Student articles

Minghan Liang, MPS ’22, on how he became a data scientist

Minghan Liang, MPS ’22, followed his curiosity. After about two years spent in the technology industry getting valuable experience with data science and artificial intelligence (AI), Liang decided to expand his understanding of statistics and enrolled in Cornell’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in data science and applied statistics program. The one-year master’s program is intended to equip students like Liang with the modern data analysis skills every field needs. Today, he’s a data scientist at Chewy, a leading pet care company.

Kendall Hoffman ‘23, MPS ‘23, on the skills that readied her for industry

Just one year out, Kendall Hoffman ’23, MPS ’23, already sees how her education in the Master of Professional Studies program in information science informs her work as a product manager. 

“Being in this role and directly applying what I learned in college and grad school has been really cool,” she said.

Hans Sung, MPS ‘24, on working hard and working smart

Hans Sung, MPS ’24, was drawn to Cornell’s Master of Professional Studies program in information science because he wanted to work with great students and learn from leading faculty at a prestigious university. An internship with Microsoft as an undergraduate in Taiwan had inspired him to pursue a career in software engineering. Information science’s MPS program helped develop Sung’s technical and teamworking skills and ready him for a successful career in industry.  

Human-Computer Interaction Design poster session showcases students’ apps

Are you an international student? Do you struggle to use slang in social contexts? Well, then Slang Central, the app that teaches you American slang, is for you.

What I just pitched is not a “real” app. It’s not available in the app store, has no backend development, and is only stored in Figma – an online application that allows users to create high-fidelity user interfaces. But, it is a “real” app in the sense that it has a comprehensive design that my team thoroughly researched and created in the Cornell University course INFO 3450/5355/COMM 3450: Human-Computer Interaction Design.

Nirmal Srinivasan, MPS ‘23, on the advice that helped him land a job in data science

Resilience is a requirement in the job market. Nirmal Srinivasan, MPS ’23, would add adaptability, too.

“I would keep applying for a lot of jobs and get all these rejections. I’m thinking, ‘What am I doing wrong?’” Srinivasan said of his time as a Cornell graduate student in the Master of Professional Studies in data science and applied statistics. “This classmate used to joke with us, saying, ‘You guys actually don't need to apply for jobs; you just need to keep talking to people.’ That thought stayed in my head. At the start of my second semester, I reframed my objectives.

Summer program gives undergraduates a taste of research life

Hosted by the Cornell Bowers CIS and encompassing Cornell’s Ithaca campus and Cornell Tech in New York City, Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE), is a 10-week summer program where Cornell undergraduates are paired with one of nearly 40 faculty mentors and their doctoral students to tackle a specific research project.

Student creates smart glasses for people with hearing loss

For a person with hearing loss, a room full of people talking all at once can be a nightmare scenario. Even with hearing aids, it’s often difficult to hear the one person speaking right in front of you.

Nirbhay Narang ’25 has created smart glasses to help people manage this situation. The glasses use AI to provide transcriptions of conversations in real time, which can be viewed both on the glasses and on a phone.

Nexus Scholars study climate change inequality and infant language learning

Noelani Hsia ’26 is conducting research on something she’s witnessed firsthand growing up in California —climate inequality. Another pair of social science students, David Behdad ’25 and Sneah Singhi ’26, are studying infant language acquisition, working with parents and their babies.