samuel okwusiuno

work experience

Undergraduate Researcher (Course Credit)

Jan 2025 – Apr 2025

University of Guelph, Student Mental Health Study • Guelph, ON

  • Co-authored a peer-reviewed conference paper on burnout among Canadian undergraduate students using latent profile analysis.
  • Analyzed data from over 1,000 survey responses and helped develop 3 recommendations to improve mental health support in computer science programs.
  • Presented findings to 4 faculty members and contributed to ongoing research on undergraduate burnout and student wellbeing.

Coding Instructor

June 2023 – Present

Zebra Robotics • Brampton, ON

  • Taught students from grades 1–12 fundamental concepts of engineering, computer science, coding, and robotics, fostering their interest in STEM fields.
  • Developed interactive coding challenges and age-appropriate analogies, enhancing students’ understanding of Object-Oriented Programming and memory allocation.
  • Delivered structured courses in programming languages such as C, Python, Java, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS.

projects

  • APEX – Accessibility Scanner with XRPL Escrow

    Next.js, SQLite, Prisma, Playwright, axe-core, XRPL

    • Won over $1.5k in prizes, including 2nd place in the Ripple XRP Challenge and 3rd place in the BFN Venture Challenge at NSBE Hacks 2026.
    • Built a full-stack accessibility scanning tool that helps teams test websites for WCAG and AODA compliance.
    • Automated 36+ accessibility checks using Playwright and axe-core, with a scoring system to rate compliance.
    • Added an XRPL escrow flow for scan payments, with automatic payout on success and refunds on timeout.
    • Developed the app using Next.js, SQLite, and Prisma, with features to help automate accessibility fixes.

  • Student Web Project Gallery

    AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, Python, React

    • Built and deployed a serverless web platform on AWS where students can upload and publish web projects to their own public links. Supported zip uploads, automatic file extraction, analytics script injection, and secure S3 uploads using presigned URLs.
    • Created an event-driven backend with 5 Lambda functions to handle login, project management, deployment, and basic analytics. Used DynamoDB and S3 to keep the system scalable and low-cost.

  • FixtureShere

    Spring Boot, ReactJS, SQL, Supabase, AWS EC2, S3, CloudFront, Route 53

    • Engineered a full-stack solution using Spring Boot and ReactJS, enabling users to efficiently access and analyze statistics for 20,000+ fixtures through custom API endpoints and interactive data visualizations.
    • Optimized content delivery speed by 20% through strategic deployment on AWS EC2 (backend) and S3 (frontend), while enhancing security with CloudFront caching and HTTPS integration.
    • Developed a responsive, data-driven dashboard with React and Material UI, decreasing user search time for match data by 80%

  • Alphanetic

    Python, ReactJS, Material UI

    • Developed a user-friendly educational app for phonetic alphabet translation, featuring real-time processing and personalized learning paths, securing Top 5 placement in the education section among 20+ teams in that category in a competitive hackathon.
    • Engineered a highly responsive frontend using ReactJS and Material UI, resulting in a 0.5-second decrease in average task completion time and positive user feedback for intuitive design.

  • Chess Web Application

    Python, C (SWIG), HTTPServer, JavaScript (Chessboard.js), Bootstrap, SQLite

    • Developed a multiplayer chess variant application combining C-based game logic wrapped with SWIG and a Python HTTPServer backend, enabling real-time gameplay and player matchmaking.
    • Engineered an interactive frontend using Chessboard.js and Bootstrap, delivering real-time board updates, move replays, and intuitive game analysis.
    • Implemented robust C functions for move validation, rule enforcement, and time tracking, ensuring precise gameplay and optimal performance.
    • Integrated AJAX polling and SQLite to achieve seamless data synchronization, reducing latency and enhancing multiplayer experience.

  • Coronavirus Statistics Visualization

    Python, pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn

    • Enhanced data reliability by cleaning and refactoring over 3,000 lines of COVID-19 data from Statistics Canada, reducing inconsistencies by 95% and enabling more accurate trend analysis.
    • Analyzed time-related and demographic trends, revealing a correlation between winter months and increased COVID-19 cases, particularly in areas with high prison populations.
    • Adopted Agile methodologies to enhance project efficiency, resulting in 10% faster data updates and consistent delivery of Matplotlib and Seaborn-based coronavirus trend visualizations.