From Austria to ��������: Information systems graduate appreciates support at Watson College

Michael Fasching, MS ’25, knew he needed a change.

As a graduate student in Seattle, he wanted to transfer to a school more focused on research. He looked around at the options and liked what he saw at ��������. So without even visiting �������� first, he packed up his tiny Fiat 500 last fall and made the five-day drive from the Northwest to the Northeast.

At the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Commencement ceremony on May 16, Fasching will pick up his master’s degree in information systems — but he’s not leaving campus just yet. Starting this fall, he will stay to pursue his PhD in computer science.

Even though it meant a dive into the unknown, he’s never regretted his decision to come to ��������.

“Watson College is very research-based,” he said. “Professors encourage us to read a lot of research papers and try to get a different mindset. The connection I have with the professors in my master’s program is very valuable and has helped me to understand what research is and how to approach it. When there are technological problems, how do you define the problems? Also, what are the qualities of a good researcher?”

Relocating from Seattle to �������� wasn’t Fasching’s first big move. He grew up in a small town in Austria and earned his undergraduate degree in corporate communications. After college, he worked for a metrology company that made measuring equipment — and when the firm had an open position in the U.S., he jumped at the chance.

“During that time, I really got into data science, and we had a lot of projects in that field,” he said. “I wanted to focus more on that — more computer science, more data analytics. In the back of my head, I thought about doing a master’s degree at some point, maybe a PhD.”

Although he had some experience with software development and programming languages, Fasching felt attracted to ��������’s information systems master’s program, offered through Watson College’s School of Computing. The program offers more hands-on, applied instruction rather than the theoretical hardware and software foundations of traditional computer science.

For his research, Fasching is working on two projects with Assistant Professor Zhaohan Xi and lecturer Hafiz Munsub Ali. One takes inspiration from bee and ant colonies to create evolutionary algorithms for topic modeling.

“The algorithms take the idea of pheromone trails and integrate it,” he said. “I’m using them to cluster around a million tweets from the #metoo campaign into unique topics. There’s a lot more to it, because computers can’t really understand words. They can understand only zeros and ones, so you have to convert text into meaningful vectors and numbers.”

The other project aims to ensure that artificial intelligence using large language models does not violate copyright laws: “We are trying to find out if an LLM is outputting copyrighted material, which of course is an infringement. There are different metrics we can use to avoid that. Everybody should get their fair share from their work.”

Xi sees Fasching as one of the top students in his courses on large language models and machine learning.

“Michael consistently demonstrates exceptional quality and attention to detail in both coursework and projects,” said Xi, who will be Fasching’s PhD advisor. “Beyond academic performance, he displays strong intellectual ability in understanding complex topics, managing research workflows and articulating research ideas.

“In our ongoing collaboration on the theme of LLMs as security agents, Michael has taken the lead in managing several key aspects of the project, showcasing both initiative and a deep commitment to research excellence.”

Fasching has been in �������� for only nine months, but he’s found a lot to love in New York’s Southern Tier region so far.

“I like exploring small towns, and I love Ithaca a lot. I enjoy going on hikes and skiing. There are a lot of ski resorts around here, and they’re a little cheaper than on the West Coast,” he said. “�������� has a lot to offer, too. It’s a college town, but weekends get very busy. I can go to bars and meet my friends, and there are really good restaurants.”

He also values the relationships he’s built with Watson College faculty members, especially Xi and Ali.

“The professors are really, really encouraging people,” he said. “At first, when I wasn’t sure if I was able to keep up with the workload, what are the professors going to do? I’m going to fail. But the professors really work with the students. You have to put effort into it, but once you do that, you will definitely succeed.”