Interview with CS PhD Alumni Series: Dr. Sagnik Dakshit PhD’23

Computer science experts are in high demand as technologies advance at breakneck speed. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of computer and information technology occupations to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Experts also believe demand for educators in the field will also increase, calling for more PhD holders in computer science and software engineering. With the following interview series, we hope to engage students who want to learn more about the PhD program by learning about those who have gone through it.

 Hi there! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 I am a Ph.D. Candidate in the computer science department at The University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in Expert Systems under the guidance of Dr. B. Prabhakaran. My research focuses on addressing the challenges for efficient development of deployable decision support systems towards improved and personalized healthcare outcomes. After completing my undergraduate degree in computer Science and engineering in Kolkata, India, I embarked on my PhD journey at UTD and am looking forward to joining The University of Texas at Tyler as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2023 after I graduate.

I have had the opportunity to intern as an AI Researcher with Robert Bosch, Seagate Technologies, HP Machine Learning Lab, Nokia Bell Labs, IBM, and Tata Technologies in software development, working on a variety of interesting research projects. I have also served as a reviewer for the Journal of Healthcare Informatics Research, IEEE Transactions on Multimedia, Multimedia Systems (Springer), ACM International Conference on Multimedia Retrieval, and ACM Information Hiding and Multimedia Security. In addition, I was also a program Committee member for the International Conference on Healthcare Informatics 2020 special session on COVID-19.

What are your plans for the future?

Fortunately, I will be joining UT Tyler as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department in Fall 2023.

What was your primary area of research? What type of research were you doing while you were obtaining your PhD?

My research is on the efficient development of healthcare decision support systems. It focuses on addressing challenges that prevent the development of deployable machine learning systems to aid medical practitioners and the adoption of the same by consumers.

Please explain your thesis in layman’s terms.

Nowadays, Doctors and patients are aided by technologies to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions. Despite advancements in AI, the technology is still evolving and not yet perfect. My research has involved improving those systems that use bio-signals, such as the electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), by addressing challenges of bias, performance, explanations, and data-related challenges.

What inspired you to pursue a PhD?

My parents have always inspired me to cultivate my intellectuality and critical thinking ability. Their inspiration and my penchant for technology and thirst for knowledge motivated me to pursue a PhD.

Why did you choose to pursue your PhD at UT Dallas?

My choice to pursue PhD at UT Dallas was primarily motivated by the great research faculty at UT Dallas and, to a lesser extent, the favorable year-round weather of Texas. I was impressed by the work of many professors in the domain of machine learning and AI. The curriculum is rigorous, with a wide array of courses and specializations offered. I am glad I made this choice!

What made you decide to choose what you were studying?

I have always had a penchant for technology and engineering, a passion that motivated my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering. I have also been fascinated by human biology from an early age. As a doctoral student, I combined my interest in both, focusing my research on the development of machine learning systems for cardiovascular disease diagnosis.

Describe your experience studying at UT Dallas. 

My experience as a graduate student at UT Dallas has been positive. UT Dallas provides a diverse intercultural atmosphere focused on education. The faculty and staff have always been there to provide help and guidance. Furthermore, the diverse campus, events, and student body perfectly balance and enhance a multicultural experience. There are always events taking place on campus that serve as great stress busters, not to mention providing the opportunity for free food!! Believe me, that is the best part as a graduate student! The University Recreation Center (UREC) offered ample opportunities to indulge in extracurricular activities and bond with peers through various organizations.

Do you have any advice for future students seeking to obtain a PhD at the UT Dallas Computer Science Department?

Doctoral years can be stressful, making it essential that you enjoy your work and make sure to invest time in yourself. If you do not enjoy your research, it’s going to feel like a real struggle. Getting a PhD is not just about research, it is also about learning many life skills such as patience, perseverance, time and money management, people skills, and work-life balance. So, my advice to future PhD students would be to make time to cultivate a hobby as a stressbuster.

What projects did you take part in while studying at UT Dallas?

Other than my research, there have been many projects that I have undertaken as a part of various graduate courses. I have also interned with companies such as Bell Labs, HP, Seagate, and Bosch, on a wide array of machine learning projects.

What type of obstacles did you overcome while obtaining your PhD?

As a new international student, there are quite a few challenges that need to be overcome during graduate studies. Culture shock is one of the early obstacles, followed by the intensive graduate curriculum. The PhD program requires candidates to take qualifying exams in the first year, which requires some serious late-night study sessions. The most challenging aspect of studying in the USA as an international student is learning to manage everything from chores to finances without help.

Where are you currently working, and how did your PhD help you get your current job?

As I already mentioned, I am starting as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler in the Fall of 2023. My decision to join academia and the necessary qualifications are directly related to and motivated by my PhD.

What was your process for getting ready to defend your PhD?

The PhD defense process is full of rigorous documentation coupled with anxiety surrounding the overarching question of whether one passes or not! Anxiety notwithstanding, I was excited to have reached this stage after five years of sweet and sour memories. I looked forward to hopefully earning the doctor (Dr.) salutation!

What would you say if you could go back in time to talk to yourself during the first year of your PhD?

I would tell my younger self to be more patient and focus on the quality of work without obsessing over rejected papers; it is part of the process. Furthermore, I would tell myself to be meticulous with documentation as it becomes very difficult to follow up on earlier work without the help of immaculate documentation.

Stay tuned for our next interview in the CS PhD Alumni Series.

ABOUT THE UT DALLAS COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

The UT Dallas Computer Science program is one of the largest Computer Science departments in the United States with over 4,000 bachelors-degree students, more than 1,010 master’s students, 140 Ph.D. students,  52 tenure-track faculty members, and 42 full-time senior lecturers, as of Fall 2022. With the University of Texas at Dallas’ unique history of starting as a graduate institution first, the CS Department is built on a legacy of valuing innovative research and providing advanced training for software engineers and computer scientists.