{"674430":{"#nid":"674430","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Unique Program Offers Campus Research Opportunities for Online Students","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom her home more than 800 miles away, Georgia Tech online master\u0027s student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jasmine-tata-6b9211102\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJasmine Tata\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is monitoring fish in aquariums at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETata is a New York-based QA analyst and project manager. She started the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOnline Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS)\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;program in Fall 2022 and joined FishStalkers last year.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe student-led research program is part of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u0027\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mcgrathlab.biosci.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EMcGrath Lab\u003C\/a\u003E. Its researchers use machine learning, computer vision, and other technologies to better understand the evolution of animal behaviors.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOne of the lab\u0027s research projects studies Lake Malawi cichlids to explore connections between observed behavior and brain function.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe FishStalkers are vital to the project. They collect video, depth, and other data from individual fish using Raspberry Pi single-board computers. This information, coupled with open-source code they developed, allows the group to track, monitor, and classify the behaviors of a fish as it builds and maintains its bower, which is a sand structure these cichlids use to attract mates.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAlong with monitoring the research tanks, Tata\u0027s contributions include improving the automated collection and analysis of data streaming from the Pis. She\u0027s also helping to adapt the data pipeline to work with yellow-head, orange-cap, and other cichlid species.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022Revolutionary Program Celebrates First Decade of Expanding Access to CS Education\u0022\u003E[RELATED: Georgia Tech\u0027s OMSCS Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary]\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I\u0027ve enjoyed learning more about new problems in a relatively unfamiliar field. In a pure computer science-focused lab, I never would experience the frustrations of data collection that come with biological subjects,\u0022 said Tata.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The fish builds bowers on its own schedule, and data collection must accurately capture this, regardless of weekends or holidays.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETata says her experience with FishStalkers has given her new ideas about presenting data to non-technical team members. The team uses a spreadsheet integrated with data collection scripts running on the Raspberry Pis. The spreadsheet allows someone without technical knowledge to pause, upload data, or start new trials simply by toggling a dropdown.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This has given me a lot of ideas about how to meet people where they are in terms of technical skills when it comes to user interface design and has encouraged me to learn more about\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ic.gatech.edu\/human-computer-interaction\u0022\u003Ehuman-computer interaction\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0022 said Tata.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETata learned about the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fishstalkers.github.io\/website\/\u0022\u003EFishStalkers research group\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;when its founder,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/breannashi\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBreanna Shi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, reached out through the OMSCS Slack study channel. Shi developed the group through Georgia Tech\u0027s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program as a mentorship program.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Given their real-world computer science experience,\u0026nbsp;I wanted to see if there were OMSCS students interested in collaborating on FishStalkers projects and assisting in the mentorship of undergraduate researchers,\u0022 said Shi.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShi is a third-year Ph.D. student studying bioinformatics with minors in machine learning and higher education. She created FishStalkers as a mentorship program because she recognized that undergraduate and masters-level students could feel less valued or isolated in research environments.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The FishStalkers model empowers all its researchers with the respect and responsibility as a full team member. Whether it\u0027s your first week as a FishStalker or your last, you will complete tasks that benefit the research team and yourself,\u0022 said Shi.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/women-centered-mentorship-provides-empowerment-conquer-phd\u0022\u003E[RELATED: Women-Centered Mentorship Provides Empowerment to Conquer Ph.D.]\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETata\u0027s experience in the business world made her a good fit for the FishStalkers program. Shi says Tata contributes valuable insight to the group as a mentor because most students approach the program from a purely academic viewpoint.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Jasmine, like other OMSCS students, works full-time and attends the OMSCS program part-time. Her roles as a project manager and a software QA analyst allow her to contribute a unique perspective to the FishStalkers group,\u0022 said Shi.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to sharing her experience mentoring two OMSCS students this semester, Tata has helped Shi overcome some of the inherent challenges of long-distance collaboration. These include creating a sense of interpersonal connection among in-person and remote research team members.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGroup meetings host a virtual link to enhance the online research experience. Every member provides progress updates during the sessions. The researchers also virtually check in and out of their research hours in a shared group chat and describe the work completed during their check-out.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022FishStalkers also runs a monthly lab-buddy program where a researcher is paired with a new buddy each month to schedule a 30-minute meeting to chat and learn about each other\u0027s work,\u0022 said Shi.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022These strategies benefit OMSCS students in our group and provide a positive research environment for junior researchers. We seek to incorporate innovative strategies to create an accessible research environment for all students interested in participating in our research,\u0022 said Shi.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFishStalkers has been such a success that Shi is expanding the model. This fall, Shi will work with OMSCS Executive Director\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/david-joyner\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Joyner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and OMSCS Associate Director of Research\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nick-lytle-ph-d-a8374847\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENick Lytle\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to connect OMSCS students with interdisciplinary research projects in labs across campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022My role will be to establish relationships between data collectors and data analyzers to provide a service to non-technical labs across campus and a valuable research experience for OMSCS students,\u0022 said Shi.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We will be building from my existing work in image processing in the McGrath Lab and expanding to other labs with data analysis needs. I am very excited to have the experience of growing as a collaborator.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new collaboration is paving the way for Georgia Tech OMSCS students to connect with interdisciplinary research projects in labs across campus. The project is the brainchild of bioinformatics Ph.D. student Breanna Shi.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new collaboration is paving the way for OMSCS students to connect with interdisciplinary research projects in labs across campus."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2024-04-29 15:30:29","changed_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:36:57","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673878":{"id":"673878","type":"image","title":"A variety of brightly colored Lake Malawi cichlids share a freshwater aquarium.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn Adobe Stock image of a variety of brightly colored Lake Malawi cichlids sharing a freshwater aquarium.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1714404652","gmt_created":"2024-04-29 15:30:52","changed":"1714404652","gmt_changed":"2024-04-29 15:30:52","alt":"A variety of brightly colored Lake Malawi cichlids share a freshwater aquarium.","file":{"fid":"257329","name":"Lake Malawi Cichlids.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/29\/Lake%20Malawi%20Cichlids.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/29\/Lake%20Malawi%20Cichlids.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":132344,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/29\/Lake%20Malawi%20Cichlids.jpeg?itok=RL92mR35"}},"673879":{"id":"673879","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech OMSCS student Jasmine Tata volunteers with the campus research group FishStalkers","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech OMSCS student Jasmine Tata volunteers with the campus research group FishStalkers\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1714404770","gmt_created":"2024-04-29 15:32:50","changed":"1714404770","gmt_changed":"2024-04-29 15:32:50","alt":"Georgia Tech OMSCS student Jasmine Tata volunteers with the campus research group FishStalkers","file":{"fid":"257330","name":"Jasmine_Tata.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/29\/Jasmine_Tata.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/29\/Jasmine_Tata.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":34400,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/29\/Jasmine_Tata.jpg?itok=jfiYMhr7"}},"673880":{"id":"673880","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Ph.D. student Breanna Shi founded the FishStalkers research and mentorship program","body":null,"created":"1714405079","gmt_created":"2024-04-29 15:37:59","changed":"1714405079","gmt_changed":"2024-04-29 15:37:59","alt":"Georgia Tech Ph.D. student Breanna Shi founded the FishStalkers research and mentorship program","file":{"fid":"257331","name":"Bree_Bio.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/29\/Bree_Bio.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/29\/Bree_Bio.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":18444,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/29\/Bree_Bio.jpg?itok=jdVqFoS9"}}},"media_ids":["673878","673879","673880"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"431631","name":"OMS"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"121521","name":"OMSCS"},{"id":"180354","name":"omscs anniversary"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Communications Manager\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:albert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}