CSpotlight: Building business solutions through AI

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in computer science specifically at the University of Minnesota?

I chose computer science because it’s the only field where the gap between an idea and a global solution is just a keyboard. I wanted the technical literacy to build systems that optimize entire industries, and in computer science, your ability to scale that impact is limited only by your ability to solve that problem.

I chose the University of Minnesota because of its unique proximity between deep tech research and Fortune 500 industries. Being at UMN means I can spend my mornings at the Autonomous Vehicles Lab working on multi-robot control and my afternoon applying those same agentic principles to my startup, Vaylo, which helps hotels reduce operational waste. It's one of the few places where the lab-to-market pipeline feels immediate and accessible.

How did you become interested in computer science? What are your specific interests within the field?

I became interested in computer science when I saw the gap between what technology could do and what people were actually using. I realized I could be the bridge between someone who understands the deep tech architecture of artificial intelligence (AI), but also knows how to lead a team to solve a business problem. In high school, AP Physics was a turning point for me. It wasn’t about the formulas; it was about learning to deconstruct a complex physical system to its base components. Computer science felt like the natural next step to taking that analytical mindset and turning it into building digital systems. 

My specific interests are agentic AI and autonomous systems. I'm really fascinated by how we can use multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithms to help solve complex business problems and provide business value. 

Tell us more about your internship experiences.

My first internship was as a cybersecurity leadership intern in the Minnesota Army National Guard. There, I learned a lot about networking and cybersecurity. After that, I was a venture innovation business intern with the Technological Leadership Institute at UMN, where I learned about ecosystem mapping, talking to customers, and the business viability side of things. This past summer, I was an AI engineering intern at Honeywell in Atlanta. I worked on a multi-reinforcement learning system to make HVAC systems more proactive. This upcoming summer, I'll be an AI machine learning engineering intern at AeroVironment. I’ll be on their learning, active perception, research, and development team, working on making drones more proactive with vision AI agents. 

Are you involved in any student groups? What inspired you to get involved? 

This semester, I am the director of technology for the Zero to One Startup Club. I have always been interested in entrepreneurship and innovation, so bringing a technical perspective to the club is really fun. I’m also the president and founder of the AI Innovator Society. I started the club because I wanted AI enthusiasts at the University of Minnesota to not only develop more in-depth technical skills, but also the leadership skills and business insights that drive real-world innovation. Along with this, I’m the vice president of the Elite Code Club on campus. The club works on developing software engineering and problem-solving skills and bringing coding to the forefront of campus. 

What do you hope to contribute to the computer science community at the University?

I want to bridge the gap between world-class research labs and the local startup ecosystem. By sharing my experiences in industry, I hope to show my peers that the academic-to-founder path is not just possible, but it’s a really exciting way to use a computer science degree. I would also love to shift the culture from just learning code to actually building to solve problems. I want to create a kind of pipeline where students don't just study AI theory, but they actually make products that matter to people and provide real value.

Have you been involved with any research on campus?

My freshman year, I worked in the Venteicher Lab, a neuroscience lab. There, I analyzed genomics data to see the differences between males and females with specific brain tumors to get a better understanding of chordoma cancer. After that, I worked in the Yang Lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering for a couple of years. 

Currently, I’m working with the Autonomous Vehicles Lab here on campus. I’m implementing the AI system to make the robots self-driving. I’m designing a model-predictive control algorithm to ensure the robots can move smoothly instead of doing jerky turns. I’m also researching vision language models to see what the best architecture is to implement for the robot. Lastly, I'm implementing a reinforcement learning algorithm, model-based, where the robot can navigate intersections on the road in rural areas. 

What advice do you have for incoming computer science students?

A lot of students are afraid of failure, and the way I see it, failure is inevitable, but quitting is optional. Don't be afraid of failure. Build before you're ready. Don't wait for a syllabus to give you permission to build something. The best learning happens when you're solving a problem that annoys you. Even if it's just a script to automate your chores, making real products is what transforms you from a student into an engineer. 

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to work as an AI engineer, potentially while pursuing a master’s in computer science, to refine my expertise in high-stakes technology initiatives. My long-term goal is to bridge the gap between deep-tech engineering and executive leadership, eventually driving strategy at the executive level.