After two semesters in the ATLAS Internship Program, Srikar Girijala has found a meaningful way to bridge academic theory and real-world application. A junior majoring in Statistics & Computer Science, he joined ATLAS after hearing about it from friends and classmates. While his coursework built a strong technical foundation, Srikar wanted hands-on experience developing productionlevel projects and strengthening the professional skills essential to software engineering.
Working with Professor Adam Osman as an Interactive Web Development Intern, Srikar is developing an educational web-based game that models the impact of climate change and policy decisions on transportation usage in Cairo, Egypt. His responsibilities include implementing the core systems of equations that govern variables such as happiness, temperature, and economic conditions within the simulated city. He is also designing the interactive map and visual elements that communicate game state and progression, as well as building dynamic charts and dashboards using Recharts.js and D3.js to support player interaction. In the process, Srikar has worked extensively with React and backend logic for database storage and business rules, while also gaining exposure to animation and visual design tools such as GSAP and Anime.js.
Beyond technical growth, Srikar has sharpened his communication, presentation, and time management skills. One key lesson he takes away is the importance of translating complex, interdisciplinary research into accessible formats. His project required converting dense academic models into an engaging, interactive experience for a broader audience. That process strengthened his ability to reinterpret information across mediums and disciplines, reinforcing the value of clarity and creativity in technical work. Looking ahead, Srikar plans to pursue a career as a software engineer. Outside of development, he has been playing the guitar for over a year.