麻豆村

Five graduate students chosen as part of the inaugural cohort of the 麻豆村 Rales Fellows Program(opens in new window) are working in different aspects of computer science.聽

Each of them wants to learn more about the field not only to benefit their own careers, but also to share the knowledge of computer science with others and improve the world around them.

Even though they have taken different paths to reach their goals of advanced degrees at 麻豆村, these Rales fellows are hoping their skills will one day impact others aiding in applications such as science research, educational tools, cybersecurity and privacy engineering.

Isabel Agadagba(opens in new window),听Wendy Bickersteth(opens in new window),听Erick Cohen(opens in new window),听Nicholas Dunn(opens in new window) 补苍诲听Michael Sutton(opens in new window) 补谤别听among a class of 22(opens in new window) pursuing graduate degrees at Carnegie Mellon through the Rales Fellows Program.聽

Launched in 2023(opens in new window), the program is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders while also increasing access to graduate-level education.

Isabel Agadagba wants to help digitally protect others

When she was growing up, Isabel Agadagba remembers her mom being a victim of a cyberattack. Agadagba grew up in Oklahoma and her parents are immigrants from Nigeria.

鈥淚 realized cybersecurity was something I wanted to explore in order to see how I can help people like my mom,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hough she was more susceptible to cybercrime, she couldn鈥檛 really protect herself as an immigrant.鈥澛�

She earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees in computer science and film and TV from New York University last year, during which she researched supply chain security at the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC). The year-long initiative at DTCC exposed her to the complex and fascinating world of cybersecurity, guiding her choice to further her education in information technology and privacy engineering at 麻豆村鈥檚 .

鈥淗ere, you鈥檙e using your skills for the defense and the help of the user,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s users, being able to protect our data privacy 鈥� especially with AI growing exponentially 鈥� it's imperative now more than ever that people are able to protect themselves.鈥�

She was inspired by聽 and encouragement from聽, director of the and FORE Systems University Professor of Computer Science and of Engineering and Public Policy, to work on cryptocurrency research based at the Kigali, Rwanda, campus.

鈥淲hile cryptocurrency and other digital currencies are incredible tools that can foster economic progression, it can also just as easily be weaponized to undermine progress, especially in developing countries,鈥� Agadagba said.

Now that she鈥檚 studying at Carnegie Mellon, she said the amount of collaboration is much more than she鈥檚 used to, with group projects and research in each of her classes.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 been a 180 from undergrad, just how much I have to communicate and work with people of different backgrounds and priorities and it can be a challenge,鈥� Agadagba said. 鈥淚t prepares you for the workforce, and how to use others' knowledge and insight to your benefit and ultimately for the success of the team.鈥�

After finishing her degree, she plans to work as a privacy engineer or cybersecurity analyst, then eventually move to Nigeria to bring industry experience to her home.

鈥淎s much as it is technical, a lot of it revolves around industry standards and how policy and regulations affect how companies actually respond,鈥� Agadagba said. 鈥淗opefully I can leverage my expertise to develop solutions (or drive initiatives) from that dual perspective for my community.鈥�

When she first joined the Rales Fellows program, she was nervous about not finding a like-minded and diverse community to rely on as she did in New York City, but the Rales summer academy and weekend retreat at Seven Springs really boosted her spirits.

鈥淚 remember, after that weekend, calling my friends and sister to let them know I found my people here in Pittsburgh,鈥� she said, adding that she felt very welcome by everyone involved in the program.

Wendy Bickersteth wants to educate through societal computing

As an undergraduate at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Wendy Bickersteth realized that the best way she learned was by explaining concepts to others, working as a tutor with students, then as a mentor for other tutors.

Combining that fondness for teaching with technology, she decided to pursue her Ph.D. in Societal Computing in the聽 at Carnegie Mellon.

鈥淭he tech industry is a place where so many things happen, so I would like to be a part of making sure innovations in technology are still considering the human aspect of it,鈥� she said.

Once she knew she was interested in Societal Computing, Bickersteth also reached out to聽Cranor, who suggested she apply to the Rales Fellows program.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been like a bunch of domino pieces since then,鈥� Bickersteth said.

She earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Information Systems, and worked on a project to understand people鈥檚 mental models of privacy and security in the technology they use.

鈥淚t鈥檚 maybe unsurprising, but a lot of people tend to not really know what鈥檚 going on, they just have a product and know how to use the parts they care about, then that鈥檚 where it stops most of the time,鈥� she said.

Now, at 麻豆村, she鈥檚 working on a project about generative AI risks and failure modes 鈥� the factors that contribute to those risks 鈥� then created a taxonomy for them both. In another, she鈥檚 helping analyze the design of and information on Apple鈥檚 privacy labels.

Once she earns her Ph.D., Bickersteth plans to work in the industry, but revisit her love for teaching later in her career.

After participating as a Center for Women in Technology Scholar at UMBC, she said she appreciated how the Rales Fellows program has fostered not only professional connections but also a sense of community among the fellows.

鈥淲e鈥檙e all genuinely friends and it鈥檚 been very beneficial,鈥� she said.聽

Someday she also hopes to incorporate her interest in art into her work. In the meantime, a painting by Bickersteth of the cohort of fellows together with staffers, inspired by a photo taken during the group鈥檚 orientation, hangs in the Rales Fellows lounge in the WQED building.

鈥淚 made the painting in August when I had COVID,鈥� she said, jokingly adding, 鈥渓et鈥檚 just say I should never paint 27 people again.鈥�

Erick Cohen aspires to make others鈥� lives easier through coding

During a statistics class as an undergraduate, Cohen saw the power of computer science firsthand when a professor at George Washington University took more than an entire class session to work out a linear regression by hand.

鈥淚 still vividly remember him going, 鈥楴owadays, people just do this with computer programs,鈥� and with like three lines of code, what took us over an hour to do, he did in three seconds,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淎nd in that moment I realized, 鈥榯his is what I really like, this is what I need to do.鈥欌��

At the time, he was too far along to change his major from economics and international affairs to computer science, but took as many programming classes as he could, then landed internships and jobs centered around data analytics.

But Cohen felt like something was missing and wanted to solidify his experience to work toward an advanced degree, so he is now pursuing a聽Master of Science in Data Analytics for Science(opens in new window) through the聽Mellon College of Science(opens in new window).

鈥淚 had some experience working in scientific research, I thought this could be a really good STEM pivot for me and round out my knowledge,鈥� he said.聽

After his father died unexpectedly in 2023, Cohen said the Rales Fellows program made pursuing a degree possible.

鈥淲ith the financial assistance, I鈥檓 able to make sure my mom is taken care of, and I鈥檓 able to be a student and only focus on being a student,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淭his is the first time I can just put my head down and be a student, there鈥檚 nothing holding me back. That鈥檚 incredible.鈥�

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and raised in Miami, Florida, Cohen earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree then worked at an insurance brokerage.

鈥淚 really harped on them: 鈥楾here's so much we could do with data and automation,鈥欌�� he said, eventually taking another role with the U.S. Science and Technology Policy Institute, assisting researchers with data-related tasks.聽

鈥淭hat was such a rewarding experience, I learned so much from that job,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 got the confidence in my skills and saw this path that I loved going down.鈥�

Then, he took on a role at Deloitte, working on projects for Meta.

鈥淚f you had asked me if I would ever contribute code to Facebook, I would have said, 鈥榶ou鈥檙e crazy,鈥� 鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen someone gives you an opportunity like that, it鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥�

The efficiency gained from coding appeals to Cohen, who said he鈥檚 written simple programs for his partner when she鈥檚 complained about repetitive tasks.

鈥淭hings like that really drive me to do this,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen software can make someone鈥檚 life better, that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�

In a rapidly changing field, Cohen said regardless of the field or focus, he wants to make sure the path he follows with his degree includes coding software.

鈥淚 know that I'll always love coding,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to have a role where I can have my hands on the keyboard.鈥�

Cohen appreciates that through research at the Mellon College of Science applied in the biological and life sciences, that code can turn into drug discovery and better outcomes for health care patients.

鈥淓verybody wants to do the cutting-edge sexy stuff, like machine learning, but what I鈥檝e found is that it's important to focus on the basics,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can't use large language models if you don't have a database or if you don't know how to load the data. A lot of people just want to jump ahead to what's on the cutting edge without having that foundation. Foundation is key.鈥�

Thankful for the Rales Fellows program, Cohen said he is also appreciative of the way the cohort of students from different personal and academic backgrounds have bonded, and the way the program鈥檚 team helps them all feel supported.

鈥淚've only gotten to where I have because other people gave me a chance and believed in me,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淚 feel that from the Rales team as well, if they're willing to give me a chance that's a big driver to do the best that I can.鈥�

Nicholas Dunn wants to stay open-minded to future opportunities

While earning his bachelor鈥檚 degrees in mathematics and computer science from Columbus State University, Dunn interned with the聽 at Carnegie Mellon.

鈥淭hat really connected me to 麻豆村 and I really liked the community and established connections while I was there,鈥� he said, including with聽, global programs manager and co-director of the聽 program.

Originally from Smiths Station, Alabama, Dunn relocated to Pittsburgh to earn a聽 with his two children, who are 6 years old and 7 years old, and his wife, who Dunn said has always been very supportive of his academic career. They all enjoyed a 鈥渕ini-vacation鈥� together in the city before he started his program in the fall.

鈥淲e went to the zoo and the museums together, it was all very nice,鈥� Dunn said.

So far, Dunn said he鈥檚 enjoyed his classes in machine learning and computer systems, while spending time in the Gates-Hillman Complex, especially when working on assignments.

鈥淚 really like the facilities at Carnegie Mellon,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey provide a lot of space for students to work and study, and that鈥檚 very nice since I have a long commute.鈥�

Working toward a master鈥檚 degree in computer science, Dunn said he plans to work in industry after graduating. He has also enjoyed working with his adviser,听, teaching professor in the School of Computer Science.

鈥淚 don't want to limit my opportunities, so I want to stay pretty open now and when I'm searching for jobs,鈥� he said.

Michael Sutton plans to develop accessible educational tools

While studying computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michael Sutton developed a love for teaching.

He served as a lecturer assistant, an English tutor for non-native speakers and a STEM tutor for elementary and middle school students.

, Sutton spent a year teaching English in Taiwan, but wasn鈥檛 sure how that would translate to the next step in his career.

鈥淚 really found joy from that, but my major was computer science, so what did that mean?鈥� said Sutton, now studying in the聽 program, drawn to it because of its interdisciplinary nature.

鈥淪ince the program is situated in the School of Computer Science rather than, say, a school of education, you get a different perspective on educational technology more grounded in evidence-based practices,鈥� he said.

Now, Sutton is examining analytics to better understand various metrics of student engagement, including their participation rate and performance over time, taking into account how their experiences and backgrounds influence how they interact with course content.聽聽

鈥淚鈥檓 learning a lot about how we can use the data to make education better for everyone and how we can make sure we are offering proper support and guidance for students who might need more to make sure everyone can get to the same playing field,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 used to be afraid of big data, but now I鈥檓 getting more prepared to look at different AI and machine learning models.鈥�

Exploring interdisciplinary courses at Carnegie Mellon, Sutton was also recently accepted into the聽 to further 鈥渂ridge the technical and policy aspects of education in order to address systemic challenges,鈥� he said.

After finishing his degree, Sutton hopes to work designing educational tools that address those needs different types of learners have. He also hopes to better understand and take into consideration policies that might constrain those solutions as well as students鈥� access.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that students know how to use technology that is being developed, and that it is accessible, so it can be utilized to make their education go further,鈥� he said.

Echoing other fellows, Sutton called the Rales program 鈥渕agical鈥� because of the way it has brought the students together.

鈥淓veryone gets along and it鈥檚 very cohesive within the cohort,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Rales staff did an amazing job of choosing people who fit into this community, are there for each other and support each other.鈥�