Inspired by his background in coding and a love for structure, Saad Mankarious ’25 says he came to Cornell for the academic opportunities.
“The block plan allowed me to be fully immersed with all my focus on my subject, which helped boost my understanding and performance with the academic material,” Mankarius said.
What he found here on the Hilltop after he arrived, however, went beyond the block plan. For this first-generation college student, it included the close-knit community and the guidance of Professors Leon Tabak, Ajit Chavan and so many others, who taught him, unexpectedly, how to be a better communicator. The required liberal arts education, experiences in the Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Distinctive Service program, and encouragement of the computer sciences department all led to his biggest achievement at Cornell:
“The computer science department not only encouraged me to put myself out there, but also dragged me to events and introduced me to a huge network of professionals and leaders in the field. Cornell has equipped me with networking and communications skills that will help me succeed in whatever job I do,” he said. “ I am able to communicate the complex scientific ideas to a wide range of people. This is priceless to me because I will be able to cultivate meaningful relationships throughout my life, which is a vital skill in succeeding as an AI researcher.”
As an international student from Egypt, Mankarious brought his experience as an African Leadership Academy young leader to campus with him, and he's shown that leadership throughout his four years at Cornell. He spoke at a campus-wide panel on the AI industry, developed a video game mixing ancient mythology with the Mount Vernon landscape, and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.
Mankarious also had the opportunity to intern with Elma Kerz and Daniel Wiechemann at RWTH Aachen University in Aachen, Germany, during the summer of 2024, focusing on their research on machine learning, specifically natural language processing. While on his internship, he maintained a blog of his experiences, sharing his challenges and successes as he immersed himself in German culture and the research project, where he explored using natural language processing to diagnose mental health diseases.
His plans for the future include an internship at Buildertrend over the summer, followed by working remotely with the German company he interned with last summer, Exaia Technologies. After taking a gap year, he plans to pursue a Ph.D., with dreams of becoming a full-time researcher in AI.
“I aspire throughout my Ph.D. and beyond to lead my own research lab, working towards ensuring AI is accessible and fair towards different demographics of people,” He says.
For this senior profile, we asked Mankarious a few questions before he left the Hilltop. Here’s what he said in his own words:
What will you miss most about Cornell?
-Professors: with whom I developed strong relationships
-The SAW: working out and playing pingpong and soccer
-The Cafeteria (Hilltop Café): the ready-to-eat food and working with the Bon (Bon Appétit) staff as a student worker, serving students food
Who helped you along your college journey?
My friends from the International Student Association made me feel like I am home. Thanks to Michael Ossai, Mahmoud Elawady, and Smiriti Neupane, I always felt safe and welcomed thousands of miles from home.
What have you learned at Cornell that you didn't know before?
I was shocked when the first winter came, I thought trees were permanently dying and was relieved in the spring! I wasn't aware of the fact that leaves fall and change color between seasons.
What is your favorite memory from being at Cornell?
It's working out right after class ends at 3 p.m. I will be feeling energetic and active after lunch, and the SAW will be crowded with student-athletes, friends, and fellow lifters.
What is your advice to the classes behind you?
Prioritize academics! It's the main reason you're here. Then dedicate some time to build relationships, explore, and have fun.
How would you describe the block plan?
It is an excellent way to build relationships with your professors and classmates because you see them every day!