A UCF computer science alumnus who earned a master’s degree as a student-veteran has been selected for a prestigious fellowship spearheaded by the White House.
Mohammad Arifur Rahman ‘21MS was selected for the U.S. Digital Corps fellowship, a program created in 2021 by the Biden Administration that gives early‑career technology professionals the opportunity to serve the federal government. Seventy fellows were chosen from more than 2,000 applications for the third cohort of the program to serve 19 different federal agencies.
“Growing the U.S. Digital Corps is crucial to driving innovation across the federal government, especially as emerging technologies like AI evolve,” says U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Agency Administrator Robin Carnahan in a release. “GSA is focused on delivering great value to our customer agencies and the American people, so we are proud to help lead the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to bring tech talent into government to deliver those results.”
For the next two years, Rahman will serve as a data scientist for the National Institutes of Health working on the Science Collaborative for Health Disparities and Artificial Intelligence Bias Reduction (ScHARe) initiative. ScHARe, a cloud-based platform, was developed to give equal access to research opportunities in big data by increasing underrepresented populations in data science and cloud computing. The initiative is led by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities in collaboration with the National Institute of Nursing Research.
“My goal is to enhance the ScHARe platform to make it a more accessible and impactful resource for researchers addressing minority health and health disparities,” Rahman says. “By applying advanced data science techniques, I hope to uncover meaningful insights that inform public health policies and drive initiatives to reduce health inequities.”
Rahman began his career in the U.S. Army as an orthopedic technician and clinic supervisor. When he was driven to further develop his problem solving and leadership skills, he was drawn to UCF for its reputation as a veteran-friendly institution and nationally recognized STEM programs. He discovered the perfect opportunity to augment his professional experience with the university’s Master of Science in Data Analytics program.
He was able to adjust from military service to a career in data science with ease thanks to UCF’s commitment to support and serve its student-veterans.
“As a veteran transitioning to a civilian career, I appreciated UCF’s supportive environment and resources for veterans, which made the university an ideal choice,” he says. “The Master of Science in Data Analytics program particularly stood out for its rigorous curriculum and focus on practical applications in areas like machine learning, data visualization, and statistical analysis.”
Following his time at UCF, Rahman served as a consultant for a number of companies, working with state and federal projects. The wealth of experience he gained in the military and in the civilian world, combined with his UCF graduate education, makes for a perfect fit for his role at the National Institutes of Health.
“I hope my journey inspires fellow Knights and veterans to explore the U.S. Digital Corps program and other opportunities within the federal government, where they can apply their unique experiences and perspectives to drive real change.”
Story by Bel Huston