Research Experience Spotlight: Amrit Magesh

Background and Motivation

Amrit Magesh, a senior majoring in computer science with a minor in ACES, is passionate about the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. As an organizer for Bitcamp, a teaching assistant for CMSC 389E (Digital Logic Design in Minecraft), and a research assistant in Project Aletheia under ACES, Magesh is actively engaged on campus. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball or tennis, and watching football.

Magesh’s motivation to engage in research stems from a desire to hone his skills before transitioning into the industry. "I don’t feel ready for the industry yet," Magesh shared, "I still want to develop my expertise in computer science and cybersecurity, and research offers the ideal environment for this growth." His passion for social network analysis and AI-driven cybersecurity fuels his desire to pursue these research interests in graduate school before transitioning to a career.

Research Focus and Process

Magesh's research journey began at the University of Maryland’s Information for Social Good (DATA) school, where he connected with Professor Giovanni Ciampaglia through the UMD undergraduate research database. He initially contributed to a project mapping global community efforts to preserve the integrity of Wikipedia and combat disinformation. The result, Wikimap, is an extensive online resource that catalogues organizations dedicated to countering misinformation and promoting information literacy.

Currently, Magesh works in Project Aletheia, where his team studies how information diffuses in both private and public communication models. By utilizing pre-trained Large Language Models (LLMs) from OpenAI, they simulate and analyze the flow of dialogue, posts, and external information sources. This research has promising real-world applications, such as detecting and mitigating unlawful influence operations (e.g., election misinformation) and improving content moderation. Additionally, the findings could help brands optimize marketing strategies and support public health campaigns by understanding influence dynamics.

The most challenging aspect of his current research has been adapting to the project’s existing codebase. "It took a lot of time to familiarize myself with the logic and classes involved, but after asking plenty of questions, I got through it," Magesh explained. However, this experience has been incredibly rewarding, especially as he applies academic concepts to real-world problems.

Personal Experience

Magesh’s research has significantly influenced his academic and career goals, deepening his interest in AI and cybersecurity. "I want to continue this research in graduate school and build on the work I’ve done so far," he said. Through this experience, he has also developed valuable skills, especially in literature review and programming. "Research involves a lot of reading and reviewing contemporary methods, which has helped me refine my technical abilities."

For students interested in research, Magesh offers this advice: "Be passionate about the field you choose. I made the mistake of starting research too early in an area I wasn’t fully interested in, which made it hard to stay motivated. Take time to figure out what excites you, leverage your network, and use resources like the UMD undergraduate research database."

Published May 5, 2025