There is a new addition to the COSMOS family! We hired a new full-time Data Engineer, Nittesh Kumar! Nittesh shares what attracted him to COSMOS and what his aspirations and goals are.

What is your name, and what role do you play at COSMOS?

My name is Nittesh Kumar, and I serve as a Data Engineer II at COSMOS.

Can you share a bit about your professional background and experience?

I have a background in Software Engineering with around two years of experience, and recently, I’ve been focusing on data-focused roles. I completed internships in Data Science and Data Analytics, where I built trading models using live market data, automated ETL pipelines, and created dashboards for executive-level decision-making.

Were there specific aspects of COSMOS culture or mission that resonated with you?

What resonated with me is Prof. Agarwal’s focus on research-driven impact and collaboration at COSMOS. I work with large-scale social media datasets to support interdisciplinary research, build data pipelines, and enable insights that inform public discourse and policy. I value environments that prioritize innovation, ethical data use, and collaboration across teams—and I saw those same values reflected in COSMOS’s mission.

Are there any specific skills or experiences you’re looking to gain?

I’m particularly looking to deepen my skills in AI and machine learning—especially in applying ML models to real-world datasets at scale. While I’ve had hands-on experience building trading models and automating data pipelines, I’m eager to work on more advanced use cases like NLP, predictive modeling, and integrating ML into production systems. I’m also excited to learn from a team that’s actively applying AI to drive research and innovation.

Is there anything that stood out to you during your onboarding process?

What really stood out to me during the onboarding process was the speed and efficiency with which everything was organized, from the application process to the interview, to adapting to a new environment, and starting to work on my tasks. Everyone at COSMOS was super friendly and professional. It made getting up to speed smooth and allowed me to start contributing quickly.

How do you see yourself growing professionally within COSMOS?

I see myself growing at COSMOS by expanding my expertise in advanced data engineering and AI/ML applications within social media research. I want to take on more complex projects that involve building scalable, efficient data pipelines and developing machine learning models that drive actionable insights.

Based on your experience, what advice would you give to someone starting a new role at COSMOS?

Be proactive in learning the data infrastructure and don’t hesitate to ask questions early on. Building strong communication with your team helps accelerate your onboarding and collaboration.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure or fictional character, who would it be and why?

I’d choose Alan Turing because of his pioneering work in computing and AI. Having dinner with him would be fascinating to learn about his vision for technology and how he overcame challenges during his time.