Computer Science Student, Data Science Minor · Open to Internships & New-Grad Roles

Hi, I'm AshenafiCandidate — I build Role
systems, from fine-tuned NLP classifiersDomain to self-hosted network infrastructureSystems.

Currently deep in coursework spanning AI/NLP, programming, and tech ethics — and shipping side projects to go with it. I like problems where the data is messier than the model.

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01

About

I'm a Computer Science student (Data Science minor) at Arizona State University, focused on the intersection of NLP/ML and practical systems work. My recent project, TakeMeter, involved fine-tuning a DistilBERT classifier on real, messy Reddit data — and writing up the results honestly, including where it fell short.

Outside of coursework, I run a small home lab: a Pi-hole DNS setup on repurposed hardware, and I built a car DJ app that riders actually use to control the music. I'm looking for an internship or full-time role where I can keep learning by building things that have to actually work.

  • FocusNLP / ML, systems
  • MinorData Science
  • StudyingStatistical Modeling, ML, Algorithms
  • Looking forInternships & full-time roles
  • Based inSeattle, WA
02

Skills

Languages
PythonJavaScriptTypeScriptC#JavaRSQLBash
ML / NLP
PyTorchHugging Face TransformersDistilBERT fine-tuningscikit-learnPandasTokenization & chunking
Systems & Tools
LinuxGitNetworking / DNSVS Code

— tailor this list to match your actual coursework and project exposure.

03

Projects

NLPText Classification

TakeMeter

Fine-tuned DistilBERT classifier for r/TrueFilm discourse

ApproachFine-tuned DistilBERT on hand-annotated Reddit posts; built and debugged the full training pipeline end to end.
ResultThe fine-tuned model underperformed a zero-shot baseline.
LimitationAnnotation quality — not model architecture — was the core bottleneck. Documented transparently rather than overstating results.
View write-up
Full-StackPersonal Tool

Play My Music

Lets car riders control the music from their phone

Driver display showing the now-playing track and up-next queue Driver display showing a QR code for riders to join Passenger web app for searching and queueing songs

Driver display · QR join screen · passenger web app (opens in the browser, no app install)

How it worksA native iOS driver display shows what's playing and the queue. Riders scan a QR code to open a lightweight web app on their own phone, search for songs, and add them to the queue under a random rider name.
StatusIn daily use — not just a portfolio piece, it actually runs during rides.
View on GitHub
SystemsNetworking

Self-Hosted Ad Blocking

Pi-hole DNS sinkhole on a repurposed HP EliteDesk 800 G4

SetupLinux host behind an Arris SURFboard gateway, DHCP static reservation, Cloudflare upstream DNS.
BlocklistsHagezi Pro + community YouTube-ad lists, layered and tuned.
In progressKeeping the service available through host sleep/shutdown, and adding uBlock Origin as a cosmetic complement.
NLPRetrieval

RAG Chunking Strategies

Recursive vs. semantic chunking for hybrid search retrieval

FocusExplored tokenization, chunking strategy, and hybrid sparse + dense retrieval for RAG pipelines.
ImplementationPython implementations of both recursive and semantic chunking approaches.
StatusOngoing exploration, extending coursework into a small reusable pipeline.
04

Background

Expected May 2028

B.S. Computer Science — Arizona State University

Coursework: Statistical Modeling, Machine Learning, Design & Analysis of Algorithms, Theoretical Computer Science, AI & NLP, Ethics for the Information Age.

Ongoing

Independent Projects

NLP experimentation (TakeMeter, RAG chunking), a car DJ app in daily use (Play My Music), and home-lab networking (Pi-hole DNS).

Apr 2024 – Present

AI Prompt Engineer and Code Reviewer — DataAnnotation

Write and evaluate prompts, review AI-generated code, and give structured feedback used to improve model training data quality.

Full work history — including roles in banking, education, and international development — is on my résumé.

InternshipsNew GradRemote / Hybrid

Open to internships and full-time roles in software engineering and ML/NLP.

If a role needs someone who'll dig into messy data and debug the pipeline until it's actually right, let's talk.

Email me GitHub LinkedIn