My name is Muskan (Muhs-kawn), which means smile in Hindi 😊 I am a second-year student at Virginia Tech pursuing Master of Science (Thesis) in Computer Science, advised by Dr. Sang Won Lee. I am currently working on investigating perceptions of trigger/content warnings on social media. My research interests lie in HCI intersecting social computing, specifically digital mental health and computer-mediated empathy.

Previously, I've been an experienced software engineer at Juniper Networks, part of the team responsible for designing, developing, and sustaining routing protocols. My interest in HCI got me back to school.

What keeps me going in tech?

I want to contribute to making tech more inclusive and equitable. May it be by conducting user studies on how marginalized people are affected by social media, or increasing gender diversity just by being in the room where important tech decisions are being made.

I am creative and curious at heart. Love to learn new things and gain experiences which make me a well-rounded person. (I believe the world is my oyster, and yours too) 🦪

Purpose-driven. Enthusiastic about diversity and inclusion, makeup art, public policy, and mental health.

In my free time, you can find me creating makeup looks, advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights 🏳️‍🌈, and watching RuPaul's Drag Race/Trixie and Katya on YouTube.

Work experience 💻

The Trade Desk

Software Engineer Intern in Identity Team

Juniper Networks

Software Engineer II in Routing Protocols Development Team

Commvault Systems

Software Development Intern in Database Team