Rida Naeem

Welcome to my website! My name is Rida and I just graduated from Boston University, where I studied Neuroscience and Computer Science. Scroll through to learn more about my

education

experience

, and

projects!

Outside of my academics and work, I really enjoy finding opportunities to embrace my creative side, whether that be through playing the guitar, taking photos, or painting! Check out my creative portfolio

here

Education

My degree has allowed me to gain a truly interdisciplinary understanding of both Neuroscience and Computer Science, providing me with a unique mindset with which to approach and solve problems.

Boston University: Sep 2020 - May 2024

B.A. Neuroscience, minor Computer Science
GPA: 3.75

Relevant Coursework

Object Oriented Programming, Data Structures, Software Engineering, Software Engineering Practicum, Web Application Development, Introduction to Artifical Intelligence
Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, Multivariate Calculus, Differential Equations
MATLAB Programming for Research, Computational Models of Brain and Behavior, Principles and Methods of Neural Modeling, Neuroscience Arduino Modeling Lab

Experience

Data Engineering Intern

DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

Jun 2024 - Aug 2024

Python
SAS
Jupyter Notebook
Privacy
Anonymization

Selected as part of DOE Scholars Program to aid Science, Engineering, Analysis, and Data division with executing data anonymization and privacy goals
Researched and implemented advanced data anonymization techniques (k-anonymization, ldiversity, t-closeness) on large datasets via Python (pandas, NumPy), decreasing re-identification risk
Applied several machine learning algorithms to data in SAS Viya and Python (scikit-learn, xgboost) to study re-identification capabilities of various algorithms on anonymized data
Visualized anonymized data using Tableau, ArcGIS, and Python (matplotlib, Seaborn) to present findings on anonymization techniques and advise senior staff on best practices
Created GitHub pages site using Jupyter Book for organization to view code and commentary
Gained experience in data management processes for a multi-billion-dollar project portfolio

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Meyer Laboratory

Sep 2022 - May 2024

Python
R
Jupyter Notebook
Programming
Data Analysis

Worked with DeepLabCut (Python, deep learning model) to collect data on freezing behaviors
Analyzed freezing data from hundreds of videos of mice in elevated plus maze in Excel and R, presenting analysis via Jupyter Notebooks
Handled mice during fear-conditioning and performed wet lab experiments, using a cryostat and vibratome to slice and mount mouse brains

Peer Tutor & Training Leader

BU Educational Resource Center

Sep 2021 - May 2024

Chemistry
Teaching
Organization

Worked one-on-one with undergraduate students to improve their understanding of general chemistry and plan study strategies for four to six hours each week
Led tutor training sessions, overseeing and critiquing tutor demonstrations for dozens of new tutors

Projects

Undergraduate Journal of Neuroscience

Software Engineer

MongoDB
Next.js
React
TypeScript
OAuth

The home page of the Undergraduate Journal of Neuroscience

Part of the submissions page for the Undergraduate of Neuroscience

Using Next.js and React, developed a platform for undergraduate students at Boston University to publish and share neuroscience research, as envisioned by BU Women in Neuroscience
Used MongoDB to store journal article submissions, contact form submissions, and journal issues
Used Google OAuth to support profiles for users and admin privileges for Women in Neuroscience executive board to easily view and interact with user submissions and add journal issues to the site
Created engaging stylistic effects, such as interactive flippable pdf of journal issues

Pikmin Progress Tracker

Full Stack Developer

React
TypeScript
Next.js
Tailwind

The home page of Pikmin Progress Tracker

The home page of Pikmin Progress Tracker with some pikmin selected

Created a React application using TypeScript and Next.js to locally track user progress in the mobile game Pikmin Bloom, with features for data visualization

Easier Recipe

Full Stack Developer

MongoDB
Express
React
Node
Oauth
Redux

Designed in Figma and proceeded to develop a MERN web application for virtual recipe storing and sharing with redux state management and Google OAuth integration
Implemented feature for seamless conversion between imperial and metric units
Integrated multiple recipe scraper APIs to enable URL-to-recipe functionality

Photography Portfolio

Full Stack Developer

React
TypeScript
Next.js
Tailwind

The collections page of Rida Naeem Photography

Designed in Figma and proceeded to develop a Next.js application for showcasing photography portfolio, with main page going through a curated selection of photos and collections page displaying several specific collections of photos
Created filtering system for collections page to allow users to view photos by tags assigned to each photo

AI Game Bots

AI/ML Engineer

Java
Reinforcement Learning
Bayesian Inference
Neural Networks
Deep Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning

Example gameplay of Tetris bot after several thousand training rounds

The learning curve associated with the bot's progress as it learns to score higher in Tetris

In Java, developed reinforcement learning agent using a neural network to play Tetris, iterating through phases of training, updating, and evaluating the network culminating in an agent that can effectively score points and get “Tetris combos”
In Java, developed probabilistic Bayesian agent to play Battleship against other bots, training agent to use Bayesian inference to make educated guesses on positions of enemy ships

Arduino Automated Measurements for Fear Conditioning

Computer Vision

C++
Arduino
Python
OpenCV
Experimental Design
Data Analysis

Webcam footage of model mouse being tracked by a green dot in OpenCV

Hardware setup for Arduino Proof of Concept

Created hardware setup with motion detectors and webcam to measure mouse freezing activity
Wrote Arduino code to collect measurements and Python code with OpenCV object recognition to locate mouse and automate data collection for fear conditioning experiment

Neural Modeling Projects

Computational Neuroscience

MATLAB
Mean-Field Modeling
Neural Networks
Data Analysis
Scientific Design

The normalized activity of neurons in a recurrent neural network with a specified signal function, visualized as a 2D plot

The normalized activity of neurons in a recurrent neural network with a specified signal function, visualized as a surface plot

Modeled changes in neuron voltage in MATLAB and Python using the Hodgin-Huxley, leaky integrate-and-fire, shunting, outstar, and instar equations/models
Produced final project evaluating existing fear conditioning neural network and mean-field models, modifying them to account for sex differences in amygdala activity