Abhi Mehrotra was 3-years old when his parents decided to move to the United States. Shortly after graduating high school, he accepted the responsibilities of becoming a Store Manager for a national retail chain. However, his situation changed drastically due to the pandemic,and that puta halt to the store’s business and his future goals.

“I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, and I always had an interest in computer science since I was a kid,” said Mehrotra. “Being around computers and technology was something I was always fond of as a hobby.”   

Mehrotra enrolled at BRCC inthe Spring of 2021 to pursue his Associate of Sciencedegree in Computer Science. He said he’s glad he decided to pursue an associate degree at BRCC because it prepared him more for a long-term career and future rather than attending a four-yearuniversity immediately. Mehrotra said he is most thankful for getting to know the faculty, staff, and administration at BRCC.

“There were some opportunities here that I would not have been able to getelsewhere if I had immediately attended a four-year university as a freshman,” Mehrotra said.“It’s been a phenomenal thing for me because it has helped me make myself stand out and helped me to build my skills. That’s only been possible because of the people I’ve been able to encounter here.”

Working with BRCC Professor Dr. Mary Miller has been a phenomenal experience for Mehrotra. He mentioned that BRCC is the only Community College in Louisiana to have a fully functioning research project, the Louisiana Freshwater Sponge Project.

“I never knew anything about research or considered that research could be a career aspiration,” said Mehrotra. “I was introduced to it by my PI (Primary Investigator) Dr. Miller through taking her Biology Lab II class where I was introduced to the project.”

Mehrotra was also part of the Aspire Program during the summer which allowed himto intern and assist with a research project. He was able to bring his computer science background to marine science and was able to begin teaching workshops on using data analysis tools. He said he was the first computer science student to work for Dr. Miller which helped him develop an entirely new outlook on his career aspirations. He was able to mix his computer science background with biology which steered him to learn more about data science. 

“Working on a research project and learning about data science has completely changed my whole career, said Mehrotra. “Now that’s what I want to do as a career due to having this experience at BRCC which I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do as a freshman or sophomore at a four-year university.”

Mehrotra is the president of the Citizen Science Research Organization (CSRO), Co-president of the NSLS (The National Society of Leadership and Success), Secretary of the Computer Science Club, and Phi Beta Theta Kappa Honor Society member. He encourages others to get involvedwith campus clubs and organizations. He said his involvement allowed him to attendconferences, develop leadership skills, and open career networking opportunities. Last fall, he attended a World Conference in the Netherlands as part of a research project he was involved in for the Louisiana Freshwater Sponge Project.

“We were the only community college accepted to the conference,” said Mehrotra. “I was one of only a few undergraduate students to present at the conference. It was an amazing experience that will always live with me for the rest of my life.Thanks to the support of BRCC and the SGA.”

Mehrotra plans to continue learning more about his passion for computer science and biology once he graduates in December. He will then begin work getting his bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in Data Science and a minor in Biology. He would like to find the perfect connection between the two and create a new space for research.

“I’m thankful for the opportunities that I have been exposed to here,and it has really changed my whole life and career from an educational perspective, said Mehrotra. “I am so lucky for the amazing people that work here and have given me such wonderful opportunities, such as Dr.Miller, and I wouldn’t be where I am andgoing in the direction if it wasn’t for BRCC.”