Name: Felix Dogbe

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Tennessee Technological University 

Position Title: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Research Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Computer Science

Current Class Level: Senior

Work Term: Summer 2019

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

My research was about exploring security vulnerabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT (internet of things) devices. As we all know, many people believe AI is the perfect machine for image recognition, computer vision, deep learning, and our daily activities. But, have you ever wondered what if the result we receive from the machine/AI is wrong even when we feed in the right data? My job was to prove the AI wrong. Using the convolutional neural network, the generator produces data instance which goes through the discriminator. The discriminator decides on its authenticity which either rejects the data or processes it. For instance, when a counterfeit $100 bill is passed through the system, the discriminator identifies and rejects the bill. Based on the reason for rejecting the bill, l make another $100 bill with modified features that goes through the discriminator again and again until the discriminator accepts the data. 

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I saw the opportunity in an email to the undergraduate CS mailing group which was sent by Dr. Mohamed Younis. I applied at the end of January because the deadline was during the first week of February. I visited the Career Center to have my resume checked and took advantage of the Writing Center since I had to submit a statement of purpose as part of the application process. I was offered the position somewhere in mid-April after I had an interview over Skype with a couple of professors at Tennessee Tech. 

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization? 

I most enjoyed the learning experience and the opportunity to join a team of researchers in undertaking the project. It was an eye opening experience into the field of AI as l learned from experts in the field of computer vision, deep learning, neural networks and more. I also had a fun time during my stay in Tennessee and participated in a wide range of social activities including cliff jumping, caving and a tour to the Oak Ridge Laboratory.  

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

Most modern goods and services either directly or indirectly accommodate computer systems and information technologies for use in their production processes. We all use computers/IoT devices on a daily basis, and l believe the research work in the security vulnerabilities of AI/IoT will affect the mass market. These potential cures have the ability to impact large numbers of people and allow them to safeguard their systems.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

Do your best to apply and take advantage of the resources at your disposal such as the Career Center and the Writing Center. There's no crime in trying, so at least try to apply! Also, networking in your field of interest is really important, so network and talk to people everywhere you go.

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Social Media is ever prevalent, especially in the lives of young adults. You can connect with friends, share your life, make viral memes and videos, and meet new people from around the globe. But social media has the opportunity to both boost and kill a career. Here are some pointers on what to do and what not to do on your social media accounts when job searching.

1. Do clean up your accounts. Make sure any posts that could be perceived as inappropriate are off your account. This goes for comments too. It’s better to have never posted them at all, but a swift deletion before a potential employer looks you up makes a world of difference.

2. Don’t share details of your interviews online. Employers are going to be looking at you, keep your interview details private, especially if you want to add commentary about how well or not it went.

3. Do utilize Linkedin to connect with employers and recruiters. Linkedin is a great way to make professional connections with people. The UMBC Career Center offers Linkedin workshops and appointment types during the semester if you need pointers on how to use Linkedin.

4. Don’t post derogatory comments about a job position you are applying for. This may seem like a no brainer, but when you want to tweet about how much you’d hate a job at Walmart or other big corporations but need the cash, think twice.

5. Do check your equipment before a remote interview. Skype is super useful and increasingly common as an interview tool. Make sure you know how to use it and that all of your equipment is working properly BEFORE the interview starts.

6. Don’t show up to your interview looking disheveled and completely different from your polished Linkedin profile picture. You want to look like your social media profiles. Neat, clean, and well maintained. 

7. Do put on pants (skirts or dresses are fine too, so long as they’re professional!) for a Skype interview. Don’t expect your interviewer to never see your bottom half. If you accidentally stand up and you’re wearing pajamas underneath your suit or blouse, you look terribly unprofessional. Besides, looking professional will help you feel professional, which will help you act professionally.

8. Don’t post about that rager last weekend. Now that you’ve cleaned up your social media, keep it clean at all times. Posting about alcohol or drugs is a major job search blunder. Employers don’t want to see your party side.

Social media is a wonderful tool, but it can also be used against you. Stay smart and post safely. Watch what you post and who you connect with because employers are looking at you. As always, the UMBC Career Center is here to help.