About

Academics

I am a Macalester College graduate ('21) with a B.A. in computer science and applied mathematics and statistics and a concentration in cognitive science.

Studying at a liberal arts college was a very positive experience. I had incredible mentors that were consistently involved in my academic career and invested in my success as a student. Furthermore, I had strong women role models within my majors that supported my entrance and continued perseverance in the fields of computer science and mathematics. I also had the opportunity to be a teaching assistant for various computer science and statistics courses, which introduced me to peer mentorship. A combination of all three of these factors caused me to grow as an individual and a scientist. I developed a love of interdisciplinary work and teaching, and I hope to use my personal experience to support others who want to join the field. I strongly believe that expanding the body of work and knowledge we have on how people think and feel will provide opportunities for improving our community.

I successfully completed an undergraduate honors thesis in computer science during my senior year. To see more about this work, visit my computer science capstone page. To see some of the projects and assignments I have completed throughout my time at Macalester, visit my GitHub page.

Upbringing

While I have spent most of my life in Washington State, my upbringing involved a continuous blend of cultures, languages, and travel that originated with my family's history of moving around the globe. My dad was born in Argentina and moved to Israel at the age of 17. His parents were born in Poland, and migrated to Argentina at the start of the WWII to escape the Holocaust. My mom was raised in Israel, and was born on the ship that was bringing over her parents from Morocco around the foundation of Israel as a country. Soon after my parents met in Israel, they moved to Spain and had both my older brother and me. Two years after I was born, we settled in Redmond, WA for work purposes and fell in love with the area.

Due to the familial connection, I spent most of my childhood summers in Israel and visited Spain often. I am deeply grateful for the experience of traveling frequently and for ensuring I am conversational in both Hebrew and Spanish. With all that in mind, I truly have loved growing up in the Pacific Northwest. There is nothing quite like the constant greenery and the combination of forests, mountains, ocean, and city to provide the most breathtaking sights.

Extracurriculars

Outside of academia and research I have a passion for hiking, dancing, art, and service towards animals.

During those summers I spent in Israel, my family would often take camping trips to the north end of the country. This is where I developed my love for the outdoors, travel, and hiking. Growing up in Washington State has provided me with a plethora of hiking opportunities, and I often spend weekend days in the various national and state parks that are nearby. There is nothing more satisfying than witnessing the magnificent sights nature has to offer after a long day of walking. I have included a few photographs below - all are taken by my brother, Ionatan Kuperwajs.

Throughout my childhood I spent many afternoons in the dance studio. I engaged with many different forms of dance, such as ballet, jazz, and a singular tap class. The style that stuck with me the most was hip hop. By the time I hit high school I solely took hip hop classes and in college, I started my own hip hop dance group.

Along with dance classes, I spent most of my primary education taking art classes. I learned how to use a variety of mediums, such as acrylic paint, clay, oil and soft pastels, and pencil. After taking a small break when starting college, the extra free time I had due to the pandemic brought me back to art. I mostly focus on acrylic paint and oil pastels. If you want to see a few pieces, pictures are below!

I have always loved animals. I had one dog (pictured below) that I was raised with named Fido. I spent much of my free time learning about animals through documentaries and books, as well as volunteering. I had a small, homemade non-profit with a group of friends in elementary school where we fundraised for various shelters and organizations. In high school, I volunteered for PAWS, an animal shelter, non-profit organization, and wildlife rehabilitation center based in Washington. I participated as a dog care assistant and veterinary assistant. I am a huge advocate for adopting pets and taking care of our environment, and I have enjoyed being a vegetarian for over 10 years now.