Hi, I'm Nithisha Nantha Kumar.
A persistent programmer with a passion for inclusive projects that have real-world applications.
About
I'm a Computer Science student at the University of Michigan. My persistence drives me to constantly develop my problem-solving and programming skills by working on complex projects with practical applications. I have experience working on various technical projects - from personal ones to collaborating with multi-disciplinary team members on industry projects.
- Languages: C++, Python, C#, Java, SQL, HTML
- Technologies: Unity, Git, Jira, Unreal Engine, Angular, ReactJS, Typescript, AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, Docker
Experience
Niantic, Inc. (Pokémon Go)
Niantic, Inc.
- Built content moderation features with open-source LLMs like flagging messages under a specific category, summarizing chats to give moderators context on a flagged message, and translating chat messages, that reduced dependence on third-party APIs and improved user data privacy.
- Built a safety feature to block/hide harmful URLs w/ 3 tiers of security in Java, GCP, & Protobuf.
- Skills: Python, Large Language Models, Prompt Engineering, Java, Angular, AWS SageMaker, Typescript, GCP, Kubernetes, Docker
Amway
Amway
(U-M Multidisciplinary Design Program)
- Worked with Amway scientists to develop a facial image-processing web app (using machine learning libraries for processing facial images and designing a relational database) in Amway’s AWS platform (EC2, S3, RDS).
- Developed novel image stitching/auto masking algorithms with a 90% visual accuracy rating from Amway Scientists.
- Skills: AWS, SQL, Python, Microsoft PowerPoint
- Assisting faculty to teach XR software development to a class of 50 students (EECS 498) by holding weekly office hours to explain and demonstrate programming methods for projects in Unreal/Unity and answering questions on Piazza.
- Received unanimously positive feedback from students’ teaching evaluations.
- Skills: Unreal Engine, Unity, C#, VR, AR
Research Intern
- Developed an AR Android/iOS mobile app with Unity3D/C#/Vuforia using accurate 3D statistical body shape models to test vehicle designs for accommodation of various occupant body types.
- Tested the app through real-world experiments to ensure accuracy of body shape measurements for use in automobile engineering and medical areas.
- Won the Blue Ribbon Award for exceptional presentation of the app during the Spring 2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Michigan and third place in the 2022 UMTRI Summer Research Poster Contest.
- Skills: Unity, C#, Microsoft PowerPoint
Projects
Funded by Snap, Inc., FaceAR is an AR app to help facial disorder patients perform facial exercises accurately.
- Skills: Unity, C#, ARKit, CameraKit, Lens Studio, Jira
- Pitched FaceAR with 3 other team members to Snap and received $65k funding for further development.
- Working to iteratively improve FaceAR through patient feedback from Michigan Medicine.
- Developing immersive facial exercise games to improve patient recovery process with Snap Engineers.
Awarded a $1k prize from Adobe, Pattern is an Adobe After Effects plugin that creates Islamic-architecture-style animations.
- Skills: C++, OpenCV, Cairo Graphics
- Created this plugin independently based on a University of Waterloo research paper by Prof. Craig S. Kaplan.
- Developed an algorithm to generate patterns that is faster than the algorithm used in the paper for several cases. Prof. Kaplan recognized and appreciated this algorithm.
A 3D puzzle game where you combine animals' abilities to demonstrate their irreplaceability against robotic counterparts.
- Skills: Unity, C#, Blender, Git, DALLE-3/GPT-3.5, ShaderGraphs, JIRA
- Worked with 4 team members to create this game in an agile environment in ~6 weeks.
- Specifically created all 3D character models from scratch in Blender, textures using DALLE-3 and Photoshop, characters' animation FSM controllers (Mixamo), scene dividers/transitions, post-processing/VFX (for water/attacks), scripted/animated the opening cut scene, health system/UI, guidance system, envelope collectible transitions, tutorial level camera panning, main menu screens, and more.
- Utilized industry standard coding techniques like Pub/Sub.
An AR app to test vehicle designs for their ability to accommodate humans of various body types.
A Rhythm game prototype where the player moves to music note tiles by the next beat while defeating obstacles.
A Legend of Zelda (NES) Clone with custom mechanics.
- Skills: Unity, C#, Git, Jira
- Worked with a team member in an Agile environment to build a dungeon level of the Legend of Zelda game from scratch.
- Specifically implemented all enemy movements/spawning, transitions, UI, animations, Link's movement, 2D Bow room, and collectibles.
- Created animations/sprites for a custom dungeon level where Link has to strategically build a path with tiles to cross lava obstacles.
A Pokémon Go Clone aimed to promote education and athletics in Ann Arbor, MI.
University of Michigan's CAEN Lab in VR with zombie-themed gamified interactions.
Skills
Languages
C++
Python
C#
Java
SQL
HTML
Technologies
Unity
Unreal Engine
Jira
Git
ReactJS
Angular
Typescript
AWS
GCP
Kubernetes
Docker
Education
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Degree: Bachelors of Science in Computer Science
GPA: 3.89/4.0
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Video Game Development
- XR Development
- Web Systems
- AI and NLP
- Theory of Computation
Relevant Coursework: