Get to know the iSchool’s ten new PhD students! They will be featured throughout the Fall 2021 semester.
Areas of Interest: Data Science, Machine Learning, Data Visualization
Advisor: Ian Hutchins
Where are you from?
My hometown is Khulna, Bangladesh. Khulna is a small town and the gateway to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world.
How did you become interested in the field of information and data science?
Well, I was amazed to see how information can tell us stories of the past as well as the future. My interest in Information/Data Science started to grow when I worked on a project that dealt with human mobility data. I enjoyed the work and wanted to do more such types of work. That’s how everything started!
What are you excited to explore in Madison?
Madison is a great place. It seems like a happy place to me. This place has something outdoors to offer in every season which is cool. I am really looking forward to exploring the outdoor activities.
What’s one thing you wish you’d known before applying to Ph.D. programs?
I think not having a concrete research plan is fine. You can always explore more things while you are in the program. Undoubtedly, having previous research experience is good and beneficial. But if you do not have that, you can share your previous experiences and what made you realize that you wanted to pursue a Ph.D.