From Industry to Instruction: Aibek Musaev Brings Real-World Insight to the CS Classroom
Raised in Kyrgyzstan, Aibek Musaev discovered his passion for computer science (CS) in a small yet pivotal place: the computer lab at his high school, Physics-Mathematical Lyceum No. 61.
“The first time I worked on a computer there and wrote my first program, I was hooked,” he said.
“There is something uniquely satisfying about seeing the immediate results of your work. I also appreciated how objective coding is. It either works or it does not.”
Musaev’s journey in CS continued at Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, where a chance discovery set the stage for his academic path abroad. After spotting a leaflet for a presidential scholarship, he applied and was among the ten winners out of roughly 1,500 applicants.
“As part of the scholarship, the organizers selected an American university for me, Georgia Institute of Technology, which I had not heard of at the time,” he said.
At Tech, Musaev earned his bachelor’s in CS. He later continued his studies as a graduate research assistant and earned his master’s in CS.
That early fascination with problem-solving and clarity continues to shape Musaev’s approach to teaching today. As a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction (SCI), he teaches CS 2316 Data Input and Manipulation and his favorite course, CS 1331 Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming.
“From the moment I started teaching it, something just felt natural,” he said. “I enjoy coding live in class, watching students grasp new ideas, and explaining not only how things work, but why they were designed that way.”
Although Musaev is now rooted in academia, his career has included significant time in industry. After completing his degrees, he worked at Siebel Systems, where he developed customer relationship management software and helped transition a flagship product from desktop to the web. He then returned to Kyrgyzstan to found and manage a successful software company before returning to the United States to earn his Ph.D.
He believes those experiences provide perspective that cannot be learned in a classroom alone.
“My advice may be nontraditional,” he said. “Spend time in industry. Seeing how the concepts you teach are applied in practice provides an invaluable perspective. This is something you simply cannot gain from textbooks alone.”
Since joining SCI in January 2020, Musaev has found a strong sense of community.
“I am very happy to be part of this team,” he said. “Everyone is supportive and willing to help. It truly feels like a collaborative environment.”
For Musaev, the most meaningful moments come from students, often unexpectedly.
“Recently, I was walking with a head TA discussing course-related topics when a student suddenly stepped in front of us and interrupted our conversation. He told me I was the best professor he had ever had. Moments like that are difficult to put into words, but they mean everything to us as instructors,” he said.
He said he hopes students find value in his classes and leave each lecture having learned something new.
“I also want them to genuinely enjoy CS. It is an incredible field, and I cannot imagine doing anything else.”
