December 28, 2022
This paid work is sponsored by the University of South Dakota.
Student enrollment in the University of South Dakota’s computer science programs has skyrocketed.
From Fall 2021 to Fall 2022, the number of undergraduate students increased by 39% and the number of graduate students increased by a staggering 184%. Driving growth is not only a growing trend in computer science programs nationwide, but also a niche opportunity to study and specialize in artificial intelligence (AI) in South Dakota.
Leading AI teaching and research at USD is Dr. KC Santosh, Associate Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department. Santosh is an internationally recognized researcher in all aspects of AI, harnessing the power of computers to process and analyze data in ways that mirror human intelligence.
AI is changing the way we live, work and play, creating demand for experts in exponentially growing fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 15% increase in computer and information technology occupations, including AI specialists and machine learning engineers, from 2019 to 2029.
Both undergraduate and graduate students at USD can pursue computer science degrees with a specialization in artificial intelligence. AI certificates are also available for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in other subjects. This fall, the department introduced a new certificate in Data Science, providing a foundation in computer programming and machine learning for students majoring in computer science and other disciplines.
“USD is home to some of South Dakota’s leading AI programs,” Santosh said. “We prepare students for careers in data science and machine learning. AI for healthcare, AI for sustainable agriculture, AI for education, AI for safety and defense. Whether AI for the economy, AI for the economy, or AI for the good, it takes expertise.”
There are many “AI for good” activities going on here in South Dakota. Whether it’s helping your local bank prevent theft or medical professionals performing medical diagnoses, AI experts design systems with algorithms that learn from data to make predictions. The result is more accurate and reliable information and better decision making.
Adam Grady, a recent USD alumnus from Sioux Falls, holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from USD and is a software engineer in Solarity’s Sioux Falls office. Solarity is a company that uses his AI to interpret clinical data in healthcare. Grady is part of his team of engineers who help hospitals and clinics manage the vast amounts of clinical data collected.
Grady earned his degree through an accelerated 4+1 program, which saved him a year of tuition and allowed him to enter the job market sooner. Working at Solarity gives me the opportunity to apply my undergraduate and graduate training in software development and AI to help the medical community maintain comprehensive and accurate records.
“Hospitals have a lot of information networks and it’s difficult to manage them all,” says Grady.
The challenging and ever-changing field of AI and computer science appeals to Grady. “I love the problem-solving aspect of what I do,” he said. “It’s very satisfying to develop something and see it come together.”
Grady added that he also develops websites through his own company, Grady Development.
At USD, he took advantage of research opportunities available to computer science students. Grady collaborated with the USD School of Health Sciences to create a program to increase awareness of mammograms among Native American women. He said being able to participate in such an opportunity while a student was one of his best aspects of his time at USD.
Another favorite aspect of the Computer Science department is Associate Professor Doug Goodman, PhD, a 36-year veteran in the department. “Dr. Goodman is a great professor,” said Grady. “His door is always open, but you might find him playing Chinese checkers with students.”
Siva Allu, who completed her master’s degree this year, is currently working as a software development engineer at Amazon in Seattle. Her Allu, from India, chose to go to graduate school at USD because of her reputation in AI.
“I’m not from a computer science background. I got a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering,” says Allu. What he learned about AI his imaging while in school inspired him to pursue further education in this field. “AI is the innovation of the century. Many future solutions to scientific problems will come from AI.”
The USD program caught his attention because of Vermillion’s low cost of living, the opportunity to work directly with professors in the department, and the research opportunities offered to students. “I was able to get a summer research project right away,” he said Allu.
Like Grady, Allu credits Goodman (especially the professor’s Algorithms class) with his successes in this area. “His classes were tough. But when he takes tough classes, he learns a lot.” Allu also thanks Santosh and instructor Zach Tschetter for their guidance and mentorship. .
Suprim Nakarmi, a current graduate student, also came to USD after completing her bachelor’s degree in engineering in her native Nepal. AI research arose out of an interest in serving people in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries. “AI will have a huge impact where experts are not available,” he said. “AI can, for example, help non-experts in the field of disease screening in medical facilities.”
He also has a research internship at Synthetik, an Austin, Texas-based startup that uses technology to mitigate threats such as terrorism and environmental events. Nakarumi, who graduates next year, plans to work in the industry before completing his PhD. His AI specialization at USD, an accessible faculty, low-cost tuition, and an active student international and his club all make it a great experience for students around the world to pursue their graduate studies here, he adds. I was.
Shotabdi Roy, who completed her master’s degree this year, said that USD’s reputation in AI led her to apply after completing a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering in her home country of Bangladesh, where she wrote a thesis on an AI-based object detection robot. I was. .
“I wanted to do a master’s degree in artificial intelligence and computer vision. I was so surprised to see Dr. KC Santosh’s work that I decided to work under him. I applied to other universities. I didn’t even,” she said.
Roy is currently working as a research fellow in the lab of Dr. Arun Singh, assistant professor of basic biomedicine at USD’s Sanford School of Medicine, where she and her colleagues study motor and cognitive control networks in Parkinson’s disease. . and other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.
“Both my degrees are perfectly blended here,” said Roy. “I also do research on human subjects. I feel very good because my research contributes to human well-being.”
A native of South Dakota, Josh Henderson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science in May and is currently a lecturer in the department and is completing his master’s degree. “Growing up in South Dakota, I knew USD had great programs. I was intrigued by the opportunity to participate in the program,” he said. He said.
Henderson plans to work in deep learning engineering and research after graduation. “Remaining in South Dakota is an option as computer science jobs are growing rapidly.”
Annual Symposium Highlights Widespread Applications of AI
In 2021, faculty from all departments across the University of South Dakota united to host the university’s first-ever AI symposium. The event, which is free and open to the public, was attended by hundreds of registered attendees online and at his Vermillion campus. This year’s symposium continued with speakers on the latest developments in AI and brought together experts from academia, industry, and government.
Past presentations include “Searching for Dark Matter with Machine Learning”, “Using Machine Learning to Better Understand Natural Resource Dynamics”, and “The Role of AI in Decision Making”.
Santosh said the symposium is another way to position USD as a top educator for AI professionals in the region and beyond. “AI and data science programs at USD will help prepare a workforce of young scientists from South Dakota that will sustain America’s strategic leadership in science and engineering.”
Jyotika Athavale, elected president of the IEEE Computer Science Society 2024, will be the keynote speaker at USD’s 2023 AI Symposium.
For more information on USD’s computer science program, visit usd.edu/Computer-Science.
