NCSA Welcomes Aliya Yabekova to the Center Stage!

Photo captions provided by Aliya. All photos, credit to Aliya Yabekova. Click on a photo to see a larger version.

Aliya Yabekova has only been with NCSA for a little over a year, but she’s already made a strong impression on all those who work with her. Aliya joined the project management team at the Center in May of 2024, and supports a number of projects. She’s quick to greet everyone in the building with a smile, and her stakeholders have been glad to have her on the team. Without further ado, take it away, Aliya!

What is your title and team?

Project Manager, Engagement

What types of projects are you supporting at NCSA?

Half of my work is focused on bringing our internal community together, and half is focused on connecting to other organizations. I am focused on Engagement Lightning Talks, Colloquia and Quantum Team efforts. I also helped keep other initiatives on track. For Quantum Computing, especially, our goal is to make UIUC the leader in this transformational technology.  In both cases, it’s about creating the structure to smoothly come up with new ideas and put them into action. That’s why I love project management and being part of such a cutting-edge organization.

Is there anything especially cool you’ve done recently that you’d like to talk about?

I am excited to be starting this interesting map of everyone’s skills at NCSA. I get to look across the organization and see the variety of skills that people bring to their work here. This can allow us to create more effective teams that could fulfill our organizational mission. Through this process, I already got to meet new colleagues and learn more about the work they do. I am excited to see where it will go and what new collaborations it might inspire.

What inspires you?

Connecting breakthrough technology to problems of real people and making their life better – that’s what inspires me the most. I’m especially motivated when I see the posts on NCSA’s social media pages – projects that use advanced research to prevent scams targeting older adults for example.

Also, more personally, the people around me and the way they bring passion and creativity into their lives beyond their main jobs inspire me. For example, Michael Miller once shared a recording of his daughter singing while he played drums. I’ve had colleagues with amazing side projects – one had a food blog, another ran a stage installation business alongside his tech job, juggling concert setups in different cities.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

There is a great Russian saying that I always repeat to my husband “глаза боятся, руки делают” which translates to “the eyes are scared, the hands are doing.”  To me, it means that even when something feels intimidating, taking the first step and simply starting can carry you through. Often, you’ll look back and be surprised at how much you’ve accomplished just by pushing forward despite fear.

What might people find you doing outside of work?

I’m originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan, where just 30 minutes from my home there’s one of the most beautiful ski and snowboard resorts as well as the highest open ice-skating rink in the world. I used to snowboard regularly, but since moving to Champaign, I’ve been exploring new hobbies and hope to pick up ice skating again soon.

I love to cook, especially experimenting with dishes from different cultures and hosting thematic dinners for family and friends. I also enjoy singing with my husband – we’re working up the courage to perform at an open mic someday.

What are you binge-watching now? Tell us why we should, too!

I’ve been binging Benidorm, a British comedy that’s full of sunshine, silly situations and quirky characters. It has that classic British sense of humor – ironic and a bit over-the-top. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it a great show to relax and laugh with. If you like light, fun comedy, you should give it a try!

Who’s your hero? Tell us a little about them.

I don’t have one specific hero, but I really admire people who lead with empathy and integrity. Lin-Manuel Miranda stands out to me for how he uses his creativity and platform to uplift underrepresented voices and tell meaningful, inclusive stories. His work – like “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” – has reshaped how we think about history and culture. I also deeply respect how he uses his voice for advocacy, whether through his “Love is love is love” speech or his efforts to support Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. I find inspiration in how he blends purpose with passion and how he stays grounded despite his success.