Connor Lin
I am a
About
Hi, I'm Connor! My journey started in Taipei, Taiwan, and brought me to the suburbs of Chicago at age 10. While I spent my high school years as a competitive fencer, it was a curiosity for programming at age 12 that truly sparked my passion for building and problem-solving.
I'm currently a Computer Engineering student at the University of Washington's Paul G. Allen School, minoring in Entrepreneurship. I love building things from the ground up, which is why I chose an engineering path that merges a rigorous CS curriculum with the fundamental principles of hardware.
University of Washington
Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Degree
B.S. Computer Engineering
Minor
Entrepreneurship
Graduation
June 2028
Why Computer Engineering?
At the University of Washington, admission isn't to a major, but to the highly competitive Paul G. Allen School itself. Once accepted, students have the opportunity to pursue their passion in either Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
For me, the choice was clear. I wanted the full, world-class Allen School education, and that meant understanding the entire technology stack.
I chose Computer Engineering because it provides the exact same rigorous CS curriculum that the Allen School is famous for, while also integrating the fundamental principles of hardware and electrical engineering. This isn't a different path—it's an expanded one. My education isn't limited to software; it extends to the physical devices themselves, giving me a broader, more powerful perspective to build the future of technology.
Skills
Projects
Here are some of my projects that I've worked on.
STM Tip Quality Automation
🔬 National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
Developed a CNN-based system to automate Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) tip quality assessment for atom-by-atom quantum device fabrication. This project enhances precision in STM usage by distinguishing sharp and dull tips, enabling automated real-time decisions crucial for high-accuracy atomic manipulation.
The project employs a convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify STM tip sharpness, with custom image processing and contour extraction. Data augmentation techniques bolster model resilience despite a limited dataset. An ROI-based cross-scan algorithm further enhances accuracy, ensuring reliable classifications and forming the foundation for full automation in STM-based fabrication.
SHS Maps
📊 4.2k Unique Visitors in the 1st Week
SHS Maps is a program designed to assist new students in navigating their school. It implements pathfinding algorithms to determine the shortest and most efficient routes to their classes. The program connects six different locations within the school, including West Floors 1-2, the Link, and East Floors 1-3, providing convenience and ease of use for students.
The backend is entirely developed in Python and utilizes the A* pathfinding algorithm to calculate the shortest path between two points. It works by converting a picture of the school map into a 2D array, with each pixel representing a node. The program then applies the A* algorithm to find the shortest path between two nodes and incorporates a breadth-first search algorithm to determine the necessary locations to traverse in reaching the destination.
Surplus Share
🏅 1st Place at SHS Hackathon 2024
Surplus Share is an innovative application designed to bridge the gap between businesses with surplus food and individuals in need. Utilizing an advanced heuristic genetic algorithm, the app optimizes delivery routes for drivers, ensuring the swift and efficient distribution of food. It also incorporates a sophisticated distribution algorithm, taking into account various factors such as dietary restrictions to facilitate the most effective allocation of food resources.
Surplus Share utilizes a Python backend with a heuristic genetic algorithm to optimize delivery routes for drivers. This algorithm leverages the Google Maps Distance Matrix API to calculate travel times and distances between locations, taking into account real-time traffic conditions. Additionally, a distribution algorithm ensures efficient allocation of food resources based on dietary restrictions. Firebase Firestore serves as the database, storing information about businesses, individuals, and available food. The frontend, built with Nuxt.js and TailwindCSS, provides a user-friendly interface for both businesses and individuals.
Project Links
SHS Giveathon
🏫 Leaderboard app for SHS's Annual Charity Event
An app designed for SHS's annual charity event, in partnership with NHS, named Giveathon. The main purpose of this website is to provide a leaderboard for the event, allowing students to view the top earners and top classes. This feature fostered competition and support for the event, which successfully raised over $31,000 in 2023, benefiting families participating in the event.
For simplicity in management, as the event was run by the NHS Executive Board members, the website was built using Google Sheets as a database. The website utilizes the Google Sheets API to fetch data and a Flask backend to serve the API. The frontend is developed using Next.js and TailwindCSS.
HealthCoach AI
🥉 3rd Place at SHS Hackathon 2023
HealthCoach AI is an app designed to guide beginners on their wellness journey. It offers a variety of tools, including AI-powered workout plan generation, food macro tracking, and water intake logging, all tailored to support users in achieving their fitness goals.
The app leverages OpenAI's davinci-003 model to create personalized workout plans based on the user's preferences and objectives. For backend operations, it utilizes Firestore for document-based storage and user authentication. We used Nuxt for the frontend web app, with TailwindCSS as our styling tool.
Education
Relevant Coursework
Computer Science & AI/ML
- Data Structures and Algorithms - CSE 143
Mathematics
- Calculus III
- Linear Algebra (IP)
- Discrete Mathematics - CSE 311 (IP)
HS Courses
Senior - 2024/2025
- AP Statistics (5)
- AP Microeconomics (5)
- Engineering Design and Development Honors PLTW
- AP Biology
Junior - 2023/2024
- MCS 142 (Data Structures and Algorithms) at College of Lake County.
- AP Physics C: Mechanics (Calculus-based University Physics) (5)
- AP Physics C: E&M (Calculus-based University Physics) (5)
- AP Calculus BC (Calculus I and II) (5)
- AP Macroeconomics (5)
- Electrical Engineering Honors PLTW at Stevenson High School.
Sophomore - 2022/2023
- AP Computer Science A (Intro to Object-Oriented Programming in Java) (5)
- AP Chemistry (5)
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at iD Tech Summer Camp.
Certifications
- Intro to Machine Learning at Kaggle.
- Intro to Deep Learning at Kaggle.
- Computer Vision at Kaggle.
Connect with Connor Lin
Professional and social media profiles