About Me

I'm a first-generation college student majoring in computer science at UNC-Chapel Hill.

My passion for the field began with building video games at the age of 10 (with one receiving 600+ visits when I was 12). As I got older, I began using technology as a medium to address the issues that I care about, such as plastic pollution and mental health.

I'm currently exploring how immersive technology (AR/VR) and web development can be used to improve people's lives.

Skills

Relevant Courses

Awards

  • Programming Languages
    Python, Java, C#, C
  • Game Development
    Unity, Godot, Blender
  • Web Development
    HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Tailwind CSS
  • Other Technologies
    Git, Unix, Docker, OpenCV, MeshLab, JavaFX, Android Studio
  • Other Creative Tools
    Figma, Photoshop, Lightroom, Reaper, Cakewalk by BandLab

Digital Director @ Family Mankind

Dec 2020 - May 2024

  • Created domestic violence nonprofit website accessed in 30+ countries worldwide

  • Streamlined international partnerships with organizations in Kenya, Canada, and Australia

  • Collaborated with executive board and advisory council as one of the youngest members

    • North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM)

    Aug 2022 - May 2024

  • High School Diploma

  • Computer Science Departmental Award


    • Leadership Roles:

  • Computer Science Club (Co-Captain)

  • Game Development Club (President)

  • Ryden AI Program (TA)

  • Chinese Dance Club (Co-Captain)

    • Co-Director @ SMathHacks / UniHacks

    Nov 2022 - Mar 2024

  • Organized two 36-hour hackathons for 200+ high school students across North Carolina

  • Created website, managed logistics with co-directors and faculty sponsors, co-led weekly team meetings, led design and marketing teams, designed logos, photographed event

    • Student Researcher @ Duke University I^3T Lab

    Jun 2023 - Mar 2024

  • Optimized and evaluated accuracy of real-time distance feedback between medical tool and surgical target point in augmented-reality-assisted neurosurgical guidance system

  • Improved distance calculation algorithm to sub-millimeter accuracy (~0.32 mm average distance error) in Python using camera calibration and triangulation in OpenCV (computer vision library)

  • Integrated IMU sensor using Python and C# to map orientation data to Unity for improved hologram alignment

  • Implemented real-time bounds feedback in Unity (C#) to notify users of poor medical tool placement during procedure

    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Aug 2024 - Present

    Major: Computer Science (B.S.)


    Activities:

  • Carolina AR/VR (Software Lead)

  • Experimental Engineering Lab (Research Engineer)

  • Honors Carolina (~10% of class)

  • Morrison Scholar (merit scholarships awarded to <5% of class)

  • Accelerated Research Program

    • Software Developer @ Carolina AR/VR

    Sep 2024 - May 2025

  • Developed the user interface of a location-based guided meditation virtual reality experience using Unity, C#, and Git

  • Implemented menus and functionality of UI components to optimize user accessibility in the virtual environment

  • Integrated an interactive yoga pose assistant to enhance users’ immersive meditation experience

    • Research Engineer @ UNC Experimental Engineering Lab

    Nov 2024 - Present

  • Implementing a redirected walking algorithm for large-scale VR navigation within a confined physical space

  • Mapping point cloud data to produce high-quality reconstructed meshes of Swayambhu Temple using poisson surface reconstruction in MeshLab

    • Software Engineer @ Develop for Good

    May 2025 - Aug 2025

  • Developed a nonprofit platform to connect disowned members of the LGBTQ+ community with supportive families

  • Fetched data from two custom REST API endpoints to display top 4 family matches and create a filterable directory

  • Created user profile cards displaying biographical information, relationship preferences, and interests using PHP

  • Implemented user authentication flows for two user types using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

    • Software Lead @ Carolina AR/VR

    Aug 2025 - Dec 2025

  • Led a team of 5 members to develop a VR horror game (Christmas-themed escape room with puzzles and jumpscares)

  • Interviewed new members, led weekly stand-up meetings, and onboarded a new software lead for Spring 2026

    • My Work

    Projects

    Artwork

    Photos

    Other

    SHAARE Study Website

    Jul 2025 - Aug 2025

    Pride Family Website

    May 2025 - Aug 2025

    Horizons

    May 2025 - Jun 2025

    Plastic Seas

    Jan 2025 - Jan 2025

    VR Swayambhu Temple

    Nov 2024 - May 2025

    VR Guided Meditation

    Oct 2024 - Apr 2025

    Personal Website

    Jun 2024 - Jul 2024

    SMathHacks 2024

    Sep 2023 - Mar 2024

    Neurosurgical AR Research

    Jun 2023 - Mar 2024

    H.A.L.T.

    Dec 2022 - Jan 2023

    UniHacks 2023

    Nov 2022 - Feb 2023

    Ecocate

    Jun 2021 - Feb 2022

    [Note: Will revamp UI + convert to cross-platform app in the future]

    Family Mankind Website

    Dec 2020 - Aug 2021

    SMathHacks 2024 Logo

    Fall 2023

    SMathHacks 2024 Sticker

    Fall 2023

    UniHacks 2023 Logo

    Fall 2022

    chemistry dog

    Winter 2022

    collage

    Fall 2021

    dragon

    Fall 2019

    pike place market

    Summer 2025

    seattle

    Summer 2025

    seattle chinatown

    Summer 2025

    haidilao

    Summer 2025

    mount rainier

    Summer 2025

    niagara falls seagull

    Summer 2025

    toronto chinatown

    Summer 2025

    toronto old city hall

    Summer 2025

    ackland art museum

    Winter 2025

    unc campus

    Winter 2025

    boston chinatown

    Winter 2025

    sushi

    Winter 2025

    paneer tikka masala + naan

    Fall 2024

    goodbye, ncssm

    Spring 2024

    bronze frog

    Spring 2024

    dreamy koi fish

    Spring 2024

    cherry blossoms

    Spring 2024

    life and death

    Spring 2024

    solar eclipse

    Spring 2024

    friendship + a cool hat

    Winter 2024

    wilmington, nc

    Fall 2023

    interior design

    Summer 2023

    bangkok, thailand

    Summer 2022

    siem reap, cambodia

    Summer 2022

    pavilion of the enlightened

    Summer 2022

    lychee shield-backed jewel bug

    Summer 2022

    oudong mountain

    Summer 2022

    monkey w/ watermelon

    Summer 2022

    angkor wat

    Summer 2022

    phnom penh, cambodia

    Summer 2022

    1000+ Day Duolingo Streak

    October 22, 2025

    Duolingo

    Grand Prize Finalist

    January 26, 2025

    MIT Reality Hack

    CS Departmental Award

    May 22, 2024

    NCSSM Engineering & CS Department

    Spoken Word

    April 20, 2024

    NCSSM AsiaFest

    AsiaFest Chinese Dance Act

    April 20, 2024

    w/ Alice Cheng & Christina Zhao

    Jon Miller Writing Award

    May 19, 2023

    Jon Miller Writing Competition

    Contact Me

    Made with by Vanessa Tang