Research Experience Spotlight: Arya Thakur

Background and Motivation

Arya Thakur, a senior studying Information Science with a minor in the ACES Honors Program, is making strides in the field of networking and security through hands-on research. Originally from India, Arya has been in the U.S. for a few years, balancing her academic pursuits with a part-time role as a student network engineer in Edge Network Operations under the Division of Information Technology (DIT) Networking Team.

Her journey into research was inspired by a close friend who introduced her to cybersecurity and emphasized the foundational role of networking in the field. As she delved deeper into networking, she realized her true passion lay in the discipline itself, rather than in cybersecurity. This realization led her to focus on network security research.

Research Focus and Process

Eager to deepen her understanding of networking, Arya frequently sought advice from professors on how to gain practical experience. This led her to connect with Professor Frezzo, an expert in networking who champions hands-on learning. Under his guidance, Arya embarked on a research project that merges networking and security, with a specific focus on automating network security within a Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) framework.

Her research involves designing and deploying a secure Software-Defined Networking (SDN) model utilizing Ubiquiti CloudKey+ and UniFi devices. Inspired by her internship experience with automation, Arya aimed to implement scalable and resilient network security protocols, ensuring effective traffic control and filtration.

One of the biggest challenges Arya faced was configuring vendor-specific devices, requiring her to learn new settings and standards. Additionally, an internal network disruption due to configuration errors tested her troubleshooting skills. By systematically analyzing the issue layer by layer and collaborating with the DIT team, she successfully resolved the problem and strengthened her expertise in network diagnostics.

The most rewarding aspect of her research has been the successful deployment of SD-WAN technology. Through her work, she optimized network scalability, redundancy, and security, contributing practical solutions applicable to real-world scenarios. Moving forward, Arya aims to design tailored network structures for different departments, enhancing efficiency and security through customized filtration rules.

Personal Experience

Arya’s experience has underscored the importance of bandwidth management, redundancy, and network architecture in designing robust systems. The knowledge and skills gained from this project have solidified her career aspirations in network security, guiding her toward further specialization in the field.

Beyond technical expertise, Arya has honed essential skills such as documentation and systematic troubleshooting—key competencies for any network professional. To aspiring researchers, she advises “If your research involves hands-on work, then try to break tasks into manageable steps. When you encounter errors or issues, try to solve them independently first because it helps you understand the fundamentals and improves your problem-solving skills. Troubleshooting experience is essential in production environments and teaches you the practical applications of different tools and configurations.”

Published February 28, 2025