Sara Costa ’26, a computer engineering major in CETA, has had several impactful internship and research experiences throughout her years at UHart. Sara initially chose to pursue computer engineering because she was drawn most to science and math in high school. Growing up, she was intrigued by the new and upcoming technologies that were launched, so she thought it would be interesting to be part of creating new technologies in the future.
Sara’s favorite thing about being a student at UHart is that she can balance engineering, athletics, and her social life. “I also favor small class sizes because I am able to make strong connections with my professors and advisors,” she explains. “This has been the main reason I have obtained internships and research opportunities. Through the help of the CETA staff and faculty, I can gain important experiences in the real world.”
In her first year at UHart, Sara worked at Aquarion Water Company as a SCADA Intern, where she designed and programmed SCADA windows to streamline monitoring processes and analyzed operational data using Excel. During her sophomore year, she ended up at UConn REU doing research in quantum information for 10 weeks, collaborating with a team to analyze and solve mathematical equations.
Sara praises Anastasiia Minenkova, assistant professor of mathematics, for helping her immensely. The two met in the Linear Algebra course, where the professor informed her of the summer REU through UConn, where she gained valuable experience. In addition, Sara is currently conducting research that is supported by a Dorothy Goodwin Scholarship for which she was encouraged by Minenkova to apply for—the faculty mentor is also supervising Sara’s research. They are trying to obtain more information and solve an inverse problem that is very complex. Sara will present her findings at the Women’s Advancement Symposium in March.
“Professor Minenkova has been a huge supporter for me,” Sara emphasizes.
Her favorite part of these experiences? Learning new and complex concepts. “Most of the time, these complex ideas in mathematics and computing take a while to understand,” Sara says. “Eventually, I started to understand these concepts and appreciate the journey I had to take to get where I am today. I think it has helped me to manage my time and communicate with others better. These skills are essential to master for future careers.”
On campus, you can find Sara participating in The Women’s Advancement Initiative (LEAD) and women’s lacrosse team. One of her favorite experiences in LEAD was the Auroa Luncheon, which allowed her to network with a professional software engineer. In addition, one of Sara’s favorite experiences has been lacrosse game days. “I look forward to showing off all the hard work I put into the sport and working together with my teammates to find success on the field,” she says. “For me, lacrosse is an enjoyable break from the rigorous academics I face throughout the semester.”
After graduation, Sara plans to enter the workforce and she cites UHart for helping prepare her for career development. “UHart informed and encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunities that are available,” she notes. “For example, on Career Exploration Day, I was able to visit Stanley Black & Decker to see what it would be like to work there and ask questions of professionals.”
Off campus, Sara enjoys spending her time traveling. In the past year, she has been to Spain, Puerto Rico, and Seattle. This upcoming summer, Sara looks forward to visiting Italy, Greece, and Turkey. “I enjoy visiting new places and have many more I want to visit to check off my bucket list,” she says.