June 4, 2024
Each year, the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems hosts the Spring Student Awards, during which students are honored for their leadership and excellence academically, professionally, and in the Pitt community. Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) student Sharika Loganathan earned the James G. Williams Award, awarded to exceptional MSIS students and named after Distinguished Professor Emeritus James G. Williams.
Loganathan was honored for her academic brilliance. In the MSIS program, she specialized in Big Data Analytics, with her interests lying in machine learning, cloud computing, and data mining. During her time at SCI, she worked as a part-time researcher.
“My role as a part-time researcher was incredibly valuable, serving as my initial step towards my decision of whether I should pursue a PhD program. I gained significant research experience, learning the importance of conducting research and deriving insightful conclusions from data,” said Loganathan.
In addition to her research, Loganathan emphasized the valuable knowledge and skills she has gained in the MSIS program at SCI. The program provided her with expertise both inside and outside the classroom.
“My experience at SCI has been wonderful and unforgettable. The most important takeaway for me has been learning how to apply my skills to solve real-world problems. This practical application has been both challenging and rewarding, enhancing my understanding and abilities in the field,” said Loganathan. “The MSIS program’s specializations focuses on databases, big data, information privacy, and spatial data make it ideal for students looking to specialize in these areas and develop a robust understanding of data handling and analysis.”
Loganathan received the Grace Hopper Student Scholarship (GHC) in 2023 and was the second-place winner at SheInnovates 2023. After graduating, Loganathan plans to pursue a career as a data scientist, data analyst, or data consultant.
“These roles deeply interest me, and I feel well-prepared to tackle the challenges in these fields due to my training and experiences in the MSIS program at SCI,” said Loganathan. “I’d like to thank my family, professors, academic mentor, and Office of International Serivces (OIS) mentors for always being supportive.”
Learn more about Sharika Loganathan and her work!
--Alyssa Morales