the things that I learned and some of the benefits I have from my academic career to places where I’ve come from,鈥� Cho said. 鈥淚 still kind of don’t know exactly where I want to go, like whether it’s industry or academia, but I definitely want to try some volunteer opportunities, especially for prisons.鈥�

Cho wasn鈥檛 immune to the imposter syndrome that challenges a lot of young academics, but his journey through academia is a testament to the resilience and determination of underrepresented students in academia.

鈥淚 always have that imposter syndrome, even at 56吃瓜网, but if you keep working at it and you’re passionate about what you do and you’re genuinely like a nice, friendly person, then I think that you’ll make it pretty big if you just keep trying,鈥� Cho said.

Cho was honored by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Sharon Jones for his fellowship at the 56吃瓜网 Student Academic Showcase on May 16, 2024 鈥� Mashhadi accepted the award on his behalf.

The post Incarceration to Innovation appeared first on School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

Three students traveled to Orlando, Florida, to attend the 2023 in person and ten students logged on virtually. Students heard inspiring keynote speeches, attended workshops, expanded their network, met with company and higher education sponsors during the Career & Expo Hall, and felt empowered surrounded by a community of women and allies in the tech.

Increasing access and inspiring belief

The reality of attending a conference like GHC, especially out of state, feels out of reach for many students once they consider the costs to attend. Knowing this and recognizing the impact the GHC experience has on students is one of many reasons why the Division of CSS continues to sponsor the GHC conference every year and award full student scholarships to attend the conference in person or virtually.

For Greeshma Sree Parimi, a current Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering (MSCSSE) student who attended GHC in person, the scholarship made the trip accessible. 鈥淚t meant that I could fully immerse myself in the conference without the financial burden that often comes with attending such events,鈥� she said.

Attending a large conference can also feel a bit overwhelming and intimidating. When Breanna Powell, a current MSCSSE student who graduated from the Graduate Certificate in Software Design & Development (GCSDD) bridge program at 56吃瓜网 Bothell, learned she鈥檇 been awarded an in-person scholarship she felt a sense of validation.

鈥淔or me, it feels like people believe in me and my potential, even when I doubt myself,鈥� said Powell.

鈥淚t gave me the push that I needed to go out there and search for jobs and apply,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t also encourages me to keep hosting events on campus through the 56吃瓜网 Bothell Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) club and the Alliance 4 Sustainability club, because making connections is vital.鈥�

For me, it feels like people believe in me and my potential, even when I doubt myself.

Breanna Powell, current MSCSSE student and GCSDD alumna

Opportunity through conversation

Networking at conferences specializing in a student鈥檚 major can create opportunities and propel their career forward.

Powell met a woman at GHC who was developing a VR application to help women practice tough work conversations and saw the potential in following up with them to see if they鈥檇 be willing to test it out with 56吃瓜网 Bothell students.

鈥淚t was wonderful how open everyone was to just starting up a conversation, about anything they are doing, and how everyone really listened and seemed invested in connecting,鈥� said Powell.

Shree Parimi had the chance to connect with several employers, exploring potential career opportunities and learning about the exciting projects and initiatives they鈥檙e working on.

鈥淚t was an invaluable experience to engage with these organizations and gain insights into what they are looking for in candidates,鈥� she Shree Parimi.

One of Powell鈥檚 networking conversations led to an interview with the Los Alamos National Laboratory the next day. She fondly remembers that it was the least scared and most relaxed she had ever felt going into an interview because of their conversation the previous day.

Sustainability-focused sessions

GHC had a lot of sessions, so many that attendees had to prioritize what they wanted to attend (which was no easy choice!). Powell is very interested in green tech, so she was thrilled to see that there were several sustainability-focused sessions.

鈥淔arm-to-Plate AI鈥� from MathWorks was her favorite. It gave her an opportunity to use MATLAB for the first time and brought her together with a new friend, a student at the University of Missouri – St. Louis who shares her same interests.

鈥淲e got to see how to simulate a drone’s flight through a field and how computer vision and AI can help with every step of a mango’s journey to the table,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淭he strides that are being made in agrotech are going to have a huge impact on climate change initiatives.鈥�

Growth experience

Students that attend GHC end the conference with new skills, inspiration, confidence, connections, career strategies, and a reinforced belief in the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

When Powell thought about her experience, she realized it was not so scary to attend big conferences filled with software developers competing for jobs. Her experience got her thinking about how much of a difference it makes that these events exist.

鈥淚t made me even more excited to plan this year’s 56吃瓜网 Bothell ACM student hackathon,鈥� said Powell. The hackathon is a wonderful way for students to not only gain hands-on experience in programming and solving problems as a team, but it鈥檚 an opportunity to build their network and create something useful and fun.

Just like Powell, Sree Parimi would love to go back to GHC in the future.

鈥淚t’s an amazing event that fosters a sense of community and empowerment,鈥� said Sree Parimi. 鈥淚 believe it’s essential to continue attending such conferences to stay connected with the dynamic tech landscape and meet like-minded individuals.鈥�

The post GHC 2023 student scholarships instill confidence and inspire appeared first on School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

His work, however, didn鈥檛 go unnoticed.

Ghadamsi was nominated by his professors for the 2023 President鈥檚 Medal, which he was presented in this year鈥檚 Commencement Ceremony on June 11.

Each year, the President鈥檚 Medal is awarded to a graduating senior with the most distinguished academic record. Students are nominated and selected from the top 2% of the graduating class in their program. In addition to their academic success, students are selected based on other honors and awards, research and publications, as well as future plans.

Ghadamsi graduated with a major in Biology and a minor in Neuroscience. He is currently taking a gap year while he applies to medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor specializing in neuroscience.

A discovery of limitless potential

Ghadamsi always knew he would go to college. Higher education was a priority for his family going three generations back.

鈥淢y grandpa was the first person to go to college in his city where he grew up in Libya,鈥� he said. 鈥淔rom then on, my dad and all his siblings went to college, and my dad got the opportunity to go to the United States and study. It was ingrained into the family that college education is very important.鈥�

From an early age, Ghadamsi had an interest in science and engineering. He enjoyed tearing stuff apart and discovering how things worked. Together with his dad, he worked on fixing cars. His interest in science deepened in high school with his biology and chemistry classes.

While college felt not only possible 鈥� even essential 鈥� to Ghadamsi as a young boy, he still believed what he could accomplish would be limited because of his heritage. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I could be a doctor until I was told I could,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see anybody like me who was a doctor.鈥�

Ghadamsi鈥檚 father challenged this perception and helped him imagine all that could be possible for him. Now, as a college graduate, what he once thought was鈥痷nimaginable has become his life鈥檚 ambition. And he hopes that, as a doctor, he will also be an inspirational figure for other young people like him to see what they can achieve.

Specializing in neuroscience

Ghadamsi’s interest in neuroscience in particular started at the age of 16 when he had a seizure while having dinner with his family. Once at 56吃瓜网 Bothell, he laid the groundwork for this specialization through his minor and by completing two summer internships: the 56吃瓜网  and the .

鈥淏eing able to participate in a neurosurgery internship where I gained lab experience and made clinical observations really reassured me in my goal to become a doctor who studies neuroscience,鈥� he said.

Pre-med adviser Kristen Labrecque helped him apply for the program. Then, after completing the internship, Ghadamsi in turn worked to encourage other students to apply.

鈥淗e was getting help and passing it on,鈥� said Dr. Alaron Lewis, associate teaching professor and chair of biological sciences in the School of STEM. 鈥淭his is totally in-line with what I know of Hithem 鈥� not just accepting help but passing that help on to others.鈥�

The internship also opened Ghadamsi up to the idea of doing his own research, he said. As a senior at the 2023 56吃瓜网 Undergraduate Research Symposium, he presented 鈥�.鈥�

An accomplished student and leader

Even beyond his two internships, Ghadamsi was an accomplished student who made the Dean鈥檚 List each quarter. Lewis recalls having to remind Ghadamsi of that very fact when she asked her Cell Biology class to practice writing cover letters.

鈥淚 pointed out to him that making the Dean鈥檚 List and being eligible for the President鈥檚 Medal were impressive accomplishments that he should tell people about, and he just shrugged about it self-consciously,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ithem is an excellent student but not in a flashy way. He is extremely modest about his own activities and accomplishments. He did not set out to get the best score, he just set out to do his best 鈥� and it turns out that his best is pretty darn good.鈥�

Lewis added that even in remote classroom settings, Ghadamsi鈥檚鈥痚ngagement with his peers stood out and his desire to learn was evident in the insightful questions he asked. As classes returned in person, his 鈥渜uiet and unassuming鈥� presence as a leader grew, she said.

鈥淗ithem is a wonderful, caring human being. He is absolutely a leader in class. Not a loud out-in-front leader, but a 鈥榯alk to everyone in your group鈥� leader and a 鈥榤ake sure everyone has a voice鈥� leader and 鈥榮top by the professor鈥檚 office to advocate for others鈥欌€痩eader,鈥� Lewis said.

A desire to help others

Ghadamsi鈥檚 role as a leader and a resource for his peers extended outside the classroom to his work across several student clubs and activities, as well. One club stands out as a passion project for him: the Student Association for Refugees and Immigrants.

SAFIR was founded in 2019 to support refugees and immigrants in the campus community to succeed academically and professionally. The club works with the International Rescue Committee to develop connections with 56吃瓜网 Bothell and refugees. It became inactive after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted campus activities. In the hopes of reviving the club when in-person activities resumed, Dr. Salwa Al-Noori reached out to Ghadamsi.

鈥淗ithem鈥檚 role in SAFIR has been significant,鈥� said Al-Noori, associate teaching professor in the School of STEM. 鈥淲ith the other club officers, he has worked tirelessly to facilitate events and awareness that support students from immigrant and refugee communities and which promote understanding, inclusion and practical benefits for students from diverse communities.鈥�

As president of SAFIR, Ghadamsi helped organize events such as clothing drives, youth mentorship programs and career networking nights.

鈥淚 want to help people because it鈥檚 the right thing to do,鈥� Ghadamsi said. 鈥淏eing a first-generation American, I鈥檝e witnessed what it was like for other people. Reflecting on my parents鈥� experience coming to the U.S. and having to struggle, I feel that I鈥檝e been fortunate to have a different experience, and I want to pay that forward to others who haven鈥檛 had the same opportunities.鈥�

Ghadamsi鈥檚 passion for SAFIR鈥檚 mission is part of his overall ambition to help others.鈥疕e aims to someday practice medicine both in the U.S. and in his family鈥檚 home country of Libya. In Libya, he hopes to develop a program or a clinic to help provide health care services to the communities that need it most.

Graduating on a high note

When Ghadamsi heard he was receiving the President鈥檚 Medal, he was excited to see his dedication to his course work and his extracurricular activities recognized.

鈥淚 knew how much hard work I put in throughout college,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t times school was very challenging, so being recognized for that is very gratifying.鈥�

His professors were thrilled to hear he had been awarded the medal.

鈥淗ithem has consistently over the period of his undergraduate studies demonstrated the characteristics that make him truly deserving of this award; he is an excellent student not only as reflected in his impressive performance in his coursework and through his engagement in research but for the dedication and passion he brings to learning,鈥� Al-Noori said. 鈥淗e also has a strong commitment to community as can be seen by his extracurricular engagement, especially in his contributions through SAFIR and the local Greater Seattle community.

鈥淚 truly believe Hithem is deserving of the recognition conferred by this medal, and I am confident that he will continue forward with the same commitment and dedication in his future.鈥�

The post A humble and accomplished student leader appeared first on School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.

Tyler Choi was studying political science and economics to prepare for law school, but as graduation neared, he wasn鈥檛 sure if this was the right path. He started to ask himself big life questions: Is this something I want to do? Am I being pressured down this path?

After realizing he wasn鈥檛 committed to law school Tyler went to work as a financial advisor for a few years while figuring out his next step. While working in finance Tyler became aware of how technology was shaping our future society.

鈥淚 thought, maybe if I鈥檓 going to make a career switch and jump into tech that now might be the time to do so,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淥f course, I was riddled with anxiety and doubt because doing anything like that is very scary.鈥�

Support network to make the switch

Having a brother and father working in the field of computer science gave Tyler the knowledge that it would be a tough switch, but the confidence that he could do it. In his exploration of programs, he found the nine-month Graduate Certificate in Software Design & Development with a pathway for admission into a master鈥檚 program.

Before Tyler could apply, he had to complete a few prerequisite courses in programming I, programming II and college-level calculus at a local community college. Being new to tech and starting at zero, Tyler fought through the anxiety of doing something new. He knew the industry was competitive and felt like he was one of many jumping into tech, but even though the barrier to entry was high he knew the tech industry had a lot to offer.

Tyler recognized that he was making the switch in the greater Seattle area and felt fortunate that this area is so tech responsive. A few of his friends working at Microsoft and Amazon gave him some advice: find an internship your very first summer.

Being new to tech with barely a few prerequisites courses complete, Tyler didn鈥檛 think that advice was going to work. While looking for internships, he completed the prerequisites courses and applied to the graduate certificate for autumn 2020.

Landing his first NASA internship

As someone fascinated by space, stars and the moon, Tyler applied to several different National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) internships and only heard back from one that he鈥檇 been selected: software engineer at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California.
鈥淗aving applied to the graduate certificate gave me a boost in my application. But what I noticed is that NASA really values not just academic experience, but community experience and how involved you are in your school community,鈥� said Tyler.

鈥淭he most important thing I recognized that is different with NASA, and perhaps the private sector, is that NASA really values nurturing people who aspire to become future leaders and those who are generally interested in space.鈥�

Virtual mentorship across five centers

Tyler鈥檚 first internship at Ames went so well that it set the stage for continuing to work with NASA over the coming years. NASA leaders motivated Tyler to apply to intern at other centers. The pivot from on-site to virtual internships during the pandemic made it possible for Tyler to stay in Washington and experience working at five different centers all over the country: (Ames Research, Kennedy Space, Langley Research, Marshall Space Flight, HQ) all over the country and collaborate with NASA partners worldwide.

鈥淚 genuinely enjoyed the work experience, and just being able to work on specific missions that will support the future of space endeavors,鈥� said Tyler.

NASA hosted virtual gatherings to encourage intern networking and invited speakers to give seminars. Tyler remembers an incredible seminar presented by the chief principal of the James Webb Space Telescope, listening to astronauts share their space and training experiences, and watching presentations on the failures and mistakes NASA has made.

鈥淭here was a balance of intellectually intriguing presentations, but also these somber, important lessons and reflections that all emphasized the point that NASA doesn鈥檛 give up,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淚f you fail, you fail, and you figure out what went wrong and try to do it again.鈥�

Exploring the Moon, science and Mars

During the first Ames internship, Tyler helped build a 3D map of the Moon鈥攊magine Google Earth, but for the Moon. The map gives astronauts a 3D visualization of lunar terrain to help them better explore the Moon and navigate around mountains and creators.

Not only was it a fun experience working with lunar data sets, but Tyler could also see that everyone working at NASA wants to be there and is positively motivated. 鈥淭here’s something really empowering when people know that what they’re trying to do is advance human civilization,鈥� said Tyler.

Tyler wanted to continue being a part of the NASA community with great mentors on different projects, so he continued to apply to be an intern at NASA. The next internship Tyler did was as a software engineer for the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, where he was a part of their launch control systems.

Each rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center requires a lot of data to be processed and examined before, during and after launch. 鈥淚 was part of the launch control systems team handling some of that data in the firing room to help mission organizers and scientists understand what was going on,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淚 contributed to the Artemis rocket software refactoring and software code to the firing room systems that handles reading and monitoring data collected during the rocket launch.鈥�

Next, Tyler interned with the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where he aided in building a VR training simulation of landing a lunar lander as part of the Artemis missions. The training simulation is a mixed reality experience where people can use a controller to practice landing a ship on the moon.

From there Tyler continued his software engineering internship experience at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where he worked on a data visualization room in VR. 鈥淭hat opportunity came about because of my VR experience at Marshall,鈥� said Tyler. At Langley, Tyler transitioned from working on space missions to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).

“There are a lot of scientists at NASA who understand the value of machine learning and AI, but they don’t understand how it works since it鈥檚 still a relatively new field.鈥� Tyler鈥檚 role was to design a VR system that could help them understand how machine learning reaches its decisions.

To conclude Tyler鈥檚 internship experience he worked as a technical researcher at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was part of the Mars Reconnaissance team. This team focuses on how humans are going to get to Mars and collaborates with Mars experts all around the world from different space agencies. This internship was very different because it didn’t involve any software development, rather it was more about technical research and presentations.

鈥淭his was great to have the opportunity to work with distributed teams around the world from vastly different cultural backgrounds and perspectives,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淏ut we were unified under the same goal鈥攈ow are we going to get to Mars and how do we work together to become a multi-planetary species?鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 truly proud to have made a small contribution to a diverse set of missions that may have a positive impact at NASA, and mentors that I can stay in touch with for future opportunities,鈥� said Tyler.

Graduate research assistant in master鈥檚 program

During Tyler鈥檚 internship experience he was awarded the graduate certificate in spring 2021 and applied to the Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering for autumn 2021. This opened doors for research opportunities.

Tyler鈥檚 two years at NASA ended up giving him the experience needed to be awarded a graduate research assistant (RA) position with Dr. Kelvin Sung, professor in the School of STEM, Division of Computing & Software Systems.

鈥淭he research work that I鈥檓 doing is only possible because of my first internship at NASA鈥攙isualizing lunar terrain,鈥� said Tyler. As a research assistant, Tyler is playing a key role in visualizing earth terrain in virtual reality for a system to assist emergency service responders in search and rescue missions. The work Tyler is doing as a RA relates to his culminating master鈥檚 defense.

鈥淧rofessor Sung is great. He鈥檚 not only a great advisor, but it has been a positive work experience that I feel has allowed me to make substantial progress as a software developer,鈥� said Tyler.

What鈥檚 next? Don鈥檛 let the fear and anxiety stop you.

As Tyler approaches graduation in spring 2023, he has found himself on a path of working in virtual reality and doing visualization of geographic information systems (GIS). 鈥淚鈥檝e realized that mapping apps are so integral to society today,鈥� said Tyler. 鈥淲orking with these mapping systems gives me more appreciation and I鈥檝e come to learn that mapping tech is actually really interesting.鈥�

鈥淏eing where I am today now, I am so glad I decided to go down the graduate certificate to master鈥檚 degree path,鈥� said Tyler.

The master鈥檚 program was very challenging for Tyler, and at one point he didn鈥檛 think he could finish, but he persevered and is so grateful he embarked on this journey. He wants others to know that 鈥測ou might be full of fear and anxiety, but you just have to go for it. Be honest and diligent. Don鈥檛 try to take unnecessary short cuts and good things may come.鈥�

Tyler hopes to inspire any students who are remotely interested in the stars, the Moon, and space, and who want to experience an enthusiastic and fun working environment, to look up NASA and give it a shot.

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