Grace McClurg

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Thank you!

× B.S. Computer Science and Engineering

GPA: 3.92

Pursuing Computer Science and Engineering degree and member of Honors Program.

Relevant Coursework: Operating Systems, AI, Discrete Structures, Mobile Development, Intro to Algorithms, Bioinformatics, Object Oriented Program Design, Data Structures, Intro to Databases, Embedded Systems

Internships

Undergraduate Research

Featured Projects

Academic Involvement and Recognition

× Neurotechnology Intern

National Science Foundation, University of Houston. Summer 2020.

Skills: MATLAB Data Analysis Neurotechnology

Programmed and conducted data analysis in MATLAB to understand the role of the primary motor cortex in one’s ability to control force exertion. This provides insight into the neuromechanics behind motor deficits.

Presented work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and the Kentucky Academy of Science 2020 Annual Meeting.

Research Poster PDF Link

× Recommender Systems Researcher

University of Louisville, Speeed School of Engineering. 2021-2023.

Skills: Python Recommender Systems Machine Learning Fairness in AI Literature Review

Recommender Systems (RSs) assist online users in discovering a wide range of content, including products, books, news, music, movies, and more. Our research focuses on addressing popularity bias and filter bubbles in collaborative filtering based RSs to help users discover distinct content.

Developed novel RSs by pairing traditional matrix factorization models with unique selection mechanisms in Python. Specifically, developed two selection strategies based on active learning and the multi-armed bandit problem.

Evaluating 10 RSs across 7 fairness and performance metrics for journal publication.

illustration of collaborative filtering, where similiar users in interests are recommended products the other enjoyed

× ML + Conservation Researcher

University of Hawaii at Hilo. Winter 2023.

Skills: Machine Learning Audio Processing Python

Under the guidance of the Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems, helped evaluate a machine learning model trained specifically on the songs of native Hawaiian bird species, especially those that are endangered.

The model is used to analyze audio recordings collected from data stations throughout Hawaii. These recordings capture the ambient sounds of surrounding wildlife and can unveil valuable insights about the native bird populations.

Working with Amakihi data, I assessed the model's performance by comparing its accuracy when classifying species at the individual level versus distinguishing between calls and songs of the same species as separate classes.

× Topology Researcher

Western Kentucky University. 2019-2020.

Skills: Mathematica Topology

Studied knot theory under the mentorship of Dr. Claus Ernst. Implemented algorithms in Mathematica to find the braid index for families of alternating links.

Presented work at Western Kentucky University Math Symposium 2019 and Kentucky Section of the Mathematical Association of America Annual Meeting 2020

Presentation
Code and Report

Picture of a Trefoil Knot

× Bioinformatics Researcher

Western Kentucky University. 2018-2019.

Skills: PECAAN Software Genemark Genome Annotating

Utilized PECAAN and Genemark software to analyze and annotate the genome of a bacteriophage. Annotation was published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information databases

In addition, conducted lab work and isolated novel bacteriophage LittleFrank. Created a profile of its morphological and genomic characteristics through electron microscopy, restriction digest, and other laboratory procedures.

Phage Profile from Labratory Studies
Published Annotated Genome in NCBI Databases

× 2023 ACM Distinguished Student Award

This award is given to honor a computer science and engineering student who has made a significant contribution to the student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery.

× 1st Prize at Engineering Design and Innovation Showcase

Earned 1st prize in Computer Science and Engineering out of 11 teams for our project Word Wings, an AirForce specific grammar correcting Microsoft Word extension. Built in a team of 5 developers and sponsored by the USAFR.

× 2022 Computer Science & Engineering Outstanding Undergraduate

This award is given to a computer science and engineering (CSE) undergraduate who demonstrates excellence and potential for future achievement. I am the 2022 recipient chosen by the CSE faculty at UofL.

× Smart Watch Data Analyzer

Skills: Collaborative Programming Python tkinter pathlib matplotlib pandas

Collaborating with 2 teammates, built a Python application for visualizing and analyzing health data recorded with a smart watch.

Users are able to convert their data between time zones, synchronize different metrics on the same plot, view statistics, query their data by specific metric ranges, and read descriptions on the relevancy of the data to their health.

× Brown Fellow

Chosen as one of ten students in the class of 2024 at the University of Louisville through competitive application process.

Through this mentored scholarship, awarded full tuition, housing, and board for four years as well as up to $12,000 in funding to use to conduct two independently designed enrichment projects.

× UofL ACM Chapter President

2022-2023 President. 2021-2022 Vice President.

Oversaw recruitment, lab facilities and resources, technical workshops, and student interest groups focused on various subdisciplines of CS. Planned events including alumni talks and documentary screenings.

Helped increase membership by 91% as president.

Led encouragement card program where our chapter created 60+ greeting cards for local high school and middle school students interested in CS.

ACM hosted documentary screening and discussion

An alumni workshop hosted by the ACM

One of the encouragement cards made for youth interested in CS

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× International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC)

ICPC is an annual multi-tiered competitive programming competition among the universities of the world.

Competed with 2 other team members in the Spring 2021 Mid-Central Regionals where we were the first teams ever from UofL to advance to the 2021 North America Division Championships (NADC). I competed again in 2022.

Featured in JB Speed School Article
Picture of a Trophy with an icon related to code in the middle

× Software Engineering Intern

Information Sciences Institute. Spring 2022.

Skills: Python JavaScript React Flask Machine Learning Linguistics

Contributed to the language learning model ADAM. ADAM is modeled after the way in which children learn to minimize the need for large amounts of annotated training data as well as to improve explorability and feature identification.

Encoded new actions in Python for the model’s ontology while learning about linguistics.

Improved the model's interface utilizing Flask, JavaScript, React, and CSS/HTML.

× Software Engineering Intern

Microsoft. Fall 2023.

Skills: Machine Learning Computer Vision Python

Interned in Microsoft's Cloud and AI engineering group using Python to help add computer vision features to OneDrive.

Expanded existing image and query datasets to include metadata references.

× Explore Intern: Project Management + Software Engineering

Microsoft. Summer 2020.

Skills: React Typescript UI Design Azure Storage Collaborative Progamming

Developed novel add-on for Microsoft Teams focused on connecting remote coworkers.

Collaborating with 2 teammates, implemented mini games that pair with user generated content.

Utilized React, Typescript, and CSS/HTML for UI development and Azure Cloud Storage for database support.

× AI Algorithms for Traveling Salesperson Problem

Skills: Java AI Collaborative Programming

The Traveling Salesperson Problem (TSP) asks, "Given a list of cities and the distances between each pair of cities, what is the shortest possible route that visits each city exactly once and returns to the origin city?"

Implemented brute force, greedy, genetic and wisdom of crowds algorithms for solving the TSP in Java. Created an interface to visualize the algorithms

Implemented and modified same algorithms in team of three for a different NP complete problem, a variant of the boolean satisfiability problem, 3-SAT.

Final Report for 3-SAT Problem

× Web Tool: Speech Language Pathology

Skills: JavaScript CSS HTML Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Created an online tool to help users with communication disorders practice forming a variety of speech sounds. Users can view recordings modeling various speech sounds with physical cues. Collaborated with undergraduate majoring in communication disorders to create content.

Users are able to track their progress through local storage.

× AirForce Specific Grammar Correcting Extension

Skills: Language Processing JavaScript CSS HTML NodeJS Python

Word Wings is a Microsoft Word extension that provides spelling and grammar corrections, writing style suggestions, and definitions not only for terminology in the general English language, but also for specific abbreviations and terms used by the U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR).

Capstone project was built in a team of five developers and sponsored by the USAFR.

Earned first place in Computer Science and Engineering at Engineering Design and Innovation Showcase.

× Computer Vision: Motion Detection

Skills: Machine Learning Python OpenCV Flask Raspberry Pi Collaborative Programming

Working in a team of four, utilized Python's OpenCV library to analyze the video stream from a Raspberry Pi camera module, enabling the system to capture photos whenever motion is detected.

To determine whether motion occurred, background subtraction is implemented by finding the absolute difference between the static and current frame.

Images are made accessible to users via a Flask webpage that updates live.

Potential applications of this project include usage for security footage, wildlife observation, sports analysis, and traffic monitoring.

× CPU Scheduler Simulator

Skills: C Operating System Concepts

For my Operating Systems course, I implemented Round Robin and First Come First Serve algorithms in C for scheduling processes.

Goals include maximizing CPU resource usage and minimizing waiting time for each process.

× Computer Science Coloring Book Author

Recipient of $4.8k grant to develop a 20-page educational activity book that discusses the fundamentals of CS and to distribute 1.9k copies to youth in Appalachia.

Created grant proposal for funding and researched communities who would be most impacted by the book donation. Am distributing books specifically to communities impacted by the digital divide.

Book covers variables; loops; conditions; data structures including linked-lists, arrays, graphs, trees, queues, and stacks; recursion; and an overview of specific subdisciplines of CS

https://www.coloringcomputing.org/

Coloring Book Page explaining Conditions using flowers.

× Productivity Tracking Mobile App

Skills: Java SQLite Mobile Development UI Design

Created Android app that incentives users to minimize their screen time and tracks productivity through focus sessions. This is accomplished by monitoring the android app lifecycle.

A database houses focus session data to allow users to review their progress over time. Coins earned during focus sessions can be used to interact with the puppy in the game.

Home Screen