Microsoft Research Data Science Summer School
Region: North America
Dates: June 3 – June 28, 2024
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Hamidou Ballo
I’m Hamidou, a senior at Hunter College majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics, graduating in June 2024. My interest in data science is driven by my goal to become a Quantitative Trader, and I’m looking to further my education with a master’s in financial engineering. Participating in the DS3 allowed me to dive into the world of data science, learning essential tools and statistical techniques for data analysis. The experience has solidified my decision to pursue a career in this field. Outside of data science, I stay active by hitting the gym, practicing Muay Thai, and reading a mix of self-help and technical books, which I find more engaging than tutorials.
Jiale (Jerry) Chen
Jiale (Jerry) Chen graduated from Macaulay Honors College at The City College of New York in June 2023 with a BS in Applied Mathematics, and he is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics at Columbia University. His profound interest in data science and its vast applications led him to apply for Microsoft’s DS3 program, which significantly enhanced his technical proficiency, particularly in data analysis and statistical modeling. As an aspiring data scientist, he has a strong desire to use his technical background and problem-solving skills to tackle relevant business problems and help inform better decision-making.
Tenzin Chosang
I am a Macaulay Honors Scholar at Baruch College majoring in Financial Mathematics class of 2024. My past experiences have helped me realize my interest in combining math with programming. I possess strong data wrangling and visualization skills coupled with my attention to detail and teamwork skills. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have had a variety of experiences where I was able to grow professionally, most notably the Microsoft Data Science Summer School that I completed summer 2023.
Aleksandra (Aleks) Georgievska
Aleks graduated with a Computer Science degree from CUNY Queens College in December 2023 and is now working as a Data Science and Software Engineer consultant with Company Ventures. Her first degree is in Music Production and Contemporary Writing from Berklee College of Music, and worked in the music industry for 10 years before changing careers in 2020. Aleks is passionate about elevating data integrity, fostering ethical decision-making, and leveraging the strength of interdisciplinary thinking to solve complex challenges in creative ways. She credits much of her career inspiration to the foundations laid at DS3 and the amazing instructors that figured out how to lower the barrier of entry to the field, and she hopes to inspire others in the same way as a Data Science mentor in the future.
Chaya (Sara) Goldberger
Chaya (Sara) is currently attending Yeshiva University Stern College for Women.
Albina Haque
Albina is an international student from Bangladesh, who is studying in St. Joseph’s University (Brooklyn). She going to graduate in May 2024 with B.Sc in both Computer Science and Mathematics, with honors. Before going to post grad degrees, she wants to work in the tech field, preferably in areas that involves ML, Data science, AI etc. Since she has always been keen on research, she was very interested in data science and according to her, there would not be a better starting point than Microsoft DS3 program 2023. That same summer, along with this program, she also got selected for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and Break Through Tech AI @ CornellTech ML program. DS3 basically laid the foundations of data science for her with deeper understanding of statistical analysis, using R in data wrangling and most importantly—the mistakes that are often made in leveraging datasets. This helped her achieve success in her SURF research project on AQI levels of under-developed countries and the BTTAI ML projects. Apart from this, the environment of the Microsoft Research Office and the instructors—Jake, Dan and Sid—all gave her confidence and inspired her to push herself more towards the academic side of the tech industry.
Alexandra (Alex) Huey
I graduated from Fordham University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science. Recently, I was honored to be selected for a Fulbright award to France for the 2024-2025 academic year. At CY Cergy Paris Université, I’ll be pursuing a master’s degree in Big Data, delving into coursework on linked open data and cloud computing, and collaborating closely with the faculty in the ETIS lab, specifically the MIDI team. My master’s thesis will explore the influence of the GDPR on data privacy laws in five states, highlighting the shift towards a human-rights-based framework for data security.
Bibata Rabba Idi
Idi Bibata is currently attending Lehman College. She believes that the program’s structure, the diverse range of topics covered, and the hands-on projects have allowed me to deepen my understanding of data science and its practical applications. As an aspiring data science, she was able to gain hands-on experience and make meaningful contributions.
John Jakobsen
John recently graduated from The City College of New York with a degree in Computer Science. His interest in data science comes from an overall curiosity for how things work. He enjoys learning about fundamental topics in mathematics and computer science along with how they build up to create the world we know today. Participating in the DS3 program gave him a wonderful opportunity to delve deeper into topics he found hard when going into the program. It also gave him a great opportunity to meet fantastic people who made a lifelong impact on him. He now feels more comfortable with exploring more complex technical topics in data science and more broadly, computer science as a whole. This program inspired him to pursue a master’s in computer science.
Hadassah Krigsman
Hadassah Krigsman is a Macaulay Honors student at Queens College where she is pursuing a BA in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science. Her interest in data science stems from its potential to offer data-driven solutions to global challenges, especially within the medical and photography fields. She is interested in how data science can be used to revolutionize medical research, diagnosis, and treatment. She is also intrigued by the intersection of data science and photography, particularly in how personalized editing tools can be developed using machine learning. The DS3 program gave her a solid foundation in data science while also strengthening her problem-solving and analytical skills. Outside of academics, Hadassah loves photography, traveling, and solving crossword puzzles.
Elvis Soto
Elvis Soto is a junior at St Joseph’s University Brooklyn campus who will graduate a year early with a bachelor’s in computer science. He is the president of his school’s Computer Science Club and helped to organize various workshops and tech talks, which even had guest speakers from Microsoft DS3. What attracted Elvis to the DS3 program was the prospect of learning data science from leading experts in the field, and the program did not just meet these expectations, it exceeded them. He not only learned critical thinking skills, statistics, and how to create predictive models, but also improved on his team building and communication skills. In his free time, Elvis enjoys 3D printing useful items and building computers.
Xiuwen Zhu
Xiuwen Zhu is a junior at Brooklyn College, double majoring in computer science and computational mathematics. Her interest in data science stems from her enthusiasm for problem-solving and finding real-world solutions. With the knowledge she gained from the DS3 program, she hopes to apply it in future pursuits within the tech industry. The DS3 program also helped her understand what it looks like to interact with data. She is continuing to explore options in the data science world and the intersection of data science and software engineering. Outside of academics, Xiuwen is a tennis athlete and leads the Girls Who Code College Loop Club at Brooklyn College.
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Warren Ball
Warren Ball is a graduate from CUNY Hunter College with a bachelor’s in computer science. He also hopes to enroll in a PhD program for Data Science. Warren’s interest in data began when saw how easily he could break down large questions into several pieces, allowing him to understand those questions on a more fundamental level. His time in the DS3 has greatly helped his skills in data science, particularly with his techniques in data retrieval and cleaning. Warren ultimately wishes to work as an analyst in a public service role, as he believes data is the key to truly understanding and solving problems. In his free time, he likes to draw and play modern board games.
Christopher Esquivel
Christopher Esquivel is a junior student at Lehman College where he is pursuing a BS in Computer Science. When he is not doing homework, he plays videogames and codes. He loves programming and learning new technologies. He is still exploring the different opportunities tech offers. The DS3 program helped him learn about data science and provided him with a glimpse of what data scientists actually do.
Shoshana Farber
Shoshana Farber graduated from CUNY Queens College in June 2022 with a bachelor’s in mathematics. Her keen interest in data science led her to apply to Microsoft’s DS3 program to build her skills and learn more about the field. With the guidance of the DS3 instructors, Shoshana gained deeper knowledge of statistical concepts and quickly learned the basics of statistical modeling and data analysis. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in data science at CUNY School of Professional Studies. In her free time, Shoshana enjoys playing the piano, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Daniel Glick
Daniel Glick is currently a junior in Columbia University studying Mechanical Engineering. He transferred there from Queens College where he majored in Applied Mathematics. Daniel is passionate about problem solving and understanding the underlying cause of patterns. He is fascinated by data science because of its ability to provide data-driven solutions for the world’s problems. In his free time, he can be found working with members of the formula racing team (FSAE) at Columbia, practicing Jiu-Jitsu, and chasing aurora borealis.
Navpreet Kaur
Navpreet Kaur graduated from Fordham University in May 2022, majoring in Mathematics & Economics with a minor in Computer Science. Her interest in data science and machine learning encouraged her to apply to the DS3 program. Through the DS3 program, she could explore more about data science and learn valuable skills that helped her pursue a career and decide on future education plans. In her free time, she enjoys playing badminton outdoors with friends.
Limor Kohanim
Limor Kohanim is a junior in Stern College for Women, and she is an international student from Milan, Italy. As a computer science major and mathematics minor, Limor has always found herself to enjoy work that combines both the analytical and creative sides of the brain. Limor firmly believes that, nowadays, data is one of the biggest assets out there, and if combined with the right cutting edge technology, it can be used to solve the most complex challenges across the globe. DS3 is the perfect opportunity to start building the right skill set necessary for big data research and analysis. After graduation, Limor aspires to do meaningful and impactful work in a field that will allow her to build expertise in Data Science and Software Engineering. Besides programming, Limor loves to bake and attend dance classes.
Elissa Leung
Elissa Leung is a student at CUNY Baruch College, majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Communication Studies. Her interest in data science comes from her passion for problem solving, mathematics, and computer programming. Participating in the DS3 program with top data science researchers further solidified her passion to pursue a career in data science. She especially enjoyed learning and working with like-minded peers on different data projects. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing sports and is a member of the Baruch College women’s basketball team. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, eating new cuisines, learning new sports, and spending time with friends.
Abhishek Pokharel
Abhishek Pokharel is a senior at St. Joseph’s University with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is an international student from Nepal. Currently, he works as a tutor for Mathematics and Computer Science on campus. He is the student representative in the Faculty Technology Committee, and he is serving as the secretary of the Student Government Association at his university. After graduation, Abhishek wants to start his career as a front-end engineer. However, his goal is to be a data scientist for which the MSR DS3 program was a perfect start. He found the DS3 program to be one of the best platforms to enhance problem-solving skills, network, and experience the MSR environment. Apart from his passion for coding, he loves thrilling adventures like bungee jumping, rock climbing, and skiing. He also loves traveling and exploring creative vegan/vegetarian cuisines from different regions.
Sushobhan Parajuli
Sushobhan Parajuli is an international student from Nepal, currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from CUNY Baruch College. He works at Brooklyn College as a Research Assistant in finance NLP and has worked at the City College as a Teaching Assistant. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Sushobhan plans to gain comprehensive knowledge of data science either through work experience or a graduate degree in data science, and ultimately work as a Data Scientist. While at Baruch College, Sushobhan has served as a Graphic Designer, Business Staff Writer, and Algorithmic Trader for different student organizations. He picked up his data science skills at CUNY Tech Prep where he was a data science fellow, and afterwards joined the DS3 program at Microsoft where he was fortunate to learn research data science from acclaimed researchers and scientists at Microsoft Research Lab at New York City. In his free time, Sushobhan likes to read poetry, watch awesome movies, support Manchester United F.C., and explore jazz music. He takes a keen interest in history and geography as well.”
Alexandra Roffe
Alexandra Roffe is a senior at Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University. Alexandra’s fascination with machine learning and biochemistry began when she saw problem solving skills needed in organic chemistry and how stacks are similar to RNA hairpins. During the DS3 program, Alexandra gained knowledge of in-depth data manipulation and analysis. She will apply this knowledge to her computational chemistry research and future career. She believes that data science has the potential to increase the quality of life of many people. When Alexandra is not discussing fantasy football, she enjoys playing Just Dance.
Nirvi Shah
Nirvi Shah is a senior at the New York City College of Technology majoring in Biomedical Informatics. Throughout her education and internships, she has honed her skills in data analysis, programming, and project management, as demonstrated through her successful projects such as building a classifier for breast cancer and conducting a detailed COVID analysis. With a passion for using technology to improve healthcare, she has also completed various courses on data science, machine learning, and AI to further her knowledge. She is excited to join DS3 and learn from some of the top researchers and data scientists. She is eager to continue her education and make a positive impact in the field of Biomedical Informatics, ultimately pursuing her master’s and PhD in the field. She enjoys baking, reading and video editing in her free time.
Christopher Stewart
Christopher Stewart is a graduating senior at St. Joseph’s University New York majoring in Computer Science. Being a part of DS3 has opened many doors for his future career goals. Christopher is an incoming associate software engineer for The Hartford and will join his team starting in June 2023. Currently, Christopher is extremely passionate about the human-computer interaction field and enjoys software development. Combining those interests, Christopher will be attending New York University Tandon School of Engineering on scholarship in the Fall 2023 semester for his Master’s degree in Computer Science.
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Nikola Baci
Nikola Baci is an international student from Albania. He is currently a senior at CUNY Queens College majoring in Computer Science and planning to enroll in a Data Science Master’s Program. During his time in school, Nikola has had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program, become part of student government, serve as a research assistant and be awarded a full in-state scholarship. Nikola was part of the CUNY Tech Prep Data Science program and hopes that the participation in the DS3 program will enhance his understanding of statistical models and machine learning algorithms. Outside of college, Nikola loves nature and outdoor activities.
Ahuva Bechhofer
Ahuva Bechhofer is a junior at Queens College where she is pursuing a BA in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science while on the pre-engineering track. Ahuva’s fascination with Data Science began when searching for a way to apply her mathematical knowledge in a way that can better society. Through the DS3 program at Microsoft, her fascination with machine learning and AI only grew. She finds the cross-section of hardware, software, and algorithms, specifically in relation to AI, to be extremely fascinating. Ahuva believes the research field is extremely important as it provides diverse applications to improve lives. When Ahuva is not running her math club, she enjoys rock climbing, 3D modeling and printing, and cooking.
Karen Britt
Karen D. Britt is from the Bronx. She graduated in May 2021 from CUNY Lehman College with a BA in Sociology, minoring in data science. Karen is currently a first-year masters’ student at New York University Steinhart in the Applied Statistics program and will graduate in May of 2023. Her career goals are to conduct meaningful research of health disparities in New York City that can assist policymakers in creating programs that will help improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers regardless of where they live. Karen enjoys how data science can be used to learn more about the world with a more logical lens. She thinks it’s amazing how we can use data to make more informed decisions that lead to a more impactful outcome. For leisure she likes to travel and read.
Vanessa Johnson
Vanessa Johnson is a graduating senior from New York University who will continue her education at Carnegie Mellon University for her Masters in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation. Vanessa is passionate about problem solving and thinks the DS3 program will be a great way to strengthen her model building and programming skills before graduate school. Vanessa is super excited to grow within this program. In her free time, she loves playing pick-up basketball, watching psychological thrillers, and anything that is fun to do with friends like solving an escape room.
Xin Yi Li
Xin Yi Li is a junior at CUNY Brooklyn College studying computer science. She is passionate about problem-solving and project building, which lead her to be interested in the field of data science. She aspires to develop technology that can assist different groups of people and solve problems in the modern world. She is a member of Cornell Tech’s Break Through AI program and has participated as a Developer Student Club lead. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, like rock climbing.
Yongqi (Yuki) Li
Yongqi (Yuki) Li is a junior at CUNY Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business majoring in accounting with an intensive minor in mathematics (data analytics and computer science focus). Yuki also serves as a student ambassador and technology leader at Baruch. After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree to further study data science. As a non-traditional, first-generation female college student of color, who actively supports the LGBTQIA+ community, she is always passionate about taking on challenges to foster personal and professional development. The DS3 program provides clear guidance and kind supports for her to grow and explore in the data science field. Besides data science, she loves travelling. She has been to eight different regions and countries which helps her to promote international-mindedness and improve her adaptability to diverse situations.
Yasiris Ortiz
Yasiris Ortiz is a senior at CUNY City College majoring in Computer Science. Her passion for learning new things and challenging herself encouraged her to apply to DS3 and learn from world-class computer science researchers. Being part of DS3 helped her to open new doors in her career, reach her potential and use computer science skills and knowledge to mentor others in the future. Yasiris is a professional table tennis player from the national team of the Dominican Republic. She is the founder of Spin&Learn, which introduces table tennis to educational institutions. It focuses on helping students become successful independent learners to achieve high academic standards and succeed in any areas of interest in their lives.
Andrea Ramirez
Andrea Ramirez is a student at CUNY Baruch College, majoring in Data Analytics and a minor in mathematics. Her admiration for data science and machine learning began early on when she discovered how intricate and diverse the world of data is. Her curiosity for problem solving and love for math solidified her enthusiasm to pursue a career in data. She works as a teaching assistant in the computer information systems department at her school. Outside of college, she tutors children in her community various levels of math and programming. She was excited join DS3 and learn from top researchers in the country. Andrea also enjoys painting, hiking, gardening and is a history buff.
Adina Scheinfeld
As a Computer Science major and a Math and Data Science minor in the Macaulay Honors Program at Brooklyn College, Adina does research and works on projects at the intersection of these fields. Adina is particularly interested in designing algorithms for use with large data sets especially in the health care sector. Adina hopes to attend graduate school for computer science and use her computer programming skills and applied math and data analytics skills to do high level research that will ultimately help solve real world problems, such as COVID-19. In her free time, Adina is an avid figure skater who dreams of landing a triple jump.
Sambhav Shrestha
I am a senior at St. Josep’s college double majoring in Math and Computer Science and will graduate in May 2022. I love math and solving problems and enjoy working on programming projects. I also love researching any new techs I find interesting and have done multiple projects in data science, AI, and cloud computing. Currently, I am undergoing research in Quantum Computing with my professor and classmates. I joined DS3 to gain research skills and understand in-depth data manipulation and analysis. I want to join graduate school after working in the industry for a few years and work towards becoming a principal researcher in the future. In addition, I am also a big fan of stoicism and I love traveling and going on adventures.
Anthony Vallejo
I am a current Junior at Adelphi University, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Environmental Studies. I enjoy exploring the application of Data Science in the sport of baseball and European soccer to maximize players’ potentials and roles. I believe that computational and human advancements in IoT will bring great strides to the betterment of resources and energy that will ultimately guide us into saving our planet, and I aspire to be a part of that. In my spare time I enjoy working out, editing videos on Premiere Pro, and playing soccer.
Matt Veng
Hi, my name is Matt. I’m a Computer Science student at Adelphi University with a minor in Mathematics. I had the opportunity to join Microsoft’s DS3 program in 2021 and had an incredible time learning data science and working with amazing scientists here. Being in this program not only helped me gain useful practical skills when working with large sets of data, but it also prepared me for future opportunities thanks to the experience and coaching that my mentors shared with me. About my future plans, I’m going to finish my Bachelor’s this Spring 2022, and then I will be doing a software engineering internship in the summer while preparing to start grad school in the Fall. One fun fact about me is I love to cook, and I hope to open a restaurant when I retire.
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Iman Abakoyas
Iman Abakoyas is a sophomore at CUNY Lehman College majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Data Science. She has a great passion for problem solving and a love for math. She’s a self-taught programmer with a drive to challenge herself and learn new skills. She works as a tutor at her College where she supports students in tackling different programming and math related problems. She also serves as a secretary for The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. She is a fellow at Management Leadership for Tomorrow. She loves classical music and enjoys playing the piano.
Rajiv Basnet
Rajiv Basnet is a rising senior at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. He rejoices the use of artistic math involved in computational problem-solving. He aspires to be a Software Engineer and eventually wants to pursue a PhD in Computer Science and Mathematics. Having been worked as a Software Engineer Intern at Tarifica and as a Web Development Technician at Caldwell University, he also has enriched his skills associated with these fields. He hopes, through Microsoft’s DS3 program, to further explore modern data acquisition and statistical modeling techniques so as to broaden his academic horizon as well as to bring his ambitions to fruition. Rajiv is also a great admirer of music and spends quite a lot of his time with his guitar.
Hasanat Jahan
Hasanat Jahan is a rising junior at CUNY Queens College who is currently pursuing a Computer Science major with Computational Linguistics minor. Her enthusiasm for the possibilities in the world of data science and machine learning had inspired her to apply to the DS3 program and ultimately pursue the field in her career. In her free time, she likes to read, draw scribbles, and watch video essays.
Gabrielle Martinez
Gabrielle Martinez is a rising senior double majoring in Computer Science and Economics at Pace University. She has a fascination with the real-world applications of both fields especially in the case of public policy and economic research. Her interest in combining the two fields began with her first economics class freshman year where she felt empowered to be a force for change. For the past two summers, she has been investigating the effects of economic policy and natural disasters on public services under the guidance of her professor. She looks forward to learning how to build better models in DS3 and applying her knowledge to her policy research. In her free time, she’s a writer, an amateur archer, and a history buff.
Krushang Shah
Krushang Shah will be graduating from the City College of New York in December 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. He is passionate about Data Science and Machine Learning. He has worked with startup teams, to design innovative products like Collision avoidance system and Motion sensing workout wear. He enjoys reading, cooking and watching Sci-fi movies in his spare time. He was excited to be a part of DS3, to gain a deeper understanding of Data Science and learn from Microsoft Researchers. His dream job would be at an intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics,to research and develop products that can have an impact in advancement of the society.
Basira Shirzad
Basira Shirzad is a student at Macaulay Honors College at Queens College, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Math and Business and Liberal Arts. Her career goal is to become a data scientist and to work in the business world, modeling and analyzing various data streams to solve complex problems. She enjoys working with data because it merges creative and unconventional thinking with technology to solve an array of challenges. Basira hopes to grow in the data science field by joining the DS3 program to enhance her skills in machine learning and data modeling. Outside of college, Basira enjoys playing Badminton, working on DIY projects, and baking.
Tamar Yastrab
Tamar Yastrab is a rising senior in Stern College for Women. A long-time lover of math, Tamar developed an affinity for computer science upon entering college. She has done research on how computers process different languages, especially with non-English alphabets, and she hopes to learn more about applications of data science and machine learning to this area in DS3. Tamar is very passionate about involving women in STEM (and computer science especially!) and is proud to have lead initiatives that empower women in the field. When she isn’t programming at her computer, Tamar enjoys studying Talmud, going on hikes, and playing piano.
Xiaona Zhou
Xiaona Zhou is a rising senior majoring in Applied Mathematics at New York City College of Technology (CUNY). As an undergraduate, she worked on seven undergraduate research projects in pure and applied mathematics, and her passion for coding came through mathematics. She developed a Shiny App that implements a federal tax algorithm developed by Dr. Sam Ferguson, which helps self-employed people, who buy health insurance from a government exchange, calculate the appropriate premium tax credit they are entitled to. She is also a math tutor at her college and a budget analyst intern in the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. She wants to go to graduate school and study data science or computer science. She hopes to become a data scientist and use data for good, for a better society and a better future for all.
students
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Brenda Fried
Brenda Fried is a senior at Brooklyn College majoring in computer science. She loves to tackle challenging problems and is enamored by the power of the command line. She’s been intrigued by the world of data science and machine learning ever since starting work at a computer vision startup in her sophomore year. She was excited to join DS3 to learn from an incredible group of dedicated researchers. When not coding, Brenda loves to swim, spray paint art and hike.
Harpreet Gaur
Harpreet Gaur is a rising senior majoring in Computer Systems Technology at CUNY City Tech, where she mentors and tutors students during the semester. Moreover, she works on software development based research projects and has been a CUNY Research Scholar and an Honors Scholar at City Tech in the past. Her passion for technology dates back to her gap year where she taught students computer science and its impact to under-served communities in India. After completing the DS3 program, she wants to work on existing societal predicaments that impact people on a large-scale using data science and machine learning. Harpreet is a dessert enthusiast and a film-maker on the side.
Adnan Hoq
Adnan Hoq graduated as the Valedictorian from St. Joseph’s College with a double major in Mathematics & Computer Science. He has garnered experience in object-oriented programming and full-stack development under the tutelage of his mentor Dr. Callahan at NYU. Adnan created an automated tool for producing charts using R during his time as a software and data consultant at NYCDOHMH. Moreover, Adnan traveled to China to satiate his curiosity in Deep Learning when he was selected for Tsinghua University’s summer research program. Adnan possesses a unique proclivity for data science and machine learning research. He is currently trying his best to find an acceptable balance between industry and research in his career.
Emeka Mbazor
Emeka Samuel Mbazor is a rising senior at Lehman College, majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Data Science. Formerly a pre-medical student, he became interested in data and the stories contained within them after taking and enjoying a Biostatistics course. He hopes to further explore his interests and make a transition towards machine learning research in the coming year. Outside his academic and professional life, he also enjoys all things Star Wars.
Naomi Moreira
Naomi graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn in May 2019 with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. She discovered her passion for mathematics and computer science during her sophomore year. After that she worked to be accepted at a research program in which I modeled the dynamics of recidivism in the state of Arizona. She enjoys listening to the Beatles and Norm Macdonald jokes.
Cindy Muso
Cindy Muso is a rising junior at St. John’s University where she is pursuing a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. Her curiosity and love for computer science began in high school after taking a programming class. Through the DS3 program at Microsoft, Cindy has developed an interest in machine learning and looks forward to working in this particular field in the near future. One of her many goals is to pursue a PhD in Computer Science and Mathematics. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and believes that research, no matter the scope or topic, can play a huge role in advancing society. This is why Cindy wishes to devote her time in conducting research after her undergrad. In addition to this, she likes to spend her time playing tennis, traveling, and having quality time with friends and family.
Etta Rapp
Etta Rapp is a junior at Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University), double majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. She is passionate about both of these fields and the overlap between them, and was fascinated to learn about the many applications of math in computer science while at DS3. Outside of college, she enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family. Etta is looking forward to attending the 2019 ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference.
Roymil Terrero
Roymil Terrero recently graduated from St. Joseph’s College, double majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is passionate about machine learning, data analysis, and algorithms. Roymil joined Microsoft DS3 to enrich his knowledge of Machine Learning and Data analysis. He believes that today’s computational power should be used responsibly to extend human ability to learn and understand what could be impossible otherwise. He is intellectually curious about how things work and hopes to someday understand and modify the Linux kernel. In his spare time, he likes to cook, do 3D modeling, and play badminton with friends.
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Renzhentaxi Baerde
Renzhentaxi Baerde graduated from Adelphi University in May 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He dreams to be able to read a research paper and actually understand it. He also likes to downvote reddit posts and is facinated by procedural generation. Currently, he is sending out thousands of application, hoping to get a job before his family disowns him. He discovered his love for programming when he realized he could beat games by using a Cheat Engine. 1 out of 10 people find Taxi funny. 9 out of 10 people dont talk to Taxi.
Peter Farquharson
Peter Farquharson is a rising senior at Lehman College majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. He is passionate about working with Data Structures and Algorithms while incorporating tools from Data Science. He was thrilled to be a part of DS3 to gain an understanding of Data Science and working in a research setting with diverse individuals. He is an avid gamer and enjoys playing cricket and soccer in his spare time.
Akbar Mirza
Akbar Mirza recently graduated from the City College of New York, double majoring in Computer Science and User Experience Design. He is excited about product design, UX, and software engineering. Akbar is an interdisciplinary thinker and loves to push his limits. In the past year, he’s taught a course on iOS Development, used data science to explore the MTA subway system, and launched an app with Quadrant 2 called MigraCam. Designed to help immigrants reached loved ones in emergency situations, Migracam is one of his best examples of using the power of civic tech to help others. Akbar is interested in expanding his knowledge in civic tech, user research, and software engineering and is open to new opportunities to grow and learn.
Brian Morte Hernandez
Brian Hernandez graduated from Hunter College in June of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He has been absolutely enamored with Data Science and Machine Learning ever since he watched a neural network program overcome one of the hardest levels in his favorite video game. After completing a few courses and programs focused on data, he found his ultimate data-driven learning experience in DS3. Outside of technology, he loves dancing, singing, and doing handstands.
Phoebe Nguyen
Phuong (Phoebe) Nguyen is a rising Senior at CUNY Baruch College, majoring in Computer Information System, specializing in Data Analytics. She found her passion for technology and education during her gap year when she filmed her first documentary about parenting methods in South East Asian countries. Her ambition is to work at the forefront of the technology with the ability to find innovative solutions to the world’s problem, serving as an advocate for underprivileged children and young women to get involved in Tech.
Sasha Paulovich
Sasha Paulovich will be graduating from Fordham University in December 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Originally a dancer, her interest in computer science stems from her desire to apply her creative tendencies to analytical challenges. For her, DS3 presented an opportunity to share the patterns and stories hidden in mountains of data. In addition to DS3, Sasha also participated in the Interactive Telecommunications Program Camp at NYU this past June, where she was able to explore the world of interactive/immersive technology. Inspired by her experiences this summer, Sasha hopes to pursue the intersection of interactive technology and data science, and discover ways in which she can communicate data-driven narratives.
Amanda Rodriguez
Amanda Rodriguez is a senior at Lehman College, majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. She plans to apply for PhD programs in Theoretical Computer Science during Fall 2018. In addition to her research interests, she loves to play tennis, hike, and travel. She spent her previous summer doing research in Colombia and traveling throughout Europe. After her time with DS3, she will participate in a service trip to Barranquitas, Puerto Rico to help those affected by Hurricane Maria through the CUNY Service Corps – Puerto Rico initiative.
Ayliana Teitelbaum
Ayliana Teitelbaum is a rising Junior at Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University) studying Computer Science and Biology. She was introduced to computer science in high school, and knew she wanted to go into coding. However, she is also intrigued by biology, and hopes to combine both disciplines. Last summer, she worked in a program teaching elementary school students how to code while getting them excited about technology and software engineering. She enjoys using data to answer practical questions that come up in her and others’ daily lives, and hopes to continue to use technology to improve the lives of those around her.
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Anandini Chawla
Anandini Chawla is a rising sophomore at NYU studying Computer Science and Mathematics. After high school, she worked at a nonprofit in rural India which got her interested in civic tech, a field she hopes to explore and dig deeper into.
David Futran
David Futran is a 5th year student in Macaulay Honors at Queens College, majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics. Among his large range of interests, he loves to read, cook, and hike. He just spent a semester in Japan, which also deepened his interest in learning Japanese. He wanted to be part of the DS3 program in order to delve into Data Science, a field of study that has always intrigued him and he is considering pursuing in graduate school next year. He was also excited to be in a program run by Microsoft’s Data Science researchers and learn from them.
Rosemarie (Ro) Liriano
Rosemarie (Ro) Liriano is a rising Junior at CUNY Lehman College majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Sociology. Her interests range between social justice, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and public policy. She would like to work at the intersection of technology and social science in the future and for this reason she was excited to be accepted into the Microsoft DS3 program where she hopes to learn how to combine her love for technology and sociology in a way that could help impact change in the world.
Keri Mallari
Keri Mallari is am a rising junior at Lehman College majoring in Math and Computer Science. She applied to this program because she took a data-based class called the Future of New York City, and it was the best Computer Science class she’s taken in college. She wants to explore more data sets and learn more about data science.
Francois Mertil
Francois Mertil is a senior at New York City College of Technology, CUNY, is majoring in Applied Math focusing in Information Science.
Ilana Radinsky
Ilana Radinsky is a rising Junior at Stern College for Women (Yeshiva University) studying Computer Science and Math. She applied to the Microsoft Research Data Science Summer School because she believes in the power of data science – as an emerging field that bridges the gap between so many disciplines and industries, data science is a discipline with a huge potential for positive impact on mankind.
Rivka Schuster
Rivka Schuster is a student at Touro College and a rising senior majoring in Computer Programming. She was thrilled to join the DS3 class because she enjoys learning and is intrigued by data. She’s looking forward to collaborating on a project with other students and Microsoft researchers.
Thoa Ta
Thoa Ta is a rising senior at St. John’s University, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Social Justice as part of being an Ozanam Scholar at St. John’s. Her passion is to leverage technology for social good and environmental sustainability. After a long time struggling to find her place in Computer Science, she finally feels at home in DS3, where she learns powerful tools to make an impact through insight discovery. On a personal level, she comes from Vietnam and sees spiritual enlightenment as her lifelong pursuit.
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Fatima Chebchoub
Fatima Chebchoub is a rising senior at New York City College of Technology. She is a Computer Systems Technology major and interested in software engineering. Fatima was born and raise in Morocco, and she moved to the USA about five years ago. In her first semester, Fatima has gone from a student struggling with a new foreign language. to get the first place for writing the best essay in New York from the Literary Arts Festival New York City College of Technology. Fatima speaks four other foreign languages, She enjoys writing and she has a dream that one day she will write a book. At the moment, she holds a part-time job as a software developer at her school.
Kaciny Calixte
Kaciny Calixte graduated from SUNY Old Westbury in May of 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Science. She discovered her love for coding mid-Sophomore year and never looked back. Her current interests include web development, data science and machine learning. Her long-term goal is to further her educational journey by attending graduate school. During the Fall 2016 semester, she is set to complete an internship focused on bioinformatics, plant genomics, and machine learning at a Department of Energy national laboratory.
Jacqueline Curran
Jacqueline Curran graduated in May 2016 from Manhattan College with a degree in Economics and Business Analytics. During her time at Manhattan, she was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Alpha Iota Delta, and Manhattan College’s Federal Reserve Challenge Team. She was the recipient of the Richard J. Carey Medal for Economics, which is awarded annually to the top student in the department. Following the DS3 program, she will begin her career at KPMG in their Global Mobility Services Division.
Louise Lai
Louise Lai is a rising Junior at NYU Stern School of Business, double majoring in Business & Political Economy and Computer Science. She has many interests – startups, data science and politics, but is primarily fascinated with artificial intelligence. She hopes that technology will change the world to be a happier and more equal place, and aspires to work to make that happen in the future. She is an avid corgi fan, although she owns no pets because she lives in between Malaysia and Australia.
Abraham Neuwirth
Abraham Neuwirth is an undergraduate student at Touro College where he is majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathematics. He is passionate about fields where these two disciplines intersect such as data science and machine learning. His favorite R package is dplyr and his operator of choice is the pipe. When he isn’t sitting in front of a computer screen, he daydreams about working out.
Jai Punjwani
Jai Punjwani is a rising junior at Adelphi University studying computer science. He loves programming in Java (his “native” tongue) and has even developed an Android app that allows students to find each other and study at his university. In the future, he wishes to join the field of cryptography so that he can strengthen security in a world with more data than ever. Aside from coding, Jai loves reading the Game of Thrones series and also enjoys dancing on his school’s Bhangra team.
Erica Ram
Erica Ram recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a Mathematics minor from Adelphi University. She has been writing code since high school, and finds working with data using code very interesting because of the variety of possibilities and applications. She plans to attend graduate school for Computer Science in Fall of 2017.
Marieme Toure
Marieme Toure is a rising senior at CUNY New York City College of Technology, starting to look for roles in the financial industry. After obtaining her high school diploma in Senegal, Marieme came back to the US for college education. She is majoring in Applied Mathematics with a concentration in Information Science and minoring in Computer Science. As an undergrad, the invisible forces that shape our world fascinate her. Why does one company succeed and another fail? Is it possible to predict which idea will be the next big thing? Marieme enjoyed predicting yellow caps drivers’ efficiency this summer at Microsoft Research. She is planning to go to graduate school and get a Master degree in Quantitative Finance and work in the most prestigious firms. As a big sport fan, Marieme is supporting the American team for the Olympics games.
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Eiman Ahmed
Eiman Ahmed is a rising Sophomore at Pace University where she is majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathetmatics and in Statistics. She first fell in love with coding when she took her first Java course in high school and now works as an app developer at her university’s technology consultancy. In her free time, she enjoys watching T.V. shows like Criminal Minds and going on long walks with her friends.
Glenda Ascencio
Glenda Ascencio, an undergraduate student with an entrepreneur, mathematical, and software development skill living in New York City. She’s majoring in mathematics and minoring in computer science at St. Joseph’s College. She loves challenging her mind by finding solutions to different programming problems. In her spare time, one of the things she loves to do is to program with Java, Python, HTML, CSS, and R. One of her fervent desires is to pursue a career in data analytics so she can inform and educate citizenry of the USA/Honduras because she wants to stop violence, poverty, and ignorance.
Shannon Evans
Shannon Evans was born in St. Lucia and is currently an international student at New York City College of Technology. An Applied Mathematics major with a concentration in finance, his ultimate goal is to become a financial analyst. He lives for the opportunity to become a world changer; to design financial systems that improves our lives. He also loves sports, particularly soccer, table tennis, and cricket.
Thomas Patino
Thomas Patino is a senior at Skidmore College majoring in Business Management. Thomas has worked in various projects involving neighborhood improvement and urban planning. With his experience at Microsoft, Thomas hopes to bridge the gap between the technology industry and Latinos. Thomas anticipates going to graduate school in the computer science field to utilize data and find creative solutions to community development.
Nikki Hanson
Nikki Hanson, known to friends as Riley, is a rising senior at Queens College interested in software engineering, gaming, Japanese and increasing diversity in tech. A bit of a latecomer to the game, they were writing code before they knew what it was, and that path inevitably led them to return to school for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Math. Their favorite subject by far is Computational Theory, and they hope to get into Cryptography next.
Anastassiya Neznanova
Anastassiya Neznanova is a current honor transfer student at Queens College. She recently completed her undergraduate research in mathematics and published her paper in the International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. Anastassiya aims to pursue her BS in Computer Science and sees her career in entrepreneurship.
Riva Tropp
Riva Tropp is from Teaneck, New Jersey. A Computer Science minor at Yeshiva University, she enjoys the opportunities for exploration Data Science provides. Co-president of her university’s computer science club, Riva occupies herself tutoring, scripting, and planning club activities. Her favorite subway station is at 14th street and Eighth avenue.
Steven Vasquez
Steven Vasquez was born and raised in the Bronx where he currently resides. He attends Manhattan College, and is studying Computer Science and minoring in mathematics. Steven is a brother of the fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon and love sports as much he loves solving problems. He is excited to learn and grow this summer.
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Jahaziel Guzman
Jahaziel Guzman (Brooklyn College) was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and has been living in Brooklyn since 1996. He has had an interest in music and visual art since he was a child. In his freshman year of college, he developed an interest for math and programming, and also had the opportunity to work in a biology lab at Brooklyn College doing bioinformatics work.
Donald Hanson II
Donald Hanson II is from Laurelton, New York. He is a computer science major with a minor in music at Adelphi University. Right now, he is an IT student worker at his school and is currently in the process of creating his own website using HTML and CSS. People usually say that he is a guy who likes to stay positive and motivated, and he thinks that describes him very well; he always try to make the best of every situation.
Afzal Hossain
Afzal Hossain is a junior in New York City College of Technology. He has an associate degree in Computer science and now he is studying Applied Mathematics in Finance. His goal is to study data science in graduate school.
Khanna Pugach
Khanna Pugach is a junior at Baruch College majoring in computer information systems with a math minor. Besides, she is an international student from Russia and this is her third year in the US. She likes Nora Ephron’s books and tennis.
Franky Rodriguez
Franky Rodriguez was born in Mexico, grew up in Miami, and now is doing a double major in mathematics and computer information technology at St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn. He loves challenging his mind and finding solutions and applications to many different problems. He has worked on various applications including writing a Java program that recognizes melodies by converting musical notes into relative seminotes and durations. In his spare time he indulges in playing and composing music.
Derek Sanz
Derek Sanz was born in 1993 to Dominican parents in Brooklyn, New York. It was 2011 when he entered Brooklyn College, took the introductory computer science course, and entered a non-stop frenzy of hard work and love for learning. 2013 was a year of fun: 9 computer science courses, a one-month study abroad trip to China, one internship and one fellowship.
Briana Vecchione
Briana Vecchione is a rising CS Junior at Pace University. Though relatively new to the field, Briana is a member of both the Pforzheimer Honors College and the Seidenberg Creative Lab on campus. Her background consists mostly of web design, game design, and app development. In addition to DS3, Briana is also in the process of developing educational applications for international implementation in Senegal. She anticipates getting her PhD and working to utilize technology in developing regions.
Siobhan Wilmot-Dunbar
Siobhan Wilmot-Dunbar is a Junior at Pace University studying computer science and minoring in digital design. She is also a part of Seidenberg Creative Labs, a web development and research group at Pace, and has done coding in Java, HTML, and CSS. Besides that, Siobhan plays piano, acoustic guitar, and steel drums, and has high hopes of one day combining her ability in computing with her love for music and visual arts.
