Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sadiya Ahmad. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sadiya, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Well, as a child, one of the earliest questions that comes to mind is, why am I here? It’s a question often dismissed by adults as mere curiosity. Yet, this question lingers, sometimes even haunts us into adulthood. After all, nothing exists without purpose. But the real intrigue lies not in what our purpose is, but in how we find it. As a scientist, I see purpose as subjective, shaped by the extent of our intellect, vision, and imagination. As a philosopher, I believe it is the unique calling that resonates within each individual. As a woman, I shall put it in a box of gender duties, where we weave the fabric of the society. But as Sadiya Ahmad, I will tell you the story of my heart which is vibrant and ever evolving yet carries the ache to reach the stars.
I was born in Lucknow, India, the youngest daughter of Anjum and S. L. Ahmad. From the very beginning, I was a child brimming with energy and curiosity – a little explorer who would climb walls without support, unaware that gravity had its own plans. I often fell, but failure never deterred me. Instead, I collected scrapes, bruises, and an unrelenting eagerness to conquer the impossible.
This same spirit carried into my education. I was drawn to both the logic of science and the boundless imagination of philosophy—two seemingly different worlds that fascinated me equally. As they say, both nature and nurture shape a person. In my case, I inherited a mathematical mind from my father and an intuitive understanding of biology from my mother. With the best mentors in theory, I had all the right ingredients. But one thing was missing – a clearly defined purpose.
As a young woman, I chose computer science—a field broad enough to let me explore multiple disciplines. I excelled in programming, but I wanted to get a deep understanding of circuits, chips, and the very mechanics of computation. While my nights were spent staring at the stars, I wasn’t just dreaming of reaching them, I wanted to discover the galaxies nearby, to unravel the mysteries of existence.
Yet, my journey wasn’t always smooth. My small physique often made people underestimate me, failing to realize that size is no measure of intellect, speed, or aptitude. For a while, I tried to blend in, to follow the crowd, but deep down, I knew I was different. I couldn’t suppress my desire to chase what truly excited me. More importantly, I knew that I could never excel at something I pursued half-heartedly.
That realization—that “aha” moment—was when I found my purpose.
My purpose was to be an explorer in education—not just to learn but to teach, innovate, and share my discoveries. Learning had always been my gateway to understanding the world, but I realized that knowledge alone wasn’t enough. What mattered was applying that knowledge to solve real-world challenges. And as I looked around, my curiosity expanded into a sense of responsibility—a duty toward the future of our planet and the survival of generations to come.
At the heart of this realization was an undeniable truth: energy is the foundation of progress, yet it is also one of humanity’s most pressing crises. Every technological advancement, every scientific breakthrough, and every innovation depends on energy. But what happens when our energy resources are depleted, or worse—when our current systems accelerate environmental degradation?
That’s where my skills in computer science and computational biology became a powerful tool. With a background in high-performance computing, I saw an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way. I started focusing on energy-efficient computing techniques, working to reduce energy consumption in data centers—the digital backbone of our modern world. Optimizing computational efficiency was not just a technical challenge; it was a crucial step toward sustainability.
But I didn’t stop there. The deeper I ventured, the more I saw how computational solutions could be applied across fields. From optimizing workflows in high-performance computing (HPC) to modeling biological systems for more efficient metabolic energy use, I sought ways to bridge technology and nature’s own intelligence. The goal wasn’t just to reduce carbon footprints—it was to reimagine how we process information and build a future where technology coexists harmoniously with sustainability.
This wasn’t just about solving an industrial problem; it was about reshaping the way we think about energy consumption, computing, and long-term planetary survival. The intersection of computer science and sustainability is where I find my purpose—exploring, innovating, and ensuring that the next generation inherits a world where technology is a solution, not a burden.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Broadly speaking, I carve the future—not just through research, but by shaping the way technology and sustainability intersect. As a researcher with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary interests, I bridge the fields of computer science, bioinformatics, and high-performance computing (HPC) to develop energy-efficient solutions that redefine how computational resources are managed and optimized. In today’s digital age, computation powers nearly every aspect of life, from scientific discovery to space exploration, healthcare, and artificial intelligence. However, this progress comes at a cost—the staggering energy demands of data centers, supercomputers, and cloud infrastructure. Left unchecked, this demand threatens not only industrial efficiency but also global sustainability.
That’s where my work comes in. I develop novel computational techniques to reduce energy consumption in data centers, optimize HPC scheduling algorithms, and design more efficient data processing methods. I explore how bio-inspired computing, machine learning models, and network optimization can be leveraged to make computing systems not only faster but also greener. My research has been recognized at prestigious platforms, including receiving the NSF grant for energy coflow scheduling algorithms, which supports my work in making computing infrastructure more sustainable.
What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to solve complex, real-world problems by integrating ideas from multiple disciplines. There is something deeply fulfilling about designing algorithms that not only improve efficiency but also contribute to long-term sustainability. My research allows me to merge logic with creativity, finding unconventional solutions to computational challenges that directly impact scientific computing, industrial technology, and environmental responsibility. As a recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award, I am equally passionate about mentoring and knowledge dissemination, ensuring that the next generation of researchers can build upon these advancements. The ability to push the boundaries of knowledge, apply theory to tangible impact, and continuously learn along the way is what makes my work truly exhilarating. Most importantly, I find purpose in knowing that my contributions can help build a future where technological progress is balanced with responsible resource management, ensuring that innovation remains both sustainable and forward-thinking.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I attribute my success to my compassion, thoughtfulness, curiosity to explore, and grit. These qualities have shaped my journey, allowing me to navigate challenges, seek knowledge beyond boundaries, and persist despite difficulties. While intelligence and skills play significant roles in achievement, it is perseverance, passion, resilience and concern for others that have helped me push forward and accomplish my goals. Compassion allows me to connect with others on a deeper level, whether it is my students, colleagues, or the broader scientific community. Thoughtfulness, on the other hand, helps me navigate complex decisions with care, ensuring that I am not only making choices that benefit myself but also contributing meaningfully to the world around me. In academia and research, success is often seen as the product of intelligence and technical skill, but I believe that genuine human connection and ethical responsibility are just as crucial.
My curiosity has been the foundation of my academic and professional pursuits. I am not satisfied with surface-level understanding; I constantly seek depth, innovation, and interdisciplinary connections in my work. This curiosity has driven me to excel in diverse fields, including networking, high-performance computing and computational biology. Rather than confining myself to one domain, I have explored multiple research areas, combining computational techniques with biological data analysis and machine learning to solve complex problems. This aligns with the idea that intellectual curiosity fuels perseverance and individuals with deep interest in their work are more likely to persist in achieving excellence. The willingness to explore new fields has been one of my greatest strengths, ensuring that I continue to grow and adapt in an ever-evolving scientific landscape.
Above all, grit has been the defining quality behind my achievements. Psychologist Duckworth et al. (2007) emphasize, true success comes from sustained effort over time, rather than mere talent or intelligence alone. My journey in academia, research, and leadership roles is a testament to this idea. From completing multiple advanced degrees to publishing research, and mentoring students, I have demonstrated long-term dedication to my goals. Grit is not about short bursts of motivation, it is about staying committed even when progress is slow, challenges arise, and obstacles seem overwhelming. This trait has particularly helped me in HPC scheduling research, phylogenetic analysis, and algorithm development, where complex problems require persistent effort and a deep understanding over extended periods.
The interplay of compassion, curiosity, and grit has been central to my success. Compassion connects me with people, curiosity fuels my desire to explore and innovate, and grit ensures that I remain committed to my goals despite difficulties. While intelligence and skills are valuable, it is these non-cognitive traits that truly drive long-term success. As I continue my journey—whether in academia, research, or leadership—I know that these qualities will remain my guiding principles, helping me achieve even greater heights.
These skills can be developed by identifying your purpose, embracing discomfort, practicing self-discipline, and actively listening to others and their challenges. When you listen to others and ask questions, you discover interesting problems to solve, which can lead to a long journey of exploration. There is a solution to everything—it is just a matter of time and effort before it is discovered. If you are willing to invest that time and effort with resilience, you will ultimately emerge as a winner.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
The choice between becoming a well-rounded individual or perfecting a specific strength depends largely on the demands of one’s work and field of expertise. If a profession or research area requires deep specialization in a niche subject that few have explored, then the most effective path is to dedicate time and effort to master that domain, ensuring that one’s expertise reaches an exceptional level. However, if success in a field depends on interdisciplinary knowledge and the ability to integrate insights from multiple areas, then a broader approach to learning is essential. Understanding the requirements of one’s work is crucial in deciding whether to focus intensely on a singular strength or develop a more diverse knowledge base. Personally, I prefer to study multiple fields and absorb knowledge from any discipline that applies to my research, even if it traditionally belongs to a different domain. This approach stems from my belief that having different perspectives on the same concept—across disciplines—can lead to deeper insights and novel solutions. Many ideas in one field have analogous representations in others, and recognizing these connections often leads to innovative applications. For example, the logical operator “AND” is represented differently in mathematics and electronics, yet both interpretations can be applied uniquely to biological data. Understanding how an electronic circuit implements an “AND” operation versus how mathematics defines it allows for creative applications in bioinformatics and computational biology. However, such interdisciplinary integration is only possible for someone who has knowledge of all three fields. This highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary expertise, where drawing from diverse areas enables one to approach complex problems from multiple angles, ultimately leading to breakthroughs that would not be possible within the constraints of a single discipline.
By expanding beyond the boundaries of a single field, one can develop a more flexible and creative mindset, allowing for innovative problem-solving. While specialization remains valuable, the ability to bridge different disciplines often leads to discoveries that redefine how knowledge is applied. Whether one chooses deep expertise or broad knowledge, the key is to align that decision with the specific needs of the work they aspire to excel in.
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