[Hello, I'm Nico!]

Past Work

Education

I’m an undergraduate student at Portland State University studying computer science, with a expected graduation date of sometime in 2027. My areas of study span broader CS theory, but I've recently started to focus more on databases, security, visual computing, and web development. Visual computing is something I'm especially looking to explore in more depth- I'm interested in both the overlap with human physiology and neuroscience, but also in using it in environments like plant identification and smart agriculture.

I also have a certificate in International Business with Honors from Ohara Business and Public Service College in Kitakyushu, Japan.

Employment

I have years of experience working a number of customer facing positions - from service industry to help desk technician. I am comfortable in both taking a leadership role, and with stepping back to support others as the situation demands. I have seen, more often than I'd like, how not to do things. These lessons (while challenging) are ones I consider to be nearly as valuable as learning the correct approach.

Because of this, I've gone out of my way to try and build genuine connections and community with the people I engage with - both academically and professionally. I try and surround myself with those who love to teach and to exchange ideas, and as a result I've been able to foster rewarding relationships with people for the sake of mentoring and being mentored.

Research

I’ve recently joined the Database and Internet Privacy lab (DIPr) at Portland State University, and am participating in an undergraduate research program through CRA. At DIPr, I’m working with Ph.D. student Anadi Shakya (alongside Ambika Vyas) on her project addressing efficient implementation of fine-grained access control in database management systems.

I'm also taking part in a research project in my visual computing course - our goal is to try to develop an algorithm for identifying and sexing Rock Ptarmigans based off of wing markings. We're working on this in coordination with our professor, Atul Ingle, wildlife ecologist Ólafur K. Nielsen, and the research team at Boise State University.

Projects