Amanda Baran

Growing up in a small, traditional suburb, the idea of pursuing Computer Science was very foreign. During my time as an undergrad, I discovered my love for computer science. I found a particular interest in the world that we call the "backend",  which has helped lead me to my current role as a Research Assistant in the Scalable Systems and Software Research Group at Lehigh University.  I am particularly interested in distributed systems with a focus on Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA).

Currently, I am in the third year of my PhD in Computer Science at Lehigh. Previously, and also at Lehigh, I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Business in May of 2021 and earned my Master's degree in Computer Science in May of 2023.

As a passionate advocate, I am very involved in the effort to close the gender gap in STEM fields. I spent the last four years as Co-President of the Lehigh Women in Computer Science club, working diligently with the board to positively impact the women in our CS community. I also frequently engage in volunteer activities that allow me to encourage other young women to pursue their futures in STEM whenever the opportunity arises.