Yelyzaveta Razumovska is graduating today with a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence from Queen’s University Belfast, part of the first cohort of this programme to graduate, having overcome the challenges of living far from home while her family remained in war-torn Ukraine.  

Before coming to Belfast, Yelyzaveta earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, where her fascination with artificial intelligence began. Reflecting on her studies, she says: 

“Initially, it was just a fascination with the name itself and the hope of joining the ranks of those brilliant minds who can teach machines to think. Later, as I explored AI more deeply, my curiosity grew stronger. For me, AI revealed itself as an incredibly powerful tool capable of solving complex, multidisciplinary problems and improving lives.”  

Yelyzaveta’s time at Queen’s provided her with opportunities that would go onto shape her future career. Her Masters project, conducted in collaboration with Oxford Instruments Andor, focused on improving the quality of complex scientific images, sparking her passion for research. 

As she explains: 

“Thanks to Queen’s collaboration with Andor, I exceeded my expectations. I worked on a real-world industrial problem, visited their facilities, and felt part of something meaningful. Submitting my paper summarising the results didn’t feel like the conclusion – I knew my research was just beginning.”  

Adjusting to life in a new city was not easy, especially with her family facing the challenges of war back home. However, Yelyzaveta found support through the NI Cyber Bursary, which eased the financial burden, and the friendships she formed at Queen’s:  

“The bursary allowed me to focus fully on my studies, and the welcoming environment at Queen’s gave me a sense of belonging during a difficult time.”  

Graduating as one of the top students in the inaugural Masters AI cohort, Yelyzaveta is already taking the next step in her journey. This December, she begins a fully-funded PhD at Queen’s, extending the research she started during her Masters: 

“I’m thrilled to continue working on a project I’m deeply passionate about. My hope is to solve the problem I’m tackling and see my work have a practical impact. That, for me, would be the most fulfilling outcome.”  

Today, Yelyzaveta celebrates her achievements with her family, some in person and others online, as she begins an exciting new chapter in her academic journey. 

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