YEREVAN, Armenia — Mariam Yevdokimova (MSCIS ’27) is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Computer and Information Science program at the American University of Armenia (AUA).
While she initially showed an aptitude for mathematics in high school, she chose to major in sociology for her undergraduate studies. Her interest in social sciences was sparked by her participation in youth development programs, where she became aware of global social challenges. After graduating, Mariam worked as a researcher and data analyst for various sociological research companies, collaborating with international organizations and NGOs.
It was during this period — around seven or eight years ago — that she began to see technology as a bridge to solving social issues. She started optimizing workflows and building tools from scratch to streamline her research. “That experience really excited me: creating something from your own knowledge that actually works and helps solve problems,” she recalls.
Mariam’s international experiences further shaped her trajectory. During her undergraduate years, she attended a European Student Union Summit in Israel. Observing a culture where startups actively used technology to tackle real-world problems inspired her to become a builder herself.
This prompted a pivotal career shift. To supplement her self-study and professional experience which included a role as a product data scientist at Picsart, Mariam sought a structured academic foundation. “That’s when I decided to apply to AUA. It was an obvious choice because the MSCIS program offers both a strong computer science foundation and the flexibility to specialize in a specific area. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, which I found very valuable,” she remarks. After her first year, though she had initially chosen to study data science, she realized she was more interested in systems engineering and pivoted to that field, with a focus on distributed systems.
More recently, she participated in a research program at EPFL in Switzerland, focusing on digital democracy. There, she explored secure, coercion-resistant voting systems using decentralized systems and proof-of-personhood mechanisms. “This was the first time I saw how advanced technology could directly address fundamental societal challenges like democracy. It really reinforced my belief in the intersection of technology and social impact,” she says.
Currently, Mariam is working on her capstone research. Her work explores a relatively new technology called Compute Express Link (CXL), which allows processors to access memory beyond traditional RAM. “As datasets become increasingly large — especially in the AI era — memory bottlenecks have become a critical issue in performance optimization. Our research focuses on how to adapt data-intensive applications in environments with memory tiering,” she explains. This technology is only about five years old and is being developed by a consortium of global leaders like Intel and Google. “As far as I know, we’re among the first research groups in Armenia working in this domain, which makes it even more meaningful,” she notes with pride.
Reflecting on her time at AUA, Mariam credits the University with developing her time management and systematic problem-solving skills. She highlights AUA Associate Professor Dr. Varduhi Yeghiazaryan as a significant influence, noting that the principles learned in her Data Structures course continue to improve her quality of work as an engineer today.
While Mariam initially planned to return to the industry as a data engineer, her experiences at AUA have shifted her focus toward academia. She is now considering pursuing a Ph.D. “Once you are exposed to research and understand how much it drives innovation, your perspective changes. Without research, industry innovation would slow down significantly,” she says.
Her advice to fellow students is rooted in her own unconventional journey: “The most important thing I’ve learned is that there are many opportunities, and many people willing to help you. Work hard, explore those opportunities, ask for mentorship, and be open about your ideas. Growth happens when you actively engage and push yourself.”
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.