MS Student Spotlight: Malvika Khanna

Guided by her curiosity, Malvika Khanna's approach to learning and problem-solving involves asking questions.

As she deepened her foundational knowledge, the interest piqued through a collaborative studio inspired an independent study research project. Her connection to coursework and active engagement with peer mentors, teaching assistants, and faculty members led her to focus her studies on machine learning and artificial intelligence and she plans to pursue a career in the field.

Khanna earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and cognitive science from Occidental College in 2020. Prior to joining Northwestern, she gained experience as a software engineer at an autonomous trucking company in San Francisco.

This fall, Khanna begins her second year in the Master of Science in Computer Science program. We asked her about her experiences at Northwestern Engineering, impactful collaborative experiences, and her advice for students.

Why did you decide to pursue the master's degree in computer science at McCormick?

I decided to pursue the master’s degree in computer science at McCormick due to the flexibility and quality of the program. The MS in CS allows graduate students to fully personalize their academic load — choosing any 12 graduate-level courses related to their interests in computer science — whereas other programs require students to follow a strict curriculum. As someone looking to explore technical interests with the rigor and focus of higher education, this program structure was greatly appealing to me.

Furthermore, McCormick finds the balance between high-quality resources and low student-to-teacher ratios. Not only are the courses taught at a high caliber, but opportunities to work alongside exceptional professors and peers are easy to access, thus enriching the overall educational experience.

My prior professional experience as a software engineer taught me how to take a product end-to-end. Through courses and hands-on research at Northwestern, I honed in on each of the front-end, back-end, and machine learning aspects of the technical pipeline to enrich my knowledge in the subject matter and make me a well-rounded full-stack engineer.

How has the degree curriculum helped build your skillset and/or piqued your curiosity and interest in pursuing a particular topic further? Any particular course highlights you'd like to share?

The degree curriculum allows master’s students to explore topics and build a specialty, giving us the best of both worlds. The program allows students to take courses to deepen foundational knowledge, explore academic interests, and delve deeper into one topic by offering graduate and advanced-graduate level courses in many areas of focus. Northwestern’s holistic education approach allows students to train in several aspects of the engineering stack and become confident and well-informed engineers.

To deepen foundational knowledge, I took COMP_SCI 340: Introduction to Computer Networking and COMP_SCI 321: Programming Languages — two courses that helped me broaden my horizons vis-a-vis computers and computational thinking at large. Due to the nature of McCormick’s program, I was fortunate enough to participate in the COMP_SCI 324, 424: Dynamics of Programming Languages course to chase my interest in the topic further.

The degree curriculum allows MS students to participate in independent research with a faculty member and count it toward the degree. I participated in human-computer interaction research throughout my graduate studies after taking COMP_SCI 329: HCI Studio in my first quarter, simply by sharing my interest in the subject matter with the professor. Through the department’s easily accessible resources for students to engage with academic material, I was able to follow my interests with a hands-on approach.

Finally, after taking COMP_SCI 349: Machine Learning and connecting with the material, I decided to build a specialty in the field through the myriad of graduate-level courses in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Because of the structure of the program, I have time to do this too!

I believe the freedom of the degree allows students to become well-rounded in their understanding of computer science by following what intrigues us. If you connect with programming languages, take Dynamics of Programming Languages; if you connect with machine learning, take COMP_SCI 449: Deep Learning. As a student here, you are not bound to the rigid curriculum of many other universities and can leave the program with foundational knowledge of several areas of computer science as well as a deep understanding and specialty in one particular area.

What are your research interests?

I have been pursuing research via an independent study with postdoc Calvin Liang in Northwestern’s School of Communication. The research takes a community based participatory approach to designing a platform for sex ed resources in partnership with trans young people from across the US. Following the human-computer interaction (HCI) design life cycle from inception to deployment, we conducted user research and worked closely with designers and members of the Seattle Children’s Research Institute to implement a final platform prototype. My role in this project consisted of being the sole engineering contributor and building out the system in its entirety, deploying high-fidelity Figma wireframes by implementing React/JS/HTML/CSS frameworks to create a working platform for user testing.

I am not pursuing this research as a part of a thesis-track master’s curriculum, but rather as an independent study contributing to my course-only degree.

What are some examples of collaborative or interdisciplinary experiences at Northwestern that have been impactful to your education and research?

One particularly meaningful experience was in the machine learning course I took, where the integration of ethics into the curriculum was a key component. The course included mandatory ethics discussion sessions, with required readings and active participation. We explored complex ethical issues such as racial bias in machine learning algorithms, the concept of ghost work, and other critical topics. Entire lectures and several homework assignments were dedicated to these discussions, which not only deepened my understanding of machine learning but also challenged me to consider the broader societal implications of the technology.

Another impactful experience was in the HCI Studio course, which was entirely collaborative. As a group, we worked through the design life cycle, conducting user research and engaging in user testing to refine our design prototypes. This course emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration, enriching the learning process by allowing us to combine our diverse perspectives and skills. The iterative nature of the course and the continuous feedback from peers and instructors were invaluable in shaping our final project and provided me with a comprehensive understanding of user-centered design.

What skills or knowledge have you learned in the master's degree program that you think will stay with you for a lifetime?

One of the most impactful skills I have developed is the importance of asking questions early and often. This habit has become a cornerstone of my approach to learning and problem-solving. The program's emphasis on collaboration and the availability of resources — such as peer mentors, teaching assistants, and professors — encouraged me to engage actively with the material and seek clarification whenever needed. By following my curiosity and asking questions, I was able to deepen my understanding of complex topics and uncover insights that might have otherwise remained hidden.

Northwestern's supportive environment made it possible to explore ideas and challenges without hesitation, knowing that there was always someone willing to help or provide guidance. This approach not only enhanced my learning experience but also instilled in me a lifelong habit of inquiry and continuous learning. I believe this skill will be invaluable in my future endeavors, as it encourages me to approach problems with an open mind and a willingness to learn from others.

What's next? What are your short- and long-term plans/goals in terms of a career path?

As I prepare to complete my master's program, I plan to leave with a deepened understanding of machine learning, as well as a solid foundation in front-end and back-end computer science technologies. In the short term, my goal is to apply this knowledge by securing a position as an engineer in the machine learning or artificial intelligence field. I am eager to work on projects that push the boundaries of what these technologies can achieve and to contribute to innovative solutions in the industry.

In the long term, I aspire to grow into a role where I can lead teams and drive the development of cutting-edge AI systems. I also hope to stay engaged with the ethical implications of the work, ensuring that the technologies we develop are used responsibly and for the betterment of society. The comprehensive education I have received at Northwestern has equipped me with the tools and mindset needed to pursue these goals, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

What advice do you have for current or prospective Northwestern CS MS students?

Current students: Try everything! We are blessed to have the opportunity to learn here; you have time to explore topics, conduct research, and prepare yourself for the job-market. I am personally grateful for the opportunity to do all three within the same degree. Take advantage of the resources, guidance, and opportunities McCormick has to offer during your short tenure, they will be invaluable in the future.

Prospective students: If you are the type of person who leads with curiosity and learns by exploring, then this is the program for you. If you are the type of student who requires a rigorous, high caliber academic curriculum and thrives when challenged, this is the program for you. And if interdisciplinary collaborative education is how you learn, this is definitely the perfect program for you.