Class of 2024: Andreea Sistrunk learned from moments of struggle

Name: Andreea Sistrunk

College: Engineering

Degree: Ph.D. in computer science

Hometown: Bucharest, Romania 

Plan after graduation: Continue developing her knowledge about various computer science fields, focusing on human-computer interaction research. 

Favorite Hokie memory: Facing and tackling challenges alongside her colleagues. 

Throughout Andreea Sistrunk’s doctoral student journey in the Department of Computer Science, she has seized every opportunity to grow and learn. And that’s not always been easy.

“While probably unconventional in perspective, I treasure the moments of struggle along with my colleagues because it was a chance for us to grow and learn,” Sistrunk said. “When things did not go according to plan, we were frustrated. But these very moments helped us build grit and resilience.” 

While completing her undergraduate work in industrial engineering at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest in Romania, she was a visiting scholar at universities in Paris, Poland, and Sweden. Post-graduate work brought Sistrunk to the U.S. and a degree program that brought surprises.

“I had a lot of preconceptions about graduate school, and many of them were debunked. It was incredibly transformative,” she said. “When I first started my doctorate, I was expecting to be taught everything, but I learned that acquiring a Ph.D. is a unique and personal experience. You cannot ‘be taught.’ You can be guided, shaped, molded, but it is a personal path that you need to own and discover.”

Making sense of the world

Sistrunk had an uncommon high school experience, immersed in a rigorous computer science program that laid the groundwork for her higher education journey. Her passion for the discipline is also fueled by the profound impact technology has on the world around us.

“When deciding where to complete my Ph.D. and what to focus on, I was seeking a means to grow,” Sistrunk said. “Due to its footprint on everything that we do, I sincerely thought that no matter what I want to do, computer science will help me think.”

Sistrunk values the lessons her discipline has imparted, particularly the opportunity to address and solve human problems. One notable project undertaken by her academic team in recent years revolves around the issue of public school rezoning — a venture that Sistrunk regards as a significant personal achievement. Her work hopes to address educational inequalities to increase accessibility in computer science.

“Beyond the algorithms and data structures, I believe there is a true foundational education that computer science can provide to all of us,” Sistrunk said. “It allows us to understand more and is, in many ways, a structure to help organize your thoughts.” 

Merging passions  

While completing her doctorate will open up many opportunities, Sistrunk is still determining where she might want to go next. But that uncertainty is just a part of the process.  

“It takes a lot of learning -- and times of being uncomfortable -- to grow,” she said. “It can be difficult and humbling, but it’s really up to you to overcome the challenges on your own.”

One possibility is pursuing her fascination with the world of human-computer interaction (HCI). 

“Although I am an engineer and started my graduate studies as a data scientist, I become increasingly passionate about the impact of technology on people’s lives,” Sistrunk said. “I hope to have a chance to solve some of the industry problems at the intersection of HCI and data science while contributing to the advancement of research in the field.” 

Sistrunk said she wants to pursue research that leverages data analytics, machine learning, and statistical methods to better our understanding of user behavior, preferences, and interactions with digital systems. These insights would be invaluable for HCI researchers and designers.  

“I think the intersection of HCI and data science is incredibly promising,” Sistrunk said. “As these two fields continue to converge, we can expect to see exciting advancements in user experience design and the broader landscape of digital innovation.”

Written by Julie Deacon, a junior majoring in English in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences