Hear from PhD Alumni

Name: Anshuman Misra

Year of graduation: 2014

Employer: Purdue University, Fort Wayne

Position: Assistant Professor

What’s great about your job?
I love the flexibility to set my own hours, teach courses that align with my interests, and tackle challenging research problems that keep me challenged. The freedom my role offers is invaluable, and I now have a clear goal in mind – to achieve tenure in the next few years.

Why did you choose UIC?
I chose UIC for its strong research output and the diverse expertise of the faculty in the CS department. I was particularly drawn to the opportunities in distributed computing, and the faculty’s research focus aligned perfectly with my own goals in this area.

What was the most valuable student organization you joined, and why?
Although I didn’t join any student organizations at UIC due to my teaching, research, and coursework commitments, I did take up Judo at a nearby club in Chicago. It was a great way to recharge mentally and physically, balancing the demands of my academic life. The discipline and growth I experienced in Judo complemented my professional journey in ways that are hard to put into words.

Would you recommend the UIC CS department to new applicants, and why?
Absolutely. The UIC CS department offers a rich variety of courses and deep, rigorous classes, along with outstanding research opportunities across a wide range of areas within computer science. It’s a fantastic place for anyone looking to build a strong foundation and advance in the field.

What is the most unusual great thing you’ve done in the past year?
Over the past few months, I’ve started cooking at home more, which is pretty unusual for me since I used to eat out a lot. It’s actually been helping me overcome some of my procrastination, especially when it comes to being more patient and taking the time to prepare meals. Plus, it’s a healthier choice, so it’s been a win all around.

Name: Mohammad Taha Khan

Year of graduation: 2020

Employer: Washington and Lee University

Position: Assistant Professor of Computer Science

What’s great about your job?
The best part of my job is working closely with students and sparking their enthusiasm for computer science. It’s really rewarding to see them discover new concepts and develop skills they can apply in the real world.

Why did you choose UIC?
I selected UIC for its strong graduate program and dynamic urban environment. As a fresh undergraduate, I was eager to pursue a PhD in cybersecurity, and Dr. Chris Kanich’s research interests seemed like a perfect match for my goals. Also, UIC’s prime location in Chicago, a city known for its dynamic energy and cultural diversity, where there’s always something exciting happening, makes it an ideal place to study.

What was the most valuable student organization you joined, and why?
I was an active member of both the Climbing Club and the Muslim Student Association. The Climbing Club was the perfect way to unwind after a long day; I’d head to the recreational center to climb a few routes and catch up with friends. As an international student, the Muslim Student Association offered a supportive community that made me feel right at home.

Would you recommend the UIC CS department to new applicants, and why?
The CS department at UIC is one of the fastest-growing in the country. The faculty in CS are excellent teachers and leaders in cutting-edge research. Additionally, UIC’s unique location offers numerous independent networking opportunities. During my time there, I frequently attended networking events at the offices of Google and Microsoft, which were just a 15-minute bus ride from campus.

What is the most unusual great thing you’ve done in the past year?
Recently, I got into woodworking and built a custom playpen for our toddler, who was outgrowing his smaller one. It was a great learning experience where I picked up new skills, like using a jigsaw and a speed square. As a computer scientist, I’m used to building things through writing code, so it was a refreshing change to build something with my hands.

Name: Hamidreza Almasi

Year of graduation: 2023

Employer: Cisco

Position: AI Researcher

What’s great about your job?
Collaborating with talented teammates and having the freedom to shape my own research direction

Why did you choose UIC?
UIC’s highly regarded program and prime location in Chicago offered unique academic and professional opportunities.

Would you recommend the UIC CS department to new applicants, and why?
Yes, UIC’s CS department combines strong academics with a supportive research community, ideal for growth.

What is the most unusual great thing you’ve done in the past year?
Ran a marathon!

Name: Anqi Liu

Year of graduation: 2018

Employer: Johns Hopkins University

Position: Assistant Professor, Computer Science

What’s great about your job?
The greatest part of my job is that I can collaborate with researchers from different domains to help design AI-based solutions that may benefit society and work with my students to help them become who they want to be in their careers.

Why did you choose UIC?
I chose UIC because it is strong in machine learning and data mining and it is located in a big city.

What was the most valuable student organization you joined, and why?
To be honest, as a PhD student, I did not join any student organization at that time, maybe due to the fact that I was too busy with my research;) But during my PhD, I did join a group of PhD students in the CS department to have events and activities in our spare time, like playing badminton and potluck together. They formed an essential support network for me.

Would you recommend the UIC CS department to new applicants, and why?
Yes! I may have more things to say about the CS department. UIC has the advantage that it has a strong ML/AI domain with great faculty/researchers. For students who are interested in core ML, the close connections between faculty in the CS and MSCS departments are also very beneficial. UIC also has a diverse student population and is located in a dynamic city, providing enriching student experiences.

What is the most unusual great thing you’ve done in the past year?
In the past year, which is the third year in my journey as an Assistant Professor, I started a collaboration with medical physicists in the Department of Radiation Oncology and published a paper in the ML4H symposium. This is my first work in the medical domain: with uncertainty-aware machine learning as the tool, we are able to design useful applications to predict the safety and control the risk of cancer treatment plans. It feels great when your research can help the doctors and nurses who are in great need of more efficient workflows.

Name: Hamed Rezaei

Year of graduation: 2021

Employer: Rockwell Automation (Allen – Bradley) and University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

Position: Research Scientist at Rockwell Automation and Adjunct Professor at UWM

What’s great about your job?
I love both of my jobs. As part of the research team at our global headquarters, I have the unique opportunity to work on world-class projects in the area of industrial automation. Additionally, at UWM, I teach my favorite topics to undergraduate and graduate students, which always makes me pleased with what I am doing.

Why did you choose UIC?
I think there are only a limited number of universities across the U.S. that offer the opportunity to live in an astonishing city and have excellent faculties at the same time. UIC located in the heart of Chicago, had a long list of outstanding professors from which I could choose my future advisor. I am 100% happy with my choices now—UIC and my advisor.

What was the most valuable student organization you joined, and why?
This is a regret for me. I wasn’t part of any student organizations.

Would you recommend the UIC CS department to new applicants, and why?
For sure. The caring staff and professors, along with the flow of knowledge in this department, make a significant difference. As a future student, you should know that professors are chosen very carefully through a long process of personal and academic evaluations. You will love it…

What is the most unusual great thing you’ve done in the past year?
I decoded the complete behavior of an industrial communication protocol in cases of connection instability. This had been a dilemma for many years for our sales team. My discovery led to two promotions within almost one year, which is a significant achievement for someone in the research team, where promotions typically take much longer.

Name: Chihua Ma

Year of graduation: 2018

Employer: Epsilon

Position: Director of Decision Sciences Visual Analytics

What’s great about your job?
I love working on data visualization. Being part of the Visual Analytics team at Epsilon is a natural extension of the passion I developed during my PhD research, but it also goes beyond that. It feels incredibly fulfilling to contribute to showcasing the power of our company’s platform, earning the trust of our clients, and even playing a role in helping close deals.

Why did you choose UIC?
I chose UIC because of its strong reputation in computer science, particularly its Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL), which is a prestigious institution known for cutting-edge visualization research and the many talented graduates it has produced. I wanted to be part of that legacy.
Location was another key factor. Pursuing a PhD is challenging, and having the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of downtown Chicago and take relaxing walks by the lake provides the perfect balance of inspiration and relaxation.

Would you recommend the UIC CS department to new applicants, and why?
Definitely. The UIC CS department is an excellent choice for prospective applicants. The university is home to the EVL, a pioneer in data visualization, human-computer interaction, and immersive systems. The CS department is distinguished by its highly qualified faculty, whose expertise spans artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning, data science, and human-centered computing. These faculty members have a proven track record of impactful research contributions and maintain strong industry collaborations. Many UIC CS alumni have secured positions at leading tech companies, startups, and academic institutions, demonstrating the department’s effectiveness in preparing students for successful careers.