Diya Pradhan is a student from Ashburn, Virginia, in the Data Analytics, Technologies and Applications major at Purdue University. She is a Presidential Scholar and Dean’s List student who wants to use data to improve people’s lives and hopes to someday make an impact in mental health or security. Pradhan is already striking out on her own, building a surveillance system with Raspberry Pi, a single-board computer designed originally for teaching computer science in schools.
Pradhan has taken on several extracurriculars at Purdue, including the Purdue Women's Network where she is the VP of marketing, Purdue Student Government as a Polytechnic senator, the Women in Cybersecurity Club as an events committee member, and College Mentors for Kids. She plans to graduate in 2028.
Q: How did you find out about the Data Analytics, Technologies and Applications major?
Pradhan: I first got interested in this area of study when I realized how much data is used in everyday life. Through school and internships, I saw how people use data to solve problems, and I thought it would be a good fit for me. I have always been curious about how data and technology shape the world, and I enjoy working with information in a way that helps me understand systems and solve challenges in practical ways. The program gives me the technical skills and hands-on experience to understand complex systems, which I hope to explore further in areas like cybersecurity in the future.
What do you hope your degree will equip you to do?
I hope my degree gives me the skills to take raw data and make sense of it in a way that is clear and useful. I want to not only learn technical tools but also understand how to apply them to real problems. My goal is to use data in areas like technology, security, or even mental health, because I believe it can make a real difference in people’s lives when it is used responsibly.
What are your future career plans?
I’m motivated by curiosity and wanting to learn new things. I like the idea that what I’m doing now could one day have a real impact. I would like to explore careers in data analytics or cybersecurity since both fields are growing and use problem solving in different ways. I am not locked into one path yet, but my main goal is to take what I learn and use it to create something meaningful with technology. Whether that means working with companies, research, or even projects that help communities, I want my work to have a positive impact.
What has your biggest challenge been?
The biggest challenge for me has been time management. Purdue has so many interesting clubs and organizations on campus that it can feel overwhelming to want to be part of everything while also keeping up with classes. Balancing academics with opportunities beyond the classroom has been an important area of growth.
What did you learn from building your Raspberry Pi surveillance system?
One of my biggest wins has been finishing my Raspberry Pi surveillance system, which is secure and can store footage in the cloud. The process taught me problem-solving and troubleshooting, as I had to figure out how to make all the pieces work together, from the
hardware to the software. It really showed me how the skills I am learning can be
applied to real-world projects that have a purpose. It was a tough project but completing it showed me that I can push through challenges. That experience gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.
I designed the Raspberry Pi surveillance system to be secure, scalable, and easy to set up. It streams video in real time and has motion detection built in through motionEye, and I made sure it could be configured across multiple devices if needed. I focused on reliability and security, so even though I’m not actively deploying it right now, it’s something that could be used for flexible monitoring in the future or built on for bigger projects.
What advice would you give to someone who's considering your major?
If you are thinking about this major, my advice would be to stay curious and not get discouraged if it feels overwhelming at first. Data analytics combines coding and critical thinking, so it can seem like a lot to handle, but you learn step-by-step, and it gets easier over time. The best part is that there are so many different directions you can take what you learn, whether that is in business, technology, or even areas that focus on helping people. If you keep an open mind and focus on what excites you most, you will find your place in it, and it will feel rewarding.