(Spring 2024 - Present)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of South Carolina AI 4 Society (AI4S) Group
constcoder={name:'Vansh Nagpal',skills:['Linux', 'Vue.js', 'Java', 'React.js', 'Node.js', 'Python', 'TensorFlow', 'MySQL', 'OpenShift + Kubernetes', 'Docker', 'AWS'],hardWorker:true,quickLearner:true,problemSolver:true,hireable:function() {return(this.hardWorker&&this.problemSolver&&this.skills.length>=5);};};ABOUT ME
Who Am I?
My name is Vansh Nagpal. I am a current senior at the University of South Carolina Honors College studying Computer Science, Math, and Data Science. I am an enthusiasatic and avid learner, and I enjoy tackling new problems that challenge me. I am currently involved in research with the AI 4 Society research group, studying the applications of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Recommender Systems for the problem of meal recommendation. I would like to take on problems that not only cause me to grow into new directions, but also leave a positive impact on this world.
Work Experience
(May 2024 - August 2024)
Software Engineer Intern
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
(Fall 2022 - Spring 2024)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of South Carolina Systems Research on X (SyReX) Group
Skills
PROJECTS
Aqua Sense - A Water Quality Assessment Chatbot
constproject={name:'Aqua Sense - A Water Quality Assessment Chatbot',tools: ['Python', 'RASA Chatbot', 'USGS API', 'NLP', 'Supervised ML],myRole:[Data Engineer, Software Engineer, ML Engineer] ,Description: Water quality assesment is a crucial issue in the fields of public health and environmental science. Knowing the contaminant and chemical nature of water found in wells, springs, streams, rivers, and other bodies of water is key in determining the potability of water.To tackle this problem, I decided to pursue a project that can answer questions like 'How safe is the water from (insert desired outdoorwater source) to drink?'. My program pulls real-time data from the United States Geological Survey(USGS) via their REST API. It makes a decision using an RBF-based approach based on various measured quantities like pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Temperature, and specific conductance to determine the potability of water as a percentage. I implemented natural language processing(NLP) techniques using tools like Rasa, BERT, and NLTK to allow for natural conversation between the chatbot and the user. I also implemented the decision making feature behind my chatbot by training a Support Vector Machine classification model that decided if water was potable or not as a confidence from 0 to 1,};Learning Management System(LMS)
constproject={name:'Learning Management System(LMS)',tools: ['Java', 'Python', 'JavaScript', 'SCRUM', 'Software Dev. Life Cycle (SDLC)],myRole:Back End Developer,Description: In a world where automation and technology are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, having the knowledge of a programming knowledge can be extremely beneficial to further people's career options.For this reason, with a team of peers, I embarked on creating a Learning Management System(LMS) that provides prospective students and teachers alike an interface through which they can learn a new programming language(Python or JavaScript). We implemented our command-line based interface for the LMS in Java, using object-oriented principles and following the SCRUM methodology to track our sprint progress. I was primarily responsible for back-end development; I had to write code for the LMS to seamlessly load and save necessary data regarding grades, classes, and course content in JSON format. This project was extremely beneficial in teaching me about the Software Development Life Cycle.,};Nerdle
constproject={name:'Nerdle',tools: ['Vanilla JS', 'Java', 'HTML/CSS],myRole:Front End Developer,Description: I have a fascination for puzzles and solving them, particulary the well known game Wordle by New York Times. With this project, I decided to recreate Wordle, and called it "Nerdle" (courtesy of my brother Neil). I took it as an opportunity to teach myself the basics of web application development, utilizing JavaScript/HTML/CSS. I also wrote the game originally as a command-line based interface in Java(I called it Vordle, as my name starts with V) to familiarize myself with the game mechanics. I utilized data structures like dictionaries, trees, and tries as well as many algorithms to correctly implement the game logic. This project was particularly instrumental in showing me the ropes to Web Development.,};Awards & Honors
2024
South Carolina Internship Program
$3000 awarded to students completing in-state industrial internship
2024
DAAD Rise Fellowship
Awarded to student to pursue research internship in Germany
2024
Cocky Hacks Hackathon, Best Idea Award
$200 awarded to team with best idea
2023
1st Place in Fall 2023 ACM Code - A - Thon
First to complete interview-style coding questions in Data Structures and Algorithms Division
2023
Magellan Scholar Research Grant
$3000 to pursue mentored research under Dr. Sanjib Sur at SyReX Lab
2023
Boeing Scholarship(2x)
$1500 awarded to academically motivated student who also exemplifies significant community involvement
2023
Pi Mu Epsilon Initiate
Initiated into prestigious mathematics honors society
2023
Tau Beta Pi Scholarship
$2000 awarded to involved Tau Bate for penultimate year of study
2023
Jack Price Scholarship
$1000 awarded to engineering student for exemplary academics
2024
USC President's Honor's List(6x)
Awarded to students displaying academic excellence with a 4.00 GPA
2023
Marva Smalls Scholarship
Awarded to engineering students displaying academic excellence
2022
Tau Beta Pi Initiate
Initiated into prestigious engineering honors society(Current VP of SC Beta Chapter)
2021
Academic Scholar - Excellence Award
$23,000 / year for 4 years to student in top 6% of their class
2021
Dr.William C.Alexander Excellence in Research Award
Given to student which excelled in mentored summer research
2021
SCGSSM Excellence in Mathematics Award
Given to student displaying excellence in Mathematics
2020
2nd Place in SC Junior Academy of Science
Mentored Research in Phys., Eng., and Mathematics Division
Education
2021 - 2025
BS in Computer Science, BS in Mathematics, Minor in Data Science
University of South Carolina, Columbia