Courtesy of Muhammad Abdullah ’28
This summer, Muhammad Abdullah ’28, originally from Pakistan, will travel to Augsburg, Germany, after being selected for the highly competitive German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) RISE program. The program places North American undergraduates into science and engineering labs across Germany for full-time research, combining intensive academic work with opportunities for cultural exchange. For Abdullah, a double major in Computer Science and Statistics & Data Science, the internship represents both a continuation of research he began at Conn and a chance to gain hands-on experience in a high-stakes medical setting.
Abdullah will spend the summer at the University Hospital Augsburg’s Institute for Digital Medicine. His project, “Developing and evaluating multi-modal AI models for clinical decision support in depression,” focuses on analyzing human emotions through speech, video, and physiological signals. “In the lab, we will be working with multimodal data, processing several different types of signals at once, such as speech-driven emotional indicators, video-based expressions and physiological data like Heart Rate Variability signals,” he explained. One element that excites him is fine-tuning a small language model to support clinical decision-making, combining his computer science and data skills to assist in treatment planning.
The internship expands on research Abdullah has already begun at Conn. “The project is really fulfilling because it builds directly on the research I’ve done at Conn in the Tarimo Research Lab, where I built pipelines to track students’ emotional states like stress, low mood, and academic fatigue,” he said. His previous work gave him experience analyzing emotional signals, and this summer he will see how those skills can inform medical research in a clinical environment.
Abdullah’s preparation for this opportunity has been extensive. His coursework in computer vision, statistical computing, and computational intelligence has equipped him with the quantitative skills necessary for the program. “My majors basically gave me the toolkit I need for this lab,” he said, reflecting on how his studies in Computer Science and Statistics & Data Science intersect with his research interests.
Before coming to Conn, Abdullah completed the British A-Level system in Pakistan, focusing on Math, Computer Science, Physics, and Chemistry. He also completed a year-long independent research project, which laid a strong foundation for the work he continues today. Beyond STEM, he has a passion for videography and documentary filmmaking, which he continues to explore through projects for campus offices, including the Walter Commons, the Holleran Center, and CCSRE.
Abdullah is also deeply involved in campus life. He currently serves as President of the Muslim Student Association and Coordinator of Muslim Life, roles in which he organizes events and fosters community connections. He is a Teaching Assistant in the Computer Science department and a fellow for both the Walter Commons and the Center for the Critical Study of Race and Ethnicity. “Being a fellow has been amazing because it pushes me out of my usual STEM bubble. It gives me the chance to collaborate with students and professors from different majors, which is how I’ve made some of my closest friends and connections on campus,” he said.
Support from the Walter Commons was essential during his DAAD RISE application process. “I actually started my DAAD application back in October, and they have supported me through literally every step, from first learning about the opportunity to applying. Melissa Ryan, in particular, was amazing, and she worked closely with me to refine my motivation letters and figure out how to best highlight my research. They are such a valuable resource on campus and have been helping me navigate all the next steps, like figuring out the Schengen visa process,” Abdullah said. He also noted that mentorship from Conn seniors who had previously completed the program provided valuable guidance.
Abdullah described one of the most difficult parts of applying: narrowing his choices. “The hardest part by far was that you’re only allowed to apply to three projects. There are hundreds of labs on the list, and a lot of them sounded amazing. I had to force myself to stop just looking at projects and really narrow it down to exactly what I wanted to do, the intersection of computer science, statistics and healthcare. Once I got really strict about my filter, it was a lot easier to cut through the noise and find the perfect match,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abdullah is eager to experience life outside the college environment. “I’m really excited to step out of an academic setting and into a real-world hospital lab. Getting to work alongside PhD students and professors on projects that are industry-focused and making a real impact on the medical field is going to be amazing. It’s super hands-on,” he said. Living independently this summer, he will manage his own apartment, commute, and full-time schedule, gaining insight into post-graduation life. “This summer is going to be completely different. I have to rent my own apartment, I have to figure out a daily commute, work full-time, and cook my own meals. It’s going to be a really cool glimpse into life after graduation,” Abdullah added.
Beyond the lab, he plans to explore the region, including the Bavarian Alps, local lakes, and castles, and travel to neighboring European countries.
For students considering DAAD RISE, Abdullah emphasized preparation and early engagement. “My biggest piece of advice is just to start early. The DAAD RISE database is massive, and reading through all the projects takes a lot of time. Reach out to the Walter Commons as soon as you even think about applying, they are so helpful and will guide you through the whole thing. You also need to talk to your professors way in advance so they have time to write you a strong recommendation letter,” he said. He also encouraged students to stay confident and open-minded, noting that smaller cities like Augsburg offer unique experiences.
Abdullah views the internship as a crucial step for his future plans. “I’m actually hoping to keep collaborating with the Augsburg lab even after I get back to Conn in the fall. Ultimately, I want to get a few more publications under my belt and apply to PhD programs after graduation. The intersection of Computer Science, AI, and medicine is exploding right now, and this summer is really laying the foundation for the kind of research I want to dedicate my life to. Who knows, depending on how this summer goes, I might even apply for another DAAD program to do my Master’s or PhD back in Germany,” he said.
