Aashna Anand

Year in School
Freshman

Major

Research Interests

Research Mentor

Research/Engagement Experience

Interests

Project Title

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
I got interested in computer science because I have always loved solving puzzles, whether it was building games in Scratch during middle school or tackling tough math problems in high school. But I didn't fully understand the power of computer science until I used it to work on breast cancer detection on ultrasound images through deep learning. That experience showed me the power to change lives, and it sparked a lasting interest in applying Ai to scientific challenges.

What social interests matter to me?

Why did you choose Illinois?
UIUC stood out to me for its world-class CS program, research opportunities, and collaborative community. I wanted to be in a place where I could challenge myself and be surrounded by people just as passionate and motivated as me so that we inspire each other to grow and push boundaries.

What are your passions outside of computing?
I enjoy solving Rubik’s cubes, playing chess, learning about astronomy, and participating in competitive programming.

What has been one of your favorite experiences at Illinois that you would like to share with prospective students? (For Continuing UIUC Students)

What has been one of your favorite experiences as a CS STAR? (For Returning CS STARS)

What is my most impactful college experience?

These are a few of my favorite things!
Bubble tea, solving cubes, stargazing, checkmating people, long walks at sunset, and spending time with my family and friends

Research Description

Biography
Aashna Anand is an incoming first-year computer science student at UIUC passionate about applying AI to health and space science challenges. She contributed to AI-driven breast cancer detection by developing advanced deep learning models, including transformers such as MaskFormer, achieving a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 94.3% and publishing her findings in the MDPI Sensors journal. Aashna's research spans computer vision and healthcare, and she aims to extend her expertise into computational astrophysics and data-driven space science. She looks forward to contributing to the UIUC community and advancing her skills.