Get To Know Me
Hello!
I'm a junior at Harvard studying CS with a secondary in economics and I'm passionate about making CS accessible for every student! As a First Generation Low Income student and CS enthusiast, I have seen the barriers FGLI students face when it comes to learning CS, as well as the fun and joy that comes from learning CS
(check out some of my projects below!)
When I'm not working on projects or coding, I love to scrapbook and play badminton! I am also a linguaphile but most of the times you'll probably find me gushing over how cute my rabbit, Tofu, and my puppy, 旺仔 (pronounced wangzai), are \^-^/
Portfolio
Click on any of the images to learn more! Codes for projects and articles for researches are all linked in the pages. For coding projects, the code can be found on my Github page as well :)
- All
- Project
- Research
Skills
Coding Languages
Python (proficient), Java, C++, C, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PostgreSQL, AngularJS, Stata, R
Programs
Visual Studio, IntelliJ, Azure, Chrome Extension Developer, GitHub, Unity, and Figma
National Awards
linkedin.com/in/sammi-zhu/details/honors/
Languages
English, Chinese, French, and Spanish
Resume
For a copy of my full resume, visit here.
Work Experience
Capital One
June - August 2024
Incoming SWE Intern
General Motors
May - August 2023
SWE Intern
- Worked on VIN, ECU, and Part Clustering webapp management system with Over the Air in progress.
- Optimized querying algorithm of over 500,000 VINS and 45 million vehicle parts for manufactory engineers.
- Utilized IntelliJ, PostgreSQL, AngularJS, and Azure and mainly programmed in Java, Javascript, HTML, CSS, Sqlite, and Python Flask.
- Researched database performance improvement methods and designed 4 new features to support app performance rate.
Teaching Fellow
August 2022 - Present
CS175 : Computer Graphics (Spring Semesters)
- Host weekly office hours to help reiterate students' conceptual understanding of topics discussed in lecture.
- Grade, design, and mentor students on final project development.
CS32 : Computational Thinking and Problem Solving (Spring Semesters)
- Hold 2 hours of weekly student-facing office hours and sections to reinforce students' understanding of in-class materials.
- Help foster a welcoming environment for over 110 students and encourage students to pursue computer science.
CS50 : Intro to CS (Fall Semesters)
- Led weekly tutorial sessions to help students better understand intro CS concepts for a class with 700+ students.
- Hosted weekly office hours for drop in students to answer questions about problem sets and other conceptual questions.
Harvard Business School
Dec 2023 - Present
Research Assistant
- Investigate social injustice in private equity, emphasizing minority underrepresentation in entrepreneurship funding.
- Develope and apply programming techniques, including automated image and name classification, to analyze fundraising and perform disparities between minority and non-minority funds.
- Innovate machine learning algorithms to reduce biases and improve correlation findings on race classifications.
Ivy Education LLC
October 2021 - Present
Higher Education Consultant
- Private tutoring for high school students on a variety of subjects such as AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, college preparation, application essay reviews, and how to start a passion project.
- Help students to become more confident in their personal education experience.
- Host seminars on the topic of American College Application system.
- Design class curriculum that aligns with individual student's needs to better enhance their tutoring experience.
Harvard Student Agencies
December 2021 - July 2022
Web & Sales Manager
- Oversaw Brochure Advertisement project through promoting to local businesses; individually closed 5 contracts with sponsors and conducted highest annual advertisement revenue of $75K.
- Researched tourism market trends and story branding technique to promote new product catalog online.
Extra-curriculars
Women in Computer Science
December 2021 - Present
Finance Co-Director (May 2023 - Present)
- Oversees all financial aspects of WiCS, including creating WiCS’ budget, ensuring payments are made, and reimbursements in a timely manner.
- Drawing annual budget in collaboration with other directors.
- Writing invoices, write W9, order checks.
- Handling sponsor payment logistics, all WiCS reimbursements (such as WECode, other events planned by board) in a timely fashion, and financial side of nonprofit status (including taxes).
FGLI (First Generation Low Income) Co-Director (June 2022 - May 2023)
- Increase peer academic support for students with little STEM and/or CS background through collaboration with other Harvard student advocacy groups.
Assistant Outreach Director (December 2021 - May 2022)
- Organized two in-person workshops to promote CS and STEM awareness at local underfunded high schools and one virtual two-day workshop with over 300 students attended globally.
Winthrop House Committe
December 2023 - Present
Treasurer
- Financial Management: Spearheading budget planning, monitoring, and allocation to optimize resources for memorable House events.
- Collaborative Leadership: Partnering with other committees and local sponsors to drive successful fundraising initiatives and secure vital financial support.
Harvard College in Asia Program
August 2022 - Present
Alumni Chair (May 2023 - Present)
- Build a foundation for a strongly engaged alumni - student relationship for future generations of the organization.
- Establish an alumni board of alumnus and organize meetings to hear feedback and improvements they may have for the club.
- Publish newsletters to keep alumni updated on current organization affairs.
- Initiate mentorship program for current students to be matched with an alumni from similar background, career interest, or general location.
Operations Team Member (August 2022 - March 2023)
- Plan meal logistic for Harvard's premier organization for US-Asia academic, cultural, and social exchange via outreaching to establish sponsorships with local businesses.
Smart Women Securities
August 2022 - Present
Chief Technology Officer (September - December 2022)
- Manage organization's website by frequently updating website with new events and alumni updates.
- Redesigned website's functionality to boost general membership involvement.
Investment Board Analyst (Aug 2022 - December 2022)
- Coordinate selling and buying of a $45K investment portfolio across tech, healthcare, industrials, ESG, etc. through equity research and financial modeling.