A few of the wins.

Software Engineer · Microsoft Security

On Microsoft Security’s Data Governance team, working across data protection and loss prevention.

Mastercard x AUC · hackathon judge

Served on the judging panel for the 2026 hackathon.

BE SMART Hackathon · top five

Led a Fisk University team to a top-five finish among 80+ teams. Black Enterprise coverage ↗

Disney on the Yard Innovation Challenge · top four

Placed among the top four of 50+ teams in the Disney on the Yard Innovation Challenge. Disney challenge overview ↗

U.S. Army xTech HBCU Student Competition · first place (2025)

Returned to win first place with IntelliDefend AI. Prize and program details are in the 2025 competition rules ↗.

Mastercard x AUC Inclusive Growth Data Challenge · second place

Team I4, with Kanchan Thapa, earned second place for Fisk University. Official winners and recap ↗

Microsoft · Software Engineering Intern

Worked across cloud ecosystem and security. Sam’s internship post ↗

LISC / U.S. Bank student incubator

Presented our work at the showcase and received a $5,000 program award to support the venture.

Sam’s event post ↗ · Rural LISC cohort coverage ↗

CollabNext research paper · Georgia Tech

A Socratic RAG Approach to Connect Natural Language Queries on Research Topics with Knowledge Organization Systems describes CollabNext, a person-centered knowledge graph connecting people, organizations, and research topics, with a focus on HBCUs and emerging researchers. Read the paper on arXiv ↗

LISC · Data Science & Project Management Intern

Joined the HBCU Talent Development cohort as a Project Manager and Data Analyst. LinkedIn announcement ↗

Un-Hackathon · first place

Won an event exploring ethical applications of generative AI, with a project to identify evolving drug slang and support public-health stakeholders. Sam’s write-up ↗

Federated deep learning paper · Fisk University

Co-authored Federated Deep Learning Model for False Data Injection Attack Detection in Cyber Physical Power Systems, published in Energies. The study explores privacy-preserving detection of false data injection attacks in cyber-physical power systems. Read the paper ↗

Mastercard x AUC Data Challenge · first place

Won with Team Equidata Innovators from Fisk University. Sam’s LinkedIn post ↗

Google Lime Scholar · $10,000 scholarship

Deep Learning Research Intern · Fisk University

Researched federated deep learning for false data injection attack detection in cyber-physical power systems. Related paper ↗

JPMorgan Chase Data for Good · first place

Our team won for a project helping Ordinarie Heroes choose a neighborhood for expansion. Sam’s LinkedIn coverage ↗

Software Engineering Intern · Georgia Tech

Cloud and backend development on the NSF-funded CollabNext team.

U.S. Army xTech HBCU Student Competition · first place (2024)

Won with IntelliDefend AI at the BEYA STEM Conference. U.S. Army coverage ↗ · My event post ↗ · Watch my presentation ↗

IRIS-HEP fellows presentation

Presented “REANA workflow for Dark Matter Searches.” Talk details and recording ↗

EasyA x VeChain Harvard Hackathon · first runner-up

Placed first runner-up in the EasyA x VeChain Harvard hackathon.

Redpanda · Hack the Planet scholarship

During the Hack the Planet scholarship, I built Heal-Di, a health-tech platform for more accessible medical data using distributed systems, with Redpanda mentorship. Redpanda’s announcement ↗

IRIS-HEP fellowship · CERN

Presented “REANA: A workflow for Dark Matter searches.” Built reproducible scientific workflows. IRIS-HEP fellow profile ↗

1517 Fund · Flux Capacitor semi-finalist

Advanced as a semi-finalist in the Flux Capacitor program supporting deep-tech researchers.

Lumiere Education · Fullride Research Scholar

Received a full scholarship to conduct mentored machine-learning research.

Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations · Nepal delegate

Took a Greyhound bus from New Jersey to Boston to represent Nepal at Harvard, stayed at MIT, and met amazing people.

IGPTech · Community Initiative of the Year nominee

Women in Tech Global Awards nominated the organization for its community initiative.

Abacus.AI · Certificate of Achievement

Recognized for creating and deploying forecasting models using the Abacus.AI platform.

NASA Space Apps Challenge · Galactic Problem Solver

Recognized for participation and efforts to solve challenges on Earth and in space.

FourthBrain · machine learning engineering program

Selected from 500+ applicants to learn, build, and deploy machine learning models.

IGPTech reaches 5,000+ girls

The community reached more than 5,000 girls interested in physics and technology.

Machine Learning Researcher · Caldwell Cog AI Lab

Student Worker · Office of the Vice President, Caldwell University

The Knowledge Society · Innovate / NN Full-Ride Scholar

Joined TKS through its Innovate program and received an NN founders full-ride scholarship.

Glocal Teen Hero · 20 Under 20

Selected from 648 applicants for community impact through IGPTech and Sketching Smile.

Code in Alice · Carnegie Mellon University Qatar

Completed the summer program and built an interactive game.

Colors of Rainbow · book launch

Published my first book of stories and drawings.

Neodocto · AI internship, scholarship & Digital Marketing Expert Program

Completed an AI internship from December 2021 to March 2022, received a scholarship certificate, and completed the Digital Marketing Expert Program.

COVID Connect Nepal · volunteer

Contributed as a data-team volunteer to a platform connecting COVID-19 assistance providers and people seeking help.

Initiatives for Girls in Physics and Tech

Founded IGPTech to help girls explore physics and technology.