Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

The Computer Science (CS) Department at SUNY Korea Stony Brook University equips students with future-oriented knowledge and skills.    Identical to that at the Stony Brook main campus, the CS program at SUNY Korea provides professional education in computer science to prepare students for a career in the computing field.   Are you curious to find out what SUNY Korea CS graduates are up to after graduation?   Please check out the story of Rediet, a CS graduate at SUNY Korea.   1) Could you briefly introduce yourself?    My name is Rediet. I am originally from Ethiopia. I did my bachelor’s in Computer Science, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, with a double major in Applied Math and Statistics, at SUNY Korea. I am a Stony Brook 2021 graduate.   2) What is your current job responsibility at Microsoft? Tell me about your career path after graduation.    After graduation, I joined Microsoft. I work in Azure which is a Cloud+AI organization of Microsoft. I work specifically in the Network Verification team. We verify any type of Network configuration changes to make sure that the Network is safe before and after the changes are administered.   3) What is the most memorable experience/achievement you had as an undergraduate student at SUNY Korea?   SUNY Korea has introduced me to different people from different cultures and backgrounds. The environment we had there helped me to expand my mindset and experience the world that I am living in right now. The time we had together to learn, help each other and even hangout and do activities despite our differences was the most beautiful and memorable experience. Midnight breakfasts right before exams were also memorable.   4) How do you think SUNY Korea’s CS program shaped you as the person you are right now? The CS program at SUNY Korea has prepared me to tackle the challenges I face every day as a Software engineer. Starting from the programming skills I need to do my job, to working professionally in a team-setting, these qualities were all introduced through the classes I took. But mainly, despite the details, the biggest thing I learned is to be able to work on projects and technologies that I am not familiar with by teaching myself during the process of doing it. This is a very important skill to have, because we live in a dynamic world, so the ability to keep learning and update oneself without being intimidated is crucial.   5) Do you have any tips for students who are looking for job opportunities? For CS students who are looking for a job, I would advise them to make coding their habit and solve problems on sites like leetcode or hacker rank on a daily basis. However, the ability to categorize questions into different buckets and approach them strategically is more important than solving a lot of problems. So I don’t want them to be caught up with doing questions rather than learning from them. I would also encourage them to be content in the application process and focus on the process rather than the result. The process of looking for a job can be frustrating, but it helps them brush up on their skills and prepare them for the job they want. Failing an interview can be unpleasant but it is part of the process. Hence, they should be comfortable with that and continue to learn and try again. I would also recommend them to apply to as many places as they  can and do a lot of interviews, rather than just waiting for “the one interview”. They should take the opportunity to interview when they can. Even if you don’t want the job, you will learn from the process of doing the interview as it prepares you for future interviews.

The Department of Technology and Society (DTS) at SUNY Korea Stony Brook University equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for career success in the 21st century.     Identical to that at the Stony Brook main campus, the DTS program at SUNY Korea provides an education that unifies traditionally separate disciplines into an integrated unified whole to address problems in society. Applying concepts and tools drawn from natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences, the Department examines and enhances the relationship between technology and our society.     Are you curious to find out what SUNY Korea DTS graduates are up to after graduation?   Please check out the story of Yerin Cho, a DTS graduate of SUNY Korea, now working at Samsung Electronics.     Interview Questions:         1) Could you briefly introduce yourself?     Hello, this is Yerin Cho, a DTS graduate of SUNY Korea, currently working at Samsung Electronics. I am a person who gains energy from interacting with others as my MBTI is ESFP. My life goal is to share with others in need and contribute myself to make a better world through technology. I love traveling, exploring regional beverages at travel sites, and recording my memories in videos.     2) What is your current job responsibility at Samsung Electronics? Tell me about your career path after graduation.     I joined the Global Sales & Marketing Team at Samsung Networks, which is in charge of network business at Samsung Electronics. Since I have only been here two months, I have spent most of my days at new employee training. After the OJT, I will be assigned in one of the regional groups to work as a global sales person so that I can make a contract with global MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) to provide Samsung Networks’ telecommunication solutions like 5G devices and software.     After graduating from the DTS undergraduate program, I joined in the graduate program to research the DRR (disaster risk reduction) field. After graduating from the Master’s program, I worked for the ETHOS (Entrepreneurial Talents’ House of Opportunities and Supports) program operated by SUNY Korea and World Bank Group for a year. While working for this project supporting ICT start-ups in developing countries, I got interested in the private sector, especially in the telecommunication sector, which led me to apply for Samsung Networks.     3) What is the most memorable experience/achievement you had as an undergraduate student at SUNY Korea?     The most memorable achievement that I had as an undergraduate student was when I was selected as a recipient of the Academic Excellence Scholarship. It was special to me because it was the scholarship that I was awarded after my most challenging semester.     As a DTS student, I realized that the basis of every technology is CSE, and I wanted to challenge myself to overcome my weakness in programming. Even though I knew that I will not get a good GPA while taking a lot of CSE programming courses, I went for it to broaden my perspectives and cognitive thinking. Through this experience, I learned how to manage limited time and how to utilize the human resources around me who could help me to overcome my weakness. In addition, I was lucky to get good rewards from my effort, which kept me challenging myself for higher goals.     4) How do you think the SUNY Korea DTS program shaped you into the person you are right now?     The DTS program forcibly put me in a position to acquire both technical and managerial aspects when facing a problem. I could experience predicting and analyzing the interaction between the society and a variety of technology including AI, IoT, blockchain, and 5G, which broadened my perspective. I could see the big picture of every matter of fact, which made me decide to work in the telecommunication field, since I thought telecommunication technology is the fundamental technology which enables future industries such as UAM, metaverse, and remote healthcare.         5) Do you have any tips for students who are looking for job opportunities?     I recommend challenging yourself in studying and participating in different types of activities to find which industry or task fits you. In addition, I recommend constantly updating yourself with job boards so you can read as many job descriptions as possible. In this way, you may find a position that fits you even though you might not have made a precise decision on your career path. If you keep challenging yourself to learn a variety of subjects and participating in as many programs as you can, you will find the job which fits you.

Mathematics serve a significant role in our daily lives. National Institute for Mathematical Sciences (NIMS 국가수리과학연구소) its goal of conducting strategic Research & Development, including industrial mathematics and medical mathematics, finding and solving mathematical problems in industry and the public sector. NIMS continuously endeavors to improve mathematical problem-solving ability in all fields, and to expand the role of mathematics for the public. (Source: NIMS) In Korea, many students who study in this field want to work at NIMS, so the acceptance rate to get this position is very low. Even though NIMS hires only 8 interns a year, two SUNY Korea students were selected this year. Interviewers spoke with Suhyun Chun and Hyerin Choi, undergraduate students of Stony Brook University (SBU) who are working at NIMS, to discuss their preparation and some tips to get the internships. Let’s listen to their stories of their new journey at NIMS!   Interview Questions:   1)  Please introduce yourself briefly   Suhyun: I am Suhyun Chun, and I am majoring in Computer Science (CS) at SUNY Korea.   Hyerin: Hello, this is Hyerin Choi and I am a Junior majoring in CS and Applied Mathematics & Statistics (AMS). You guys may have seen me on campus because I tend to have some strange colors in my hair :) 2)  What is your current role and responsibility in NIMS?   Suhyun: They regularly hold seminars in which they share new knowledge or technology. And I also prepare and do seminars on what I studied every week. Last week, I did a seminar about the way to manage geospatial data in python, which is not a familiar topic to them.   Hyerin: I was recruited as an Industrial Mathematics Undergraduate Trainee at NIMS. It stands for National Institute of Mathematics and Science, and it has three branches, in Daejeon, Gwanggyo, and Busan. Each branch is slightly different in what they mainly deal with, but the Daejeon branch, where I am at, is mainly about Industrial Mathematics. Hence, some companies or organizations bring up a problem, and NIMS tries to solve it by building codes or algorithms.   3)  How did you prepare for the internship?   Suhyun: I just started to prepare for an internship, and this is my first chance to experience the workplace. What I did is that I actively participated in school activities such as a coding contest, Teacher Assistant (TA) works, and so on. These are good experiences to show my active attitude towards challenges.   Hyerin: NIMS only had one step during the application: resume and cover letter. The interview took place after I got the job, unlike other internships or trainee programs. For the cover letter and resume, Career Development Center (CDC) helped me a lot through it.   4)  What challenges did you face while preparing for the internship? Suhyun: They require a recommendation paper from a professor. I had only finished my second semester and did not have a chance to get close with professors at SUNY Korea. So, I was so worried that I wouldn't get a recommendation letter in time. Fortunately, I met a nice Applied Mathematics & Statistics (AMS) professor last semester, and he was willing to help me.  Hyerin: The application due date was 21st June, whereas my finals ended on the 17th. So the time was the main challenge for me. Also, the second challenge was that the information about the program was hard to find. This program is for 4~8 people each year, so there have not been many people who participated in this program.   5)  I heard that the acceptance rate to get this position is really low. What makes you stand out from other applicants?   Suhyun: I think my major, Computer Science, makes me stand out from other applicants. They highly focus on mathematics to solve problems. And they think they need a person who has new perspectives on the same problems because it would be helpful to learn and experience new fields. Hyerin: I have participated in a research program with Professor Suil O regarding graph theory, and also in Artificial Intelligence Winter School (AIWS) held by SUNY and Ghent last winter. With Professor Suil O, the research program was basically making algorithms for each graph solving method. AIWS dealt with the basis of Machine Learning and furthermore, provided enough practical hands-on experiences to join the ongoing research with graduate students and professors. I combined these two experiences to show I am qualified mathematically and technically.    6)  What is the most exciting part of your job?   Suhyun: As I already mentioned in the above answer, seminars are the most exciting part of my job. I can learn new technology and knowledge by joining others’ seminars. Also, I can see how they research new topics and work on them.   Hyerin: I love the part where I am participating in what can be used in the real field. I am dealing with a Battery Management System which is predicting the state of charge for each battery, and a Machine Learning program to count the number of birds in a picture. The former is crucial to prevent battery explosion, and the latter is to detect the degree of global warming progress. Likewise, what I research and study as being practical in some fields is the most exciting part.   7)  What skills are needed to work at NIMS?      Suhyun: They work based on mathematics, so if you have high-level mathematics knowledge, it would   be easier to follow up.   Hyerin: As Industrial Mathematics does not include hard proving, most of the people majored in Mathematics, but some majored in Mechanical Engineering (ME) and CS. As NIMS is working with other companies, skills to model the problem mathematically will matter rather than your major. This is not like solving problems in the exams nor textbooks; you should find out the problems yourself and systemize them by using the given information.   8)  What help did you get from the SUNY Korea CDC?   Suhyun: I got a lot of help from the career center for my resume. This is my first internship experience. Everything is new. And I even had no idea how to write a resume. With a lot of support and help from the career center, I could see how things should be done.   Hyerin: I mainly got help with the resume. As I have no experience as an intern before, it was my first resume, which made it so hard to decide what to write in each section. CDC polished my resume sentences to make them neat and clear. Also, they emphasized my strengths and de-emphasized my weaknesses, so I can stand out from the other applicants.   9)  What are your long-term career goals?  Suhyun: I am not only interested in programming, but also web design. So, I want to be a User Interface/ User Experience (UX/UI) designer in the future.   Hyerin: As I am double majoring in CS and AMS, I would like to combine those two majors and specialize in Machine Learning and Big Data. Especially, in the future, most of the work will be done by Artificial Intelligence (AI), so my goal is to be an AI Specialist.    10)  Do you have any advice for your friends preparing for internships?   Suhyun: Don’t hesitate to challenge yourself. Some of my friends think of themselves as not prepared for an internship, and this is exactly what I thought before. However, I realized that I prepared better than I thought when I got into the workplace. There is no reason to hesitate with challenges. You are good enough.      Hyerin: ‘Just apply’ would be my advice. I didn't even think that I would get this position, because when I was applying, I knew that they were only recruiting 8 people from the whole country. But I just applied anyway, and I got the job! Applying means at least you get the chance to be looked at, so you’d better apply for anything that you are interested in. Furthermore, if you get the job, that will lead you to better chances of getting hired next time :) 

[SUNY Korea Graduates on Various Career Journeys #1- Sang Hoon Kwak]        Founded in 1944 in Manhattan, Fashion Institute of Technology is one of the first-rate fashion schools world-wide. Since 2017, SUNY Korea FIT has provided the exact same signature curricula of the world-class FIT programs, leading to the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree.     Featuring state-of-the art facilities, SUNY Korea FIT prepares students to become not only designers with their own creative vision, but professionals prepared to take their places in all sorts of industries.     Are you curious to find out what SUNY Korea FIT graduates are up to after graduation? Below is the story of Sang Hoon Kwak, a FBM graduate who is currently working as a fashion merchandiser for tren:be.    Interview Questions:     1) Could you briefly introduce yourself?     Hello! My name is Sang Hoon Kwak. In 2017, I majored in FBM and graduated early in December 2020. Currently, I work as a Fashion Merchandiser for tren:be, a global online luxury platform company.     2) What is your current job responsibility? Tell me about your career path after graduation.     As an online merchandiser, I am responsible for selecting specific products or brands and conducting a special exhibition, planning and managing monthly events on the tren:be website. Most importantly these days, I’m taking part in one of the biggest parts of the company, the ‘Summer Sale’ event. In addition, I am responsible for everyday fashion trend analysis, even sometimes B2B sales and design planning. Maybe it will be easier to say merchandisers do all kinds of things related to the business.       Unfortunately, I had to graduate in Korea due to COVID-19.  Unlike my friends, I always wanted to experience and work in Korea; therefore, this pandemic was my opportunity to prepare for certificates for a longer period than others in Korea before graduation. In particular, I used the time wisely to prepare things that are essential for Korean companies such as studying for MOS certificates and the OPIC test in advance. Turning the crisis into opportunity and moving faster than others seems to have helped me adapt to society and move forward even in the pandemic era.     3) What is the most memorable experience/achievement you had as an undergraduate student at SUNY Korea FIT?     The most memorable achievement that I had was the first SUNY Korea FIT fashion show with our fashion show club, called ‘+82 Threads’. In ‘+82 Threads’, I was a secretary who mostly supported the president of the club and inspired him sometimes. Since I used to DJ music, I had a chance to direct the entire music of the fashion show. It was such a special memory to all of the FIT students who participated, since we could plan the show by ourselves at the first SUNY Korea FIT fashion show.     4) How do you think the SUNY Korea FIT program shaped you as the person you are right now?     First of all, the SUNY Korea FIT program helps students to find their dreams as fashion experts and also develop practical knowledge and skills through detailed courses related to fashion, with great professors who are in the real fashion industry. However, more importantly, through the program you can learn "how to manage time by yourself." From the first year, I learned how to manage voluntary learning patterns and daily life efficiently through programs that require dorm life, and I received a lot of help when I studied in New York after two years. In addition, I think the SUNY Korea FIT program helped me a lot not only to study abroad but also to become an office worker who lives a planned and diligent life in the future.     5) Do you have any tips for FIT students who are looking for job opportunities?     I think many graduates and job seekers are having a harder time than anyone else due to COVID-19. However, as I have been through these times as well and overcame them, I could find the one conclusion that I can tell you today. Please be patient about getting a job. Your time will come eventually. If you are too impatient, nothing will be done and only anxiety will grow. I felt most desperately while preparing for employment that each person has the right "time." Maybe it's today for him, while it's tomorrow for the other guy, and finally next will be you. So if we work hard in everything we're given, the chance will come to you by itself. And you'll have to know how to catch it without hesitation. Sometimes when opportunities come, there are too many people who hesitate and miss them, but this is a really important opportunity in your life or maybe this could be your last chance of your life. Do not give up easily; if you give up by making excuses, then your reputation will also fall. Try your best at every moment.       Lastly, I believe that having one of your unique ideas or a skill set is really helpful to appeal to the company or the employer. Therefore, if you have time before graduation, start now to prepare for certification or foreign languages and so on. That will change your career. I truly believe that the time you spend studying for yourself before graduation will not betray you in the future. I will always support you! Hope to see you one day in the fashion industry. Thank You. Stay safe!  

Cogitater Sigauke, a CS student at SUNY Korea who came from Zimbabwe recently accepted a full-time job offer from Google. After studying at SUNY Korea for 3 years, he is currently spending his final year at the New York campus of Stony Brook University, and preparing to graduate in May.       Cogitater said, "[applying] to SUNY Korea was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. If I were to go back again, I would make the same decision."              [SUNY Korea, as a stepping stone for his career]             Q.   Why did you choose to attend SUNY Korea?           When I was a high school student in Zimbabwe, I wanted to study abroad at an American University. One day at the Education USA Centre in Harare, I picked up a small SUNY Korea booklet and found out about this great American University in Korea. I liked the fact that I would get an American education while having a Korean experience. The fact that I would also spend a year studying in New York was a big motivation for me to apply. The other reason that motivated me to apply was the availability of scholarships.       Then, I became a member of Education USA, which helped me in the application process.   After making up my mind, I applied in Spring 2017 but didn't make it. I then reapplied for the fall semester of 2017 and by God’s grace I made it in. This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. If I were to go back again, I would make the same decision.                     Q.   What are some valuable achievements during university?           The educational experience was the best. Obviously, it is tough, but in the right way. I was trained really well to become a software engineer in the real world. I was equipped with the knowledge to make it as an engineer.                     Q.   What is the most memorable experience at SUNY Korea?           I will pick two for this one. First, I will never forget eating Korean food with chopsticks in the cafeteria. I became a chopstick master. The other one was the four-kilometer race, in which I came in fourth. The 4K race was organized by SUNY Korea to support the Seung-Il Hope Foundation by raising money to build the first Korean specialty hospital for ALS patients. It was a memorable experience.       [Cogitater’s journey to a career at Google]              Q.   I heard that you got a full-time job at Google and will be starting next fall. Congratulations! What was your motivation for applying to Google?           Google is a leading technology company, and hence the dream workplace of every software engineer. As someone who’s starting a career in this field, I needed to work for a company that really opens doors for me. I believe that Google is that company. There are a lot of opportunities to grow and explore. You also get to work on big projects that have an impact on a lot of people. We can go on and on.                     Q.   How has SUNY Korea prepared you for a career at Google?           That’s a difficult question because I didn’t even know anything before joining SUNY Korea. It would be difficult to say everything I learned in four years. So just to mention a few things, I really got help from a career class I took because that’s when I learned to write my first meaningful resume.       I also got a lot of motivation from my professors who work in some top tech companies. One of them invited his friends who work for big companies to talk to us in class and help us prepare for the job search ahead. I really thank my professors who believed in me and always told me it was possible to get these types of jobs.        Q.   Google has a reputation for asking difficult interview questions. How did you prepare for the job interview?           I really don’t give myself the glory on this one.That was a difficult time indeed, but God was really on my side on this one. I was advised by my friends to use Leetcode to practice coding questions. I also had a Google recruiter helping me along the way, she gave me a lot of questions to practice. I would say the best thing is to talk to the recruiter, do as much Leetcode as you can, and pray that God will help you through.                     Q.   What will your job responsibility be at Google?           I’ll be working in the Google Cloud. I’ll be a cloud technical resident for the first year, which means I will be rotated and trained in several roles and get a fixed role at the end of the first year. I plan to just work as a software engineer in Google Cloud from my second year.       [A glimpse of his future and a message for other students]             Q.   Where do you see yourself in five years?           I see myself as a Software Engineering Manager in Google, a successful entrepreneur, a husband, and a dad.           Q. Do you have a message for SUNY Korea students?           I just want to tell them to know that all things are possible. They can achieve anything they set their hearts on. But they have to start thinking about getting jobs early because it gives you time to prepare. I personally waited until my final year to start preparing and it was tough. I suggest people start preparing in their junior year.                                                                         Editor: Judy Lim (SUNY Korea ER / woohyun.lim@sunykorea.ac.kr)