Ashutosh Mishra ’24 named Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Engineering and Computer Science
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An international student from Nepal, computer science major Ashutosh Mishra ’24 knew that undertaking his Master of Science at Texas A&M-University Corpus Christi would be a transformative experience. What he wasn’t expecting, however, was the feeling he experienced the moment he stepped onto the Island — that he was destined to achieve something great.
“I had already heard about the incredible interdisciplinary research taking place at the university, and I knew I wanted to be exposed to an environment of academic expertise and success,” Mishra said. “And I found it. Right from the first day, I felt infused with the ability to thrive on the Island.”
Inspired to create his legacy at TAMU-CC, Mishra threw himself into his work at Aero-Structural Optimization (ASTRO) Lab, securing a position as a Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Miguel Cid Montoya. It was here that Mishra collaborated with Dr. Cid Montoya on the first of several projects: a prominent NSF-funded project focused on the application of computer science in civil engineering, which was published into a high-ranked engineering journal and presented at an international conference in Italy.
“As a child, I was fascinated by the computer and video games my dad brought home and I soon found that learning about computer programming brought out my intellectual best,” he recalled. “Now that I am becoming more interested in the capabilities of deep learning and generative artificial intelligence. I want to leave an impact by enabling technology to do the mundane, which allows us to do the meaningful.”
Mishra’s accomplishments on the Island as a high-level researcher focusing on generative AI, collaborator, co-author, and community member are now solidified by his recognition as the Summer 2024 Outstanding Islander Graduate for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, after an impressive seven separate faculty nominations for the honor.
“In the last two years, Ashutosh has demonstrated outstanding skills in adapting his knowledge of computer science to solve the engineering problems we are working on and has presented our research in local and international forums,” said Dr. Cid Montoya. “He is a crucial part of our team.”
Along with receiving consistent financial support from the College of Graduate Studies scholarship and in-state tuition rates due to his status as a graduate research assistant, Mishra accomplished significant academic goals as an international student who regularly combated homesickness for his family back in Nepal. However, Mishra found great support in both the resources for international students at TAMU-CC, as well as the welcoming events on campus which introduced him to lifelong friends.
“I have so many great memories to cherish from my time as an Islander, but I think the most important one was during my first week on campus, at the Islanders Beach Bash event. There on the PAC lawn, I met students who were also far away from home. It comforted me to know that I wasn’t alone in this journey. I met my closest friends that day, and we still look back on that event with happiness.”
Following graduation, Mishra plans to leverage the experience he has already gained in the software industry and academia to dig deeper into the potential of utilizing innovation to solve industrial challenges.
“I’m hoping to join a strong team, ideally in a fast-paced start-up, where I can continue to develop my technical and professional abilities,” he said. “But I also have quite a few start-up ideas of my own!”
So that his family can travel from Nepal to watch him cross the stage, Mishra has elected to participate in the Fall 2024 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14.
