Anushadevi Rajkumar (MSc Advanced Computer Science, 2023)
"My dissertation project was a highlight. Building a full working application from an idea, under the guidance of Dr. Paulo Oliva, was incredibly rewarding. This experience played a significant role in securing my first UK job after graduation, as having a complete project to showcase during interviews made a substantial difference."
Why did you choose to study your programme and why Queen Mary?
I have always aspired to pursue an MSc in Computer Science and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) stood out due to its diverse course offerings. I was eager to explore beyond the core computer engineering disciplines I studied in my bachelor's degree, delving into areas like Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Security. The university's location in London was another significant factor, providing excellent networking opportunities in the heart of the city.
What did you most enjoy about your course?
I particularly enjoyed the variety of modules, especially discovering new subjects like Natural Language Processing, which I hadn't encountered during my computer engineering bachelor's degree. The range of elective modules helped me expand my expertise and explore different areas of interest.
What are you proud of from your experience at Queen Mary?
My dissertation project was a highlight. Building a full working application from an idea, under the guidance of Dr. Paulo Oliva, was incredibly rewarding. The project allowed me to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical development skills, and seeing my concept evolve into a functional application was exciting. This experience played a significant role in securing my first UK job after graduation, as having a complete project to showcase during interviews made a substantial difference. I'm also proud of achieving a distinction and completing this journey with the unwavering support of my parents.
Which modules did you enjoy the most and were there any academics that had a strong influence on shaping your time and studies here?
Natural Language Processing and Security and Authentication were my favourite modules. I've always been drawn to security and understanding how technology works at a deeper level – knowledge I still apply as a software engineer. NLP was fascinating, particularly learning about text preprocessing and language modelling, which enabled me to integrate it into my dissertation using my own trained model.
Were you a member of any societies or attend any industry events during your time at Queen Mary? If so which and what did you gain from them?
Although I wasn't part of any QMUL societies, I attended QHack and QFreelancing sessions through the QMUL enterprise services, which provided valuable insights into entrepreneurship and freelancing. The International Career Week was another key event that proved valuable, as I learned interview techniques, refined my resume and LinkedIn profile, and discovered job boards that were crucial for my applications.
What is your current position? How have you applied the skills and knowledge you have gained in your programme to your current career?
I'm currently working as a Software Engineer at a company specialising in cell and gene therapy manufacturing solutions. The skills I gained from my MSc programme are directly applicable to my daily work, particularly the knowledge from Distributed Systems and Semi-Structured Data Engineering, which helps me develop optimal solutions for the software.
What's one piece of advice you'd offer to someone considering studying your programme at Queen Mary?
If you're aiming to secure a role after graduating from Queen Mary, I would recommend starting your job search by the second or third month into the course. Take advantage of QMUL's excellent career services, including the QMUL Careers team, which offers comprehensive guidance on interview preparation, CV refinement, and connecting with opportunities. Additionally, be sure to have a balance between academic work and job preparation, while also nurturing strong relationships with classmates, and making the most of your time in London.