Hiranya Bandi: Finding Purpose in Data and Empowerment Through Learning

Driven by a passion for uncovering patterns and solving real-world problems, Hiranya Bandi came to UNC Charlotte from Hyderabad, India, to pursue her Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics. She was looking for more than a degree—she was seeking an environment that would challenge her thinking, strengthen her technical skills, and prepare her to work in the evolving world of data and AI.

“I was drawn to UNC Charlotte for its interdisciplinary DSBA program. The School of Data Science offered the perfect combination of faculty, curriculum, and industry alignment that I knew would help me become the kind of data scientist I aspired to be.”

Describing her experience at UNC Charlotte in three words—transformative, collaborative, empowering—Hiranya immersed herself in academics, mentorship, and innovation. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant under Professor Marco Scipioni and an AI/ML Intern at Auxo AI, she didn’t just absorb knowledge—she put it into action.

During her time at UNC Charlotte, Hiranya was inspired by professors like Chandrasekhar Subramaniam, Rick Chakra, Robert Fox, and Stephen Rohrer. Each brought a unique perspective that helped her master everything from statistical modeling to business strategy. A standout moment was her experience in Professor Ryan Wesslen’s course, where she first explored the world of large language models —a passion that would go on to shape her internship projects and research.

“Attending the Women in Data Science Conference and mentoring as a Teaching Assistant gave me a deeper appreciation for inclusive, applied AI. These experiences strengthened my passion for building human-centered, impactful solutions.”

One of her proudest accomplishments? Co-developing Baymax TC, a chatbot that simplifies terms and conditions using NLP and LLMs. She also dove into real-world problem solving through the Kaggle Truist 2023 Challenge, the Kaggle Forecasting Challenge, and other machine learning competitions.

As she graduated in May 2025, Hiranya is focused on securing a full-time role as a Data Scientist or AI/ML Engineer—ideally working with LLM-powered systems, predictive modeling, or real-time data applications. 

But beyond technical achievements, Hiranya discovered something deeper about herself during her time here: 

“Before coming to UNC Charlotte, I didn’t realize how much I thrived in mentorship-driven environments. Teaching others helped me understand just how much I enjoy simplifying complex concepts. It’s helped me grow both as a learner and a leader.”

Through every class, late-night debug session, and moment of doubt, Hiranya Bandi found more than just answers in data—she found direction, purpose, and a future filled with possibility.