Majoring in Computer Science in the Age of AI
Welcome back to our Student Spotlight series, where we highlight UNH students of all majors and class years. Meet Evan Parker ’28, a computer science major, student employee at the UNH InterOperability Lab, and president of the UNH Cybersecurity Club, and learn more about how he’s diving into the world of computer science in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
Evan Parker ’28
Why did you choose UNH to pursue computer science?
Originally, I chose UNH due to the InterOperability Lab, which tests network and data communication products, while preparing students for careers in industry. This job has been great, since I can earn money, while gaining valuable industry experience, right at UNH.
What unique opportunities have you been part of as a computer science major?
I am now a research assistant for professor Aleksey Charapko, focusing on disaggregated storage architectures. I also am the president of the UNH Cybersecurity Club and a part of the cybersecurity competition team. We've gone to the Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense League (NECCDC) competition in March, where we won second place in the regionals, and are going to the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC). I'm also the systems administrator for the cybersecurity lab that we are building for the department. This lab will be used for cybersecurity-focused coursework, research, and club/team activities. My responsibilities there include managing assets, setting up hardware and software, and maintaining the infrastructure for availability and integrity.
Evan Parker ’28
How has your experience as a computer science major been impacted by the focus on AI right now?
As a student, I've generally tried to stay away from relying on AI, because in cybersecurity and distributed systems, AI is not yet sophisticated enough to solve many problems. Being able to think through the processes on your own is incredibly valuable.
How is UNH preparing you for your career?
I'm still relatively early in my career path and am not entirely certain what I'd like to do after getting my bachelor's degree, but I'm particularly excited about a potential data center administration job. My experience working on the cybersecurity lab for the computer science department has been invaluable in preparing me for that.
Evan Parker ’28
What advice would you have for someone considering computer science as their major?
Recognize that AI is here to stay. You will be infinitely more efficient if you can use it as an assistant to speed up development, instead of as a crutch. Also, talk to the faculty here. They're all super nice and many are looking for undergraduate research assistants. Oh, and also join the cybersecurity club!
What has been your favorite memory from your time so far at UNH?
My favorite memory at UNH thus far has to be bringing home a trophy with the cybersecurity competition team last semester. We worked really hard as a team to compete in an environment we knew next to nothing about and came out nearly at the very top. Building camaraderie with my peers was amazing.
