Career

STEM EE Scholars Interview Project

As a first-year student at a school as immense and prestigious as The Ohio State University, making contact with upperclassmen, graduate students, and professors can often seem like a daunting and rather uncomfortable task. When first assigned this project, I had a preconceived notion that it would be difficult to find people who were willing to take time out of their hectic schedules to talk to an underclassman about their own experiences as a student. My experience, however, was nothing but positive, and each person I chose to interview was eager to help answer my questions.

To begin the project, I contacted my STEM EE Mentor, Kristen Buzaki, who served as my upperclassman interviewee. My MATH 1152 Teaching Assistant, Han Zhang, who is currently a graduate student at The Ohio State University, allowed me to interview him during his office hours. In order to find a professor to interview, I used the SCOPUS database to comb through hundreds of scholarly articles related to the topic of data visualization. After reading a few articles written by Professor Sarah A. Murphy and emailing her about a potential interview, we agreed to meet in her office located in Thompson Library.

Each of these individuals were chosen based on their connection to or knowledge of mathematics and statistics. I chose to interview my STEM EE Mentor because she is currently a second-year Actuarial Science major. At the time of our interview, I was interested in finding out more about Actuarial Science and potential careers in the field. As an upperclassman in a STEM field, I knew she would be able to provide me with tips and other information that would be useful throughout my first year at The Ohio State University. My MATH 1152 TA was a logical choice for my graduate student interview because Calculus 2 is my most difficult class this semester. Building a relationship with my TA as well as gaining any information about how to be successful in the course would therefore be beneficial. My decision to look for professors who have researched data visualization originated from my interest in switching my major to Data Analytics. By choosing to interview Professor Sarah A. Murphy, I hoped to gain more insight into the unique applications of an education in data analysis.

By interviewing my STEM EE Mentor, Kristen Buzaki, I learned several important life lessons that I believe will help me throughout my next four years at The Ohio State University. When it comes to getting involved on campus, Kristen recommended that instead of overwhelming myself by joining as many organizations as possible, I should take the time to find one that I am truly passionate about. She also explained that dealing with difficult professors and facing adversity is not rare in college. Instead of complaining or acting like a victim, Kristen emphasized the importance of taking the initiative to turn the opposition into a positive learning experience. The advice that resonated with me the most was to not become too consumed with academics. Take these next four years to excel in the classroom but to explore interests outside of the classroom as well.

Talking to my MATH 1152 Teaching Assistant, Han Zhang, proved to be a very beneficial experience as well. Originally from the People’s Republic of China, Han attended Sun Yat-sen University for his undergraduate education. He double-majored in Environmental Engineering and Mathematics and is currently working towards a Master’s of Mathematical Sciences at The Ohio State University. During his interview, Han emphasized the importance of building relationships with professors. He recommends going to office hours regularly rather than only when the course material is difficult. To be successful in MATH 1152, Han suggests doing all of the homework and quiz problems independently as well as reading the textbook to reiterate points brought up in class. Han’s best advice was to always remain intellectually curious. Do not accept the answers for what they are; instead, investigate the problem to see why that answer is correct.

As stated previously, I used the SCOPUS database to find scholarly articles related to data visualization. After reading several written by Professor Sarah A. Murphy, I chose to analyze the articles entitled How data visualization supports academic library assessment and Data Visualization and Rapid Analytics: Applying Tableau Desktop to Support Library Decision-Making. In general, these articles discuss how quantitative information can be better understood when it is converted into a visual form. Professor Murphy has used the technology Tableau to visually represent library data which has consequently made several library processes easier. To my surprise, both articles were not difficult to read as they contained several visual aids that made the information easier to comprehend. Although there were several technical terms of which I was not familiar, the overall purpose of both articles was quite clear.

My interview with Professor Murphy turned out to be a lot more interactive than I had originally expected. After I asked her several questions, she was much more interested in letting me see the data technology in action. Professor Murphy walked me through several of the research projects that she was working on, allowing me to see the magic that occurs when numbers are turned into visually appealing images. Seeing what technology can do as well as how passionate Professor Murphy is about her work made me even more confident in my decision to switch my major to Data Analytics.

After completing this assignment, I am interested in continuing to pursue relationships with other students and faculty members who can help me make the most of my time at The Ohio State University. What I learned most from this project is that it is important to put yourself out there, even if it is uncomfortable at first, as it may result in an unexpected opportunity. While studying Data Analytics at The Ohio State University, I plan on seeking opportunities to broaden my horizons and enhance my education over the next four years.

Artifacts

My first week at The Ohio State University ended on a high note as I participated in Pay It Forward’s 21st Annual Community Commitment. Since 1997, nearly 1,000 OSU students have kicked off the new school year by giving back to the Columbus community. Gathering at the Ohio Union, students eagerly wait to see which agency they will be assigned to serve. In the past, students have worked at local food pantries, the Columbus Zoo, and other various nonprofit organizations. My group, which included several friends and fellow STEM EE Scholars, was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to volunteer at COSI, the Center of Science and Industry.

While at COSI, we learned about the COSI Center for School and Community Partnerships which aims to educate young people and inspire interest in STEM related fields. We helped contribute to this program by sorting and counting items which we then placed into boxes to create science experiment kits. Each kit included directions for the experiment as well as all of the materials needed to perform the experiment successfully. Once the kits were completed, they were sealed and sent to schools across the country. Participating schools are then able to partake in a virtual demonstration of the experiment hosted by COSI.

Volunteering at COSI made me realize all of the effort that is put into promoting and educating young people about STEM topics. With STEM being so prevalent in today’s society, it is important to make learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics engaging and memorable for all. By participating in Community Commitment, I feel like I have enhanced my STEM education as well as contributed to the future of STEM. Community Commitment truly made me aware of the opportunities Columbus has to offer OSU students, and I look forward to being able to volunteer at COSI again.