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Manya Gureja has just graduated from UCL EEE with a BEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. She is the 2024 winner of the Marconi Prize for best project in the areas of research covered by the Sensors, Systems and Circuits Group.

Manya Gureja's project, "Reputation Systems for Web3 & Decentralised Networks", looked at ways to build trust in the next generation of the internet, known as Web 3.0. As the internet becomes more decentralised, with people sharing resources and services, it can be difficult to know who to trust. Her project used a special method to group users based on how they behave and perform, allowing for a more accurate and fair way to measure reliability. This new approach could make these systems more trustworthy compared to existing methods.

Manya recently spoke to us about her experiences on the course. Before moving to London, Manya was based in New Delhi, India.

Why did you choose a BEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering?

Taking up physics and mathematics-heavy research projects in my final years of high school motivated me to pursue EEE. The course lies at the intersection of applied mathematics, physics and computer science, offering a strong foundation for a variety of careers. Opportunities for project-based learning, the flexibility to tailor my degree and explore subjects beyond my major made UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering an ideal choice.

What did you most enjoy about studying in the Electronic and Electrical Engineering department?

It has to be the plethora of learning opportunities! During my time at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË, I collaborated on projects spanning from maze-navigating robots, spyware and PCBs (printed circuit boards) to COVID patient tracing applications. The flexibility to choose my modules in the later years enabled me to make my degree more math-centric and explore advanced topics like machine learning, stochastic calculus, option pricing and even the Black Scholes’ model! Having discovered what I am passionate about, I tried to maximise my learning by choosing a final year project that brought principles of Blockchain Systems, Web3 and Machine Learning together!

How are you finding living in London?

I like to say that London offers a place and pace for everyone. Be it cycling along the banks of the Thames, exploring Christmas markets on foot, savouring world-class cuisines or enjoying the vibrant nightlife – there is something in store for everybody. From a professional standpoint, access to opportunities like internships, office visits and networking events is unparalleled! I love how walkable and diverse London is, making it easy to explore new places and cultures.

What is UCL like as an international student?

Being surrounded by students from all corners of the world, who study subjects as diverse as History, Medicine and Engineering, leads to a lot of personal growth! While settling in may initially seem intimidating, it is easy to find like-minded people through freshers’ events, societies and halls of residence. Taylor Swift nights, pub quizzes and silent discos, which are common events at the student bars, are also a great way of maintaining a good work-life balance and making new friends.

What do you think about career opportunities, networking and any other support you have received at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË?

When it comes to careers, UCL is what you make of it. There are innumerable development opportunities, catering to all degree types. There are CV workshops, mock interviews and work experience days, for those starting out in the corporate and industrial world. For the more entrepreneurial, there are frequent networking sessions, panels and talks with industrial leaders. For perspective, Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) and Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google DeepMind), visited UCL to speak about their professional journey last year. UCL’s startup incubator, the Hatchery, offers courses on how to start a business and free resources to sustain and grow it. Societies play a crucial role in UCL’s careers ecosystem by partnering with companies and alumni to create exclusive opportunities and provide valuable industry insights.

You mentioned that you have done a couple of internships in the summer breaks while studying at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË. Who were the internships with and what did you get out of them? How did what you learnt on the course help?

During my first-year spring break, I interned at several financial institutions in London. These were short, week-long internships which are targeted towards students who are keen on exploring finance. This experience led me to pursue an 8-week Markets-based summer internship in India. Having identified this as an area of interest, I pursued a Sales and Trading internship at BNP Paribas in summer 2023, and a Commodity Trading Analytics internship at BP in summer 2024. It is interesting to see the world from a different lens and learn about the complexities of financial instruments that enable organisations to protect and grow their capital! Aside from contributing to meaningful projects and learning skills on the job, speaking to employees about their roles and experiences is incredibly educational and insightful. Most topics that I have studied during my degree, ranging from signal processing concepts like Fourier Series to programming in Python, have contributed to my professional journey so far.

What will you be doing after graduation?

I wish to pursue a career that lies at the intersection of Finance, Math and Computer Science.

What advice would you give to others thinking of applying to the Electronic and Electrical Engineering department?

Be prepared for a challenging and demanding workload, but know that the effort is absolutely worth it. Embrace the journey, take time to enjoy the process and discover yourself along the way!

Links

The UCL India Excellence Scholarships
Studying at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË for prospective Indian students