About

Learn more about me

Student at Rutgers University - New Brunswick

Double Major in Computer Science and Data Science (Economics Track), Minor in Quantitative Economics

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science
  • Email (1): aparnarenjithpillai@gmail.com
  • Email (2): aparna.pillai@rutgers.edu

Hi! I’m Aparna Pillai, an Honors Program student at Rutgers University, currently diving into the realms of Computer Science and Data Science with a focus on Economics. My journey began at Bergen County Academies, a top-ranked public technical high school where I immersed myself in the Academy for Technology and Computer Science (ATCS). It was here that my passion for computer science truly ignited, as I explored areas like machine learning, databases, web development, and computer security. Beyond the tech world, my interests expanded through coursework in economics, as well as my role as a Finance Intern at MyRegistry. These experiences revealed my enthusiasm for the business side of technology, leading me to pursue a double major in Computer Science and Data Science (Economics Track), complemented by a Minor in Quantitative Economics. I’m excited to explore how these fields intersect and drive innovation. Outside of academics, dance has been a cornerstone of my life since I was five. I’ve competed in five to six dance competitions annually, including national events every other year, and attended numerous dance conventions. My dance repertoire spans Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Acrobatics, and Musical Theater. This lifelong passion has honed skills that overlap with my academic pursuits: time management, teamwork, attention to detail, discipline, pattern recognition, and creativity. Whether choreographing a routine, developing a new algorithm, or analyzing market trends, the synergy between dance, technology, and economics enriches both my artistic and analytical endeavors.

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Languages & Tools

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Projects

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Extracurriculars

Languages

Python 100%
SQL 75%
HTML 70%
Java 100%
CSS 80%
JavaScript 55%

Limited Proficiency Languages

  • C
  • Assembly
  • R

Resume

Check Out My Resume

Summary

Aparna Pillai

Passionate and data-driven, computer science undergraduate student with over 3 years of coding experience and a strong background in machine learning, databases, and web development. Eager to contribute to a dynamic team and gain practical experience while solving complex challenges and advancing technological solutions.

  • New York Metropolitan Area
  • (+1) 201-355-6151
  • aparnarenjithpillai@gmail.com

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Data Science (Economics Track)

Minor in Quantitative Economics

May 2027

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

  • Honors: Honors Program, Dean’s List, Received Grace Hopper Scholarship (2024) from Rutgers University
  • Relevant Coursework: Intro to Computer Science, Data Structures, Discrete Structures I, Data 101, Assembly, C Programming, Computer Security, Math Foundations of CS, Functional Programming, Computational Theory, ML, AI, Data Management for Data Science, Calculus II, Linear Algebra, Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis, Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis, Econometrics, Forecasting Economics and Big Data, Elementary Hindi I, Elementary Hindi II, Intermediate Hindi I

Academy for Technology and Computer Science (ATCS)

September 2019 - June 2023

Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ

  • Honors: Honor Roll, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society
  • Relevant Coursework: Intro to Computer Science, AP Computer Science A, Data Structures, Assembly Language Basics, Intro to C Programming, Computer Security, Math Foundations of CS, Functional Programming, Computational Theory, Structured Query Language, Intro to Web App Development, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, CS Capstone, AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics

Professional Experience

Backend Software Developer

September 2024 - Present

Hack4Impact @ Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

  • Participating within Rutgers University Chapter of Hack4Impact that collaborates with a non-profit to develop innovative technological solutions
  • In the 2024-2025 school year, partnered with Giving Connections to add and enhance website features (i.e. Calendar) using JavaScript, Python, and SQL

Break Through Tech AI Studio Project

August 2024 - December 2024

Accenture, Remote

  • Github: https://github.com/aparna-pillai/Accenture-Technology-News-Insights-Engine
  • Analyzed 80,000+ articles across five sectors, uncovering sentiment trends and innovation opportunities using a knowledge graph
  • Conducted relationship analysis between entities and performed detailed sentiment analysis to extract valuable actionable insights
  • Delivered natural language summaries and visualizations to communicate trends and support decision-making in these industries

Machine Learning/AI Fellow

May 2024 - Present

Break Through Tech AI @ Cornell Tech, Remote

  • Selected from over 3000 applicants to gain expertise in machine learning algorithms (KNN, Decision Trees, linear and ensemble methods) and deep learning for NLP sentiment analysis under Cornell faculty and industry professionals
  • Collaborate in teams to create technical artifacts and tackle real-world business challenges from leading companies by applying industry-relevant Python tools and libraries and proficiency in the complete machine learning lifecycle

Finance Intern

August 2022 - June 2023

MyRegistry LLC, Fort Lee, NJ

  • Tracked 100K missing transactions to produce monthly commission reports for affiliate programs using Tableau and Excel
  • Analyzed daily sales statistics to identify potential financial partners, curate an affiliate list, and track advertiser insertion orders

Extracurriculars

My Extracurriculars

Data Science Peer Mentor

Student Excellence Equity and Diversity in Data Science (SEED2S) @ Rutgers University
  • Mentored 8 students per semester on academic planning, internships, career development, and professional branding
  • Fostered an inclusive environment to promote student retention, academic success, and a sense of belonging in the data science field

Active Member, HackHers Marketing Team Member

Women in Computer Science (WiCS) @ Rutgers University
  • Implemented the thank you section for committee members in the hackathon website using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
  • Drove a 150% surge in hackathon attendance, attracting ~250 participants through flyer campaigns and monthly social media posts

CS112 Data Structures Grader

Rutgers University
  • Grade exams and assignments promptly to provide timely feedback.
  • Ensure grading within one week of exams to support student progress.
  • Conduct thorough re-grading within two weeks for accuracy and fairness.

Rutgers SAS Honors Program Peer Mentor

Rutgers University
  • Provide guidance, personalized advice, and essential resources to support first-year students in navigating their academic journey.
  • Foster a supportive environment for new students to succeed academically and personally.

Rutgers SAS Honors Program Ambassador

Rutgers University
  • Served as an Honors Ambassador for Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program, engaging with prospective students and their families and assisting with Open House and other panel events.

Rutgers SAS Honors Program Peer Tutor

Rutgers University
  • Served as a peer tutor for Intro to Computer Science, Calculus II, and Economics, providing academic support.

Dancer

Rutgers Performing Dance Company
  • Showcased talent in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Acrobatics, and Musical Theater at semester showcases and competed with the company’s competition team against other collegiate dance companies.

Portfolio

My Works

  • All
  • App
  • Games
  • Chrome Extension
  • Jupyter Notebook

Predict Income Binary

Jupyter Notebook

Capturing Coral Tentacles

App

Ping Pong

Game

Cross It Off

Chrome Extension

Pictionary

Game

Word Search

Game

Hangman

Game

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