Student Experience
Life Beyond the Redwoods: Samiyah Shaikh at Carnegie Mellon University
One year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Samiyah Shaikh (John R. Lewis ’25, computer science) is pursuing a Master’s degree in software engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.
Samiyah Shaikh graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2025 with a degree in computer science.
One year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Samiyah Shaikh (John R. Lewis ’25, computer science) is pursuing a Master’s degree in software engineering at Carnegie Mellon University with a focus on machine learning, data science, and AI security. She credits UC Santa Cruz with giving her the tools and experience to pursue an advanced degree at a top university.
“UC Santa Cruz was the perfect launchpad for my career, ” Shaikh said. “While the classes at the Baskin School of Engineering gave me a strong technical foundation, what I’m most grateful for is how accessible the campus research community was.”
Shaikh worked as an undergraduate researcher in the AIEA and Interaction Dynamics Labs where she collaborated on autonomous systems and robotics projects.
“It taught me how to solve messy, real-world technical challenges alongside brilliant peers.”
She also conducted research as part of the Misfit Lab, contributing to the lab’s Alt-Text Image Archive Platform. She says the experience allowed her to work on scalable cloud infrastructure while focusing on digital accessibility which served as a reminder of how technology can directly impact people.
“I was incredibly fortunate to be welcomed into active labs as an undergraduate, where mentors trusted me with real-world autonomy and machine learning projects. That unique combination of rigorous academics and hands-on, collaborative research gave me the exact confidence and skills I needed to take the leap into my master’s program at Carnegie Mellon University.”
In addition to her undergraduate research experience, Shaikh completed an undergraduate honors thesis and was selected as a Google CS Research Mentorship Program Scholar.
“I owe a huge thank you to the advisors and mentors who advocated for me, nominated me for opportunities like the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, and helped me realize my potential.”
Now at Carnegie Mellon University, Shaikh is pushing her technical boundaries through rigorous coursework, hands-on project engineering, and is exploring how to make autonomous systems and large language models more secure and resilient against vulnerabilities.
She is driven by the problem-solving challenge of bridging the gap between theoretical AI research and secure, production-ready software.
“It is incredibly exciting to work directly on technologies that feel like the frontier of where the industry is heading.”
Looking forward in her career, Shaikh aspires to be a leader at the intersection of AI safety, security, and software infrastructure.
“As AI systems become more deeply embedded in our daily lives, making sure they are secure, reliable, and trustworthy is going to be one of engineering’s biggest responsibilities. My goal is to eventually lead engineering teams that focus on making these advanced technologies safe and robust for everyone to use.”
Life Beyond the Redwoods features 10 Class of 2025 alumni who share how their time at UC Santa Cruz prepared them to launch their careers one year after graduation.