Natalia Harguindeguy, Graduate Student in Biomedical Engineering
Which program/department are you in?
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering.
What’s your primary area of research?
Machine Learning for Medical issues.
Which country (or countries) do you come from?
Uruguay.
How long have you been in the U.S.?
I came to NY for the first time just 2 weeks before starting my Masters.
Tell us about how your past experiences led you to Columbia.
I am from Uruguay, a country in Latin America that many readers might have heard little or nothing about. It is a charming, 3.5 million person country, known for its warm, calm people, unspoiled beaches, and world-renowned soccer players.
Coming to Columbia to study Biomedical Engineering (BME) is a dream to me and finding my own path to get here has been an exciting journey. I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a career in STEM, and I specifically discovered my interest in biomedical engineering back in high school. However, opportunities in this field are much more limited in Uruguay, so for my undergraduate studies I had to opt for a more general engineering program. Given that BME is such a broad area, it took many courses, internships, research and jobs to narrow it down and find out where my passion lies: applying Machine Learning to Biomedical issues.
At Columbia, I’ve found so many incredible opportunities to delve into my interests. The cutting edge research that is carried out at the university does not cease to amaze me. It has proved to be the right place to expand my knowledge on this topic. Now, I am participating in research that applies Machine Learning to Biomedical Images (CT and MRI scans) and I am excited to find out what the future holds for me.
What do you like about living in NYC?
The city has so much to offer and I love that there is always something new to try or explore. One of the things I was most scared about was moving to the other side of the world by myself. However, I have loved the challenge and I’ve found amazing friends in my classmates that have made it all better. Also, I am thankful for my support system back home that plays a key role in making this experience as great as it is.
Are you (or do you know) an international student, scholar, or alumni?
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