A Spark for Machine Learning: Aqsa Qamar’s Journey from Computer Science to Information Technology and Informatics
When Aqsa Qamar ITI'26, first started her Rutgers journey, she was a Computer Science major, but after a semester, she switched to Information Technology and Informatics (IT and Informatics). In that one semester, she learned that designing the algorithms wasn’t what excited her.
Qamar decided to also minor in Statistics because, she said, it fit like a puzzle piece with IT and Informatics. By pairing her major and minor, Qamar said, “Getting to learn why two machines aren’t able to communicate with each other and how to close that gap is my new norm.”
Several Rutgers courses have helped Qamar, she said, especially Information Visualization, where she learned Tableau. Her work with Power BI, combined with a hands-on personal project and the course, helped her gain a much deeper understanding of her field.
Qamar also benefited from the remote internship she held at Ascension Technologies in St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked as an Applications Technology Intern. While her role mostly consisted of testing new technology, she worked with approximately three different teams during the 11-month internship. “I was able to either learn something new or expand on my existing knowledge,” she said.
Read our Q&A with Qamar to learn more about her major and minor, her internship, and her advice for prospective or current IT and Informatics students.
Please describe a typical day at your internship. What did your role entail?
When I first joined Ascension, AI was just recently introduced to the company so there was a lot of trial and error. My role varied from team to team, but I was able to work as a project manager for two weeks leading a team of 20, documenting Power BI infrastructure, documenting/testing different AI agents and their capabilities such as Google Gemini Gems, ChatGPT GPTs, and Copilot Agents.
Every day I would log in and would have my sprint with my team, which usually lasted about 15-30 minutes depending on workflow for the week and any issues that came up. Then I would check my email for the day and respond to any unread messages. Then, I would either continue where I left off with my work or begin a new task. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions or reach out to employees outside of my team/area. Because this was a remote role, going above and beyond was a bit difficult.
Have any SC&I courses or SC&I professors been particularly helpful or inspiring to you?
Wow, it is a bit difficult to count all my professors who have done an outstanding job at what they do. I loved showing up to Jeffrey Lane’s class, as he always connected lessons to his life and just had a passion for the well-being of his students. Kristen Luciani was very knowledgeable and really helped me lean more towards machine learning because in Design Tech we learned about communication in computers and that lit a spark in me. Another honorable mention is Connie Pascal, although this class was remote, she has a genuine interest in her students' lives and wants to see us succeed and I truly am thankful. I also enjoyed the company of Jon Oliver, who took the class on a Verizon tour in spring of 2026, which expanded my network and seeing company culture in person. He was also very passionate about his topic and always encouraged us to try real-world technology.
What advice would you give IT and Informatics students preparing for their first internship, or students considering the major?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and put yourself out there. Learning on the side is a must, as personal projects will go that extra mile to show that you are a good candidate.
After you graduate in August 2026, do you plan to pursue a career that will leverage the knowledge and skills you gained as an IT and Informatics major?
Yes, I plan to pursue a career that builds on the knowledge and skills I gained as an ITI major. In particular, I want to deepen my understanding of machine learning and apply what I've learned in that field. Since AI is such a vast and rapidly evolving area, I'm committed to continuously expanding my knowledge, and I plan to build on the practical experience I gained during my internship.
Photo: Courtesy of Aqsa Qamar
