Siddhant Labade

Siddhant Labade’s decision to major in computer science, with a minor in data science, was influenced by his parents.

“They both work in technical fields. So, naturally, they subconsciously instilled in me the value of computer science,” he says.

Following in the family’s footsteps has proven to be rewarding.

“One of the most interesting aspects about my major is how there is always something new to learn,” Labade says. “At one moment you are creating Figma mockups, and the next, you are diving into neural networks and how they work. It’s a field that never really stops growing, making it exciting to tackle new problems.”

Outside of coursework, Labade also got involved in the Fulton Schools’ Engineering Projects in Community Service, the SpaceJunk, the Vietnam Acid Rainwater team, the Rolston Renewable Energy Materials and Devices Lab, and was an undergraduate teaching assistant for two computer science and engineering courses.

He counts among his biggest achievements aiding a faculty member’s research by creating a Python Script to check if a particular perovskite crystal was structurally stable or not. That helped to enable the development of a working prototype for farmers in Vietnam to test if rainwater falling on their crops was acidic.

From such experiences, Labade, A New American Presidents Award winner and Fulton Grand Challenges Scholar Program student, says he developed skills that have helped him secure a job after graduation as an analyst for Wells Fargo, a major banking and financial services company.

Labade also sees the job as a valuable opportunity to expand on what he has learned at ASU by doing projects with his fellow engineering students.

It’s important, he says, to know “how to effectively collaborate with your peers and find their strengths early on to make sure you are utilizing them wisely.”

“Engineering is fun because of the collaboration,” he adds. “There are, of course, some disputes, but it is because of those disputes that we get new and innovative ideas that truly revolutionize the tech industry.” 

For much of what he has accomplished, Labade credits Assistant Teaching Professor Soumya Indela in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence.

He recounts how she helped him grasp the content of one of the most difficult computer science and engineering courses.

“That got me into the habit of studying for tests and utilizing the help provided by the instructors,” he says, “and it molded me into the student that I am now.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.