Samika Karumuri

Year in School
Sophomore

Major
CS

Research Interests
Computers and Education Security and Privacy

Research Mentor
Gang Wang

Research/Engagement Experience

Interests
Security and Privacy, Computing and Education, HCI

Project Title

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
My interest in CS began when I learned about social engineering, which is where hackers use psychological techniques to trick someone into clicking something, sending something, etc. That sparked my passion in CS because it showed me how technology, psychology, and business intertwine. I want to understand the technical side so that I can create products and apply it to the human side.

What social interests matter to me?
I am really passionate about diversity and equality in the computing world. In addition, I am very passionate about individual digital privacy and combating the effects of social engineering within more vulnerable demographics.

Why did you choose Illinois?
From the second I got my acceptance it was a no-brainer for me. Illinois stood out to me as a school where I was going to be lifted up by my peers. Being a Woman in CS is not easy, and having the support of my classmates and the faculty was incredibly important. Many top CS schools have an incredibly toxic environment where everyone is pitted against each other, but at Illinois, I felt like everyone supported each other and wanted each other to succeed.

What are your passions outside of computing?
I have always been very passionate about STEM education and accessibility. I have worked on many different outreach projects, including mentoring 5 different FIRST Robotics teams and volunteering at a pediatric therapy clinic to expose kids with learning disabilities to STEM. I am also very passionate about cognitive psychology and learning how people process information (and it's connection to tech!).

What has been one of your favorite experiences at Illinois that you would like to share with prospective students? (For Continuing UIUC Students)
My favorite experience at Illinois has been nights on the quad with my friends. The campus is so gorgeous and it's such a nice way to unwind after a long day!

What has been one of your favorite experiences as a CS STAR? (For Returning CS STARS)
I loved being on the student panel for recruiting events. It's so fun to share my experiences with prospective students and show them why Illinois is the best place to be!

What is my most impactful college experience?
My most impactful college experience this far has been attending the Women in Computer Science admitted students day where I got to find a strong community of individuals that were just as passionate about computing and computing outreach as I was. It showed me that UIUC would be a place that I would thrive around a supportive environment.

These are a few of my favorite things!
I love hiking and being outdoors, golfing, cooking, watching sitcoms, and puzzles!

Research Description

Biography
Samika is a sophomore studying Computer Science with a minor in Psychology. She is very interested in the intersection of these two fields and hopes to dive deep into Human-Computer Interaction research this year. She has previously worked in a Security & Privacy lab under Prof. Gang Wang. Samika hopes to pursue a career in product management in the future and currently serves on the exec board of Product Space UIUC, a branch of a national PM organization.