About Me

My expertise lies in Full Stack Software Engineering, with a strong command of the React.js, Next.js, and Node.js frameworks. I'm also proficient in designing and implementing Machine Learning models and have hands-on experience with Python, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow and PyTorch. I'm also well-versed in various programming languages, including C, C++, C# and Rust.

When I'm not coding, you can find me horseback riding, brushing up on my history knowledge, or swimming. I'm also an avid reader and enjoy writing in my free time. I'm always on the lookout for new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow.

Work

• Manifesto

  The journey through the Design Studio in HCI course at Emory University has been a transformative exploration of design, deeply rooted in human-centered principles and enriched by a structured, methodical approach to innovation. This manifesto outlines how these experiences have reshaped my design philosophy, emphasizing practical frameworks and methodologies that have become integral to my approach.
  
  Embracing the Five Steps of Design Thinking
  The framework of the five steps of design thinking—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—has been foundational in my development as a designer. Each project challenged us to immerly engage with these phases, starting with deep empathy to truly understand the user's world. For instance, during our prototyping assignments, the emphasis was not just on creating functional models but on iterating these prototypes based on real user feedback, ensuring that the final designs were both intuitive and impactful.
  
  Utilizing "How Might We" Statements
  The course introduced the power of "How Might We" (HMW) statements as a tool to open up ideation sessions and foster innovative thinking. These statements transformed the way I approach problem-solving, helping to frame challenges as opportunities for design. In group brainstorming sessions, we used HMW statements to pivot our thinking towards more creative and user-focused solutions, leading to more dynamic and diverse design outcomes.
  
  Crafting Point of View Statements
  Point of View (POV) statements have been crucial in defining the direction and scope of our design projects. By articulating a clear POV for each project, based on our user research, I learned to align the design process with the specific needs and motivations of our target users. This practice not only sharpened my analytical skills but also ensured that the solutions we developed were closely tailored to address real user concerns.
  
  Influence of Design Sprints on my Design Thinking Process
  For the first design sprint, my group and I redesigned the Atlanta airport website to enhance accessibility and aesthetics. This project underscored the importance of empathy in design thinking, where we started with understanding the diverse needs of all users, including those with disabilities. We put a special emphasis on creating a user-friendly interface that was intuitive and easy to navigate, ensuring that all users could access the information they needed. Designing for different screens and devices was also very fun. Since this design sprint was still pretty early in the course, I do not think I applied all the principles and guidelines as accurately as I could have, but it was important for foundation building.
  
  For the second design sprint, my group and I combined data visualization with interactive elements, to create a digital experience to help users understand the cost of living in Atlanta. By integrating real-world data into graphs and a simulation game, users could interactively see how daily expenses add up. This project taught me the value of interactive design and gamification in educational tools, making abstract data more tangible and relatable. I also learned how to balance aesthetics with functionality, creating a visually engaging experience that was also informative and easy to use.
  
  For the third design sprint, my group and I tackled a new challenge, designing a VR world. This is probably the first design sprint where I thoroughly applied the five steps of design thinking. We created a virtual world where users could walk through a museum of illusions. This project demonstrated the importance of designing immersive environments that are both engaging and intuitive. It challenged my preconceptions about user interaction in three-dimensional spaces and the need for intuitive navigational aids in VR environments. I feel since this challenge was new to me, it was slightly harder to follow the design thinking principle, since I did not know what I was looking for, or what would work, or even the capabilities of the technologies I was working with. It was challenging, but interesting to work on this design sprint, however!
  
  For the last design sprint, my group and I extended the Atlanta expenses project into a monopoly game. I felt I was able to apply all the principles and guidelines I had learned in the course to this project. We created a fun and engaging game that not only educated users about the cost of living in Atlanta but also challenged them to make strategic decisions about their finances. This project was a culmination of all the skills and knowledge I had acquired throughout the course, from user research and empathy to prototyping and testing. It was a rewarding experience to see how our design evolved from a simple data visualization tool to a fully interactive game that combined education with entertainment. I felt that this project was a testament to the power of design thinking and the impact it can have on creating meaningful user experiences.
  
  Learning through Peer Feedback and Collaboration
  The structured critiques, using frameworks like "I Like, I Wish, What If," fostered a reflective and collaborative classroom environment. This approach not only enhanced my ability to give and receive constructive feedback but also deepened my understanding of diverse design perspectives, which is essential in the field of HCI.
  
  Advocating for Ethical and Accessible Design
  Throughout the course, the importance of ethical considerations and the need for accessible design were emphasized. We explored various ethical frameworks and accessibility guidelines, which now guide my design decisions, ensuring that my work is inclusive and responsible.
  
  Preparing for the Future of HCI
  The course also provided insights into emerging technologies and the future of HCI, encouraging us to think ahead and consider how current trends might evolve. This forward-looking perspective has inspired me to continually adapt and be proactive in my learning and professional development. In conclusion, the Design Studio in HCI has profoundly shaped my approach to design, instilling a deep commitment to human-centered principles and a structured methodology that I will carry forward into all my future endeavors. As I continue to explore and innovate within the field of HCI, I am equipped with a robust toolkit of design thinking strategies, ready to tackle complex challenges and create meaningful solutions that enhance user experiences.

• Emory University

  • Mentored over 100 students for CS326: Analysis of Algorithm under Professor Michelangelo Grigni, fostering understanding of complex algorithmic concepts through Python and Java, evidenced by a 22% increase in average class grades.

• watto.ai

  • Led end-to-end development and design of the user interface. Developed 24 React.js and Next.js components and Figma designs. Prototyped the document hub, forms, outline editor and other core pages with JavaScript and TypeScript.
  • Added the option of integrating Google Drive, Notion, and other platforms, enabling users to add 3rd party data sources as additional references, which contributed to a 39% increase in application usage.
  • Pioneered the implementation of a real-time outline feature, allowing users to receive instant drafts and provide feedback and customization, leading to a 58% decrease in document revisions.

• Rakuten

  • Spearheaded the development of the algorithmic backbone of the automated network predictor and manager. Wrote 50+ algorithms for automation of network capacity management, resulting in a 40% reduction in manual management efforts and a 60% improvement in network reliability.
  • Facilitated database connectivity with Ubuntu through Docker, implementing automation and easy setup of the code base via shell scripts. Successfully migrated from OracleDB to MySQL, which allowed for seamless integration with Rakuten's existing ecosystems. Additionally, switching to an open-source DB saved the company over $100,000 in expenses.
  • Debugged C++ code, resolving compilation issues and reducing error rates by 15%. Developed Python scripts for dummy input generation and database queries, resulting in a 30% reduction in execution time.

• workat.tech

  • Developed the user profile page for over 50,000 users with features like problem distribution, rank-card, progress bars, and a heat map of past submissions. Created an accompanying resume generator that can produce a concise 1-page resume from the coding profile, including language proficiency, past positions, and education.
  • Programmed a problem bookmarking system to filter 300+ problems across 4 difficulties and 14 topics. Designed a smart problem recommender to list similar problems for correct submission, and simpler problems for incorrect ones.
  • Built a comprehensive compensation comparison page that allowed employees to compare their salaries and benefits against industry standards and company benchmarks. The tool was used by 100,000+ users to accurately compare compensations, facts and figures, and hiring trends for over 25 companies.

• eduMETA

  • Engineered a school management software for managing day-to-day school activities. Scaled for use by over 3,000 users. Provides features such as multiple authentications, fee payment, parent-teacher meetings, attendance, etc.
  • Designed and developed a full-stack website and a dashboard for admins. Pushed updates to improve performance by 50% over 3 months.
  • Streamlined the admission form validation process with JavaScript scripts, resulting in a 100% reduction in erroneous form entries and saving the institute more than $50,000 in expenses and over 30 years of administrative time.