Megan Lai

About Me

Hello, I’m Megan Lai! I’m a junior from Southern California. At USC, I am the current President of HackSC, USC’s flagship hackathon that attracts 400 students nationwide. I am also involved in QuantSC, ProductSC, Marshall Student Ambassadors, and Marshall Artificial Intelligence Association. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new restaurants, solving puzzles, and playing pickleball!

What are some of your key professional/career interests?

I am interested in software engineering and data science roles to expand the possibilities of AI. Eventually, I hope to take on a leadership role within a management team, paving the movement for productive and ethical AI use.

What are some of your skills?

Java, Python, C++, R, HTML, CSS, Javascript, PostgreSQL, Figma, Backend development, Data pipeline engineering, Performance optimization, Statistical analysis, Prompt tuning, Technical documentation

What are some relevant classes/coursework you have taken?

Data Structures and Algorithms, Applications of Machine Learning, Statistics and Data Science, Discrete Math, Accelerated Python, C++ Programming, Operations Management, Finance, Marketing

What are some of your projects or achievements?

Google, Software Engineer Intern (Google Ads)

- Engineered and validated a new data pipeline for bias testing, reducing false positives in studies and improving data reliability.

- Developed optimized data joining methods to process large datasets with C++, SQL, and Python.

- Accelerated deprecation of a legacy system, improving system maintainability and reducing technical debt.

Google, STEP Intern (Google TV)

- Integrated live TV search capabilities into a generative AI-assisted interactive system on Google TV.

- Created new service layer calls utilizing Java and Python, prompt-tuned Gemini, and created 20+ unit tests.

- Completed the entire development process, including writing design docs, implementation, testing, and demoed for the Google TV department of 50+ people.

Spotify Playlist Personalization

- Developed an optimization model with Python and Gurobi to create playlists based on the time of the day, by maximizing user song preferences and considering factors such as artists, BPM, acousticness, etc.

Sonder, UCI Hackathon Winner

- Won Best Blockchain Hack at IrvineHacks hackathon at UCI utilizing React, HTML, CSS, Tailwind CSS, Firebase, and Metamask for Blockchain.

- Collaborated with a team of 4, facilitating ideation and full stack development in 36 hours.

Claire’s Place Foundation Data Analyzation, BUAD 312: Statistics and Data Science

- Analyzed the company’s project-based grants and donation trends across 17 countries.

- Compiled R Script to automate graphical and statistical analysis of annual company performances into a report and final presentation detailing key metrics to maximize global impact.

COVID-19 Chatbot

- Developed an AI chatbot to answer common questions and concerns during the pandemic.

- Created intents and dialog flows for common COVID related inquiries, analyzed chat logs, and continuously improved the chatbot.