Rodney Garnett, an undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science at the University at Buffalo, is already making impressive strides in the field. Currently in his sophomore year, Garnett recently completed an internship with the ACCESS Metrics team, where he honed his coding skills while working on the XDMoD Python API, a powerful data analytics framework.

Garnett first discovered the opportunity through Handshake, a platform that helps students connect with job and internship opportunities. Eager to apply what he had learned in the classroom to a real-world setting, he joined the team and dove into helping with XDMoD Python API maintenance. His role involved developing new automated tests, contributing bug fixes and writing documentation – all critical components of keeping the framework running smoothly.

This ACCESS summer experience with the Metrics team at Buffalo really improved my understanding of GitHub and terminal commands. More importantly, it helped me write cleaner, more efficient code that has already proven invaluable in my current computer science courses and will continue to serve me well in the future.

–Rodney Garnett, University of Buffalo computer science student

For Garnett, this experience wasn’t just about learning new technical skills – it was about building confidence. “The skills I gained have allowed me to approach coding tasks with greater confidence and proficiency,” he said.

Garnett’s work on the ACCESS Metrics team represents a significant step forward in his journey as a computer science student.

“With a strong foundation in coding and hands-on experience with the data analytics framework that is used for monitoring the advanced cyberinfrastructure funded by the National Science Foundation, Rodney is well on his way to a successful career in the tech industry, said Aaron Weeden, a scientific programmer/analyst at the University at Buffalo who oversaw Garnett’s summer internship. “As he continues to advance through his studies, Rodney’s experience with XDMoD will undoubtedly be a cornerstone of his growing expertise.”