Master of Science in Computer Science student Nishant Gowthaman received a Rising Star Award for his contributions during a co-op placement with CenterLine (Windsor) Limited. During his work term, he developed a machine learning-powered system that transformed years of estimating data into a searchable resource, supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. (SHIVANGI ROY/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
When Nishant Gowthaman arrived at CenterLine (Windsor) Limited for his co-op placement, he was presented with a challenge that extended far beyond writing code.
The company had years of estimating data stored across thousands of spreadsheets, containing valuable knowledge that engineers often struggled to find and reuse.
Rather than replacing existing processes, Gowthaman developed a solution that worked within the team's established workflow, transforming historical data into a searchable system that helps employees access information more efficiently.
The Master of Science in Computer Science student built a machine learning-powered retrieval system that now stores hundreds of searchable assemblies, supports CenterLine's Continuous Improvement program and is being expanded to teams across North America and Europe.
His accomplishments earned him a Rising Star Award from Co-op, Career and Experiential Education, recognizing outstanding co-op students. In this Q&A, Gowthaman reflects on solving real-world business challenges, building relationships across departments and discovering the importance of designing technology with people in mind.
Q: What challenge were you asked to solve during your co-op placement at CenterLine (Windsor) Limited?
A: When I arrived, the estimating team had accumulated nearly a decade's worth of valuable information spread across thousands of Excel files. Much of that knowledge was difficult to find and reuse, which meant engineers were often rebuilding work that already existed. My goal was to make that information searchable and accessible while fitting naturally into the process the team already trusted and used every day.
Q: What achievement from your work term are you most proud of?
A: I'm most proud of creating a solution that people actually wanted to use. Rather than introducing a completely new workflow, I designed the system around existing practices and captured data within the tools employees were already using. The result was a production-ready search platform that now supports hundreds of searchable assemblies and has become a foundation for several continuous improvement initiatives within the company.
Q: How did collaborating with employees across different departments shape the project?
A: Collaboration ended up being one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Early on, I was fairly reserved and tended to stay within my own team. Over time, I learned to reach out to people across departments, ask questions and understand their challenges firsthand. Those conversations helped me build a better solution because I was creating it with people rather than simply for them. The relationships I built were just as meaningful as the technical work itself.
Q: Was there a moment during the placement that changed how you think about engineering and problem-solving?
A: Absolutely. One of the biggest lessons came from having my ideas challenged. I spent weeks redesigning part of the system and was proud of the result, only to be told that I needed to rethink the approach. That happened several times. Initially it was frustrating, but it taught me that good engineering isn't about proving you're right. It's about listening, adapting to constraints and building solutions people can trust. Learning how to accept feedback and change course quickly became one of the most important lessons of my work term.
Q: What skills did you develop beyond the technical aspects of software development?
A: I strengthened my ability to communicate technical concepts to people who don't write code, document my work clearly and defend design decisions without becoming attached to them. I also learned the value of humility, curiosity and honesty in a professional environment. Those qualities helped me build trust with colleagues and made me a more effective contributor to the team.
Q: How did the experience influence your perspective on technology and user experience?
A: Before the placement, I assumed the biggest challenge in enterprise software would be the technical side. What I discovered is that the harder challenge is creating tools that people genuinely want to use. A system can be technically impressive, but if it doesn't align with how people work, it won't succeed. That experience showed me that successful engineering requires understanding human behaviour just as much as technical requirements.
Q: How has this experience shaped your future plans?
A: It gave me a much clearer understanding of the kind of work I want to pursue. I enjoy working at the intersection of technology, design and human behaviour, where solutions can create real value for people. The co-op experience allowed me to work on real problems, collaborate with professionals across the organization and see how classroom concepts translate into meaningful outcomes. I'm excited to continue that journey as a software developer with CenterLine, where I'll have the opportunity to further develop the systems I helped create and continue solving meaningful problems.
Gowthaman's experience demonstrates how experiential learning can empower students to tackle complex organizational challenges while developing both technical expertise and professional confidence. Through his work at CenterLine (Windsor) Limited, he not only delivered a solution with lasting business impact, but also discovered that the most effective technology is built with people at its centre.
This article is part of a series celebrating excellence in experiential learning and recognizing Rising Star Award recipients selected by Co-op, Career & Experiential Education.
New employers looking to learn more about hiring a co-op student can contact hire@uwindsor.ca