Intern of the Week: Dharani Kousalya Penta

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:09:27 -0500
internoftheweek, internship, umbcintern

Name: Dharani Kousalya Penta

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Spring 2025

Major: Data Science

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Trulogik

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore,Maryland

Title of position: Data Engineer Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During my Data Engineer internship at Trulogik, I supported the development of automated data workflows that improved operational visibility and reduced manual effort across the organization. My day-to-day responsibilities included writing SQL queries, cleaning and structuring data, and building Power BI dashboards that tracked real-time recruitment and operational KPIs. Early in the internship, I encountered challenges with inconsistent applicant-tracking data as we used different formats and naming conventions, which caused inaccuracies in the dashboards. I resolved this by creating standardized data models, implementing validation rules, and automating the entire pipeline so reports refreshed reliably without manual intervention. I also performed cohort analysis on sourcing channels to identify bottlenecks in the hiring funnel which helped leadership reallocate resources and improve conversion efficiency. Whenever pipelines broke due to schema changes or missing fields, I collaborated with team to debug the issue, adjust the logic, and ensure that dashboards reflected accurate, version-controlled data. Overall, this experience strengthened my skills in pipeline development, troubleshooting, and stakeholder communication and also foundational skills that directly prepare me for a full-time Data Engineer role.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first learned about the internship opportunity at Trulogik during a career fair, where I visited them and explored the open positions they had posted for interns. After speaking with the team and gaining a better understanding of the role and the type of projects they were working on, I felt it aligned well with my interests. Shortly after the event, I reviewed the job description in detail and submitted my application along with my resume. This process allowed me to connect directly with the team, understand their expectations, and apply for the position in a timely manner.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Alumni Networking, Handshake, LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I enjoyed most about my position at Trulogik was the supportive and collaborative team environment. Everyone was willing to guide me, answer questions, and involve me in meaningful discussions about real-world data problems. This gave me the confidence to explore, experiment, and learn without hesitation. I also appreciated that I was trusted with real-time work rather than just observing. I was able to build dashboards, analyze data, and contribute to actual business decisions, which made the experience extremely rewarding. The combination of hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to real operational challenges not only strengthened my technical skills but also helped me understand how data engineering impacts day-to-day business operations.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I made a meaningful impact through my work by improving the accuracy, efficiency, and clarity of the data that different teams relied on. My analysis of recruitment and sourcing channels gave leadership clearer visibility into where candidates were coming from and where bottlenecks existed, helping them make more informed decisions. I also helped resolve data inconsistencies and improve data quality, which directly strengthened reporting and decision-making across the organization. Overall, my contributions helped the team with better data, and with fewer errors creating value that continued even after my internship ended.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My biggest advice would be to actively build real, hands-on project experience whether through personal projects, class assignments, or open-source work. Being able to showcase practical skills makes a huge difference when applying. I would also recommend attending career fairs and networking events, because they provide direct access to employers and opportunities you might not find online. Additionally, connecting with UMBC alumni on LinkedIn or through campus events can be extremely valuable.Overall, stay proactive, keep learning independently, and don't hesitate to reach out to people.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

What I enjoyed most about my position was the opportunity to work on real-world data problems with a team that was incredibly supportive and encouraging. The Career Center and especially Christine Routzahn played a major role in my journey. Her guidance, confidence-building, and advice were invaluable in helping me navigate the process and secure the internship.