Abina Arshad
Software Engineer · Researcher
B.S. in Computer Science · University of Kansas (KU)
I’m a software engineer and builder, focused on creating systems that scale and solve meaningful problems. From research to real-world products, I’m interested in using technology to reduce friction and create impact.
Experience
Software Engineering Intern
Gildware Technologies • Kashmir
May 2023 – Aug 2023 · May 2024 – Aug 2024
- Drove user engagement to 1,500+ monthly active users and cut page load times by 35% by building responsive front-end applications using React.js integrated with REST APIs.
- Improved API response times by 66% (from 600ms to 200ms) under high load by optimizing the backend system using Flask and tuning SQL database queries.
- Increased feature release velocity and stability by implementing a modern CI/CD workflow using Git (feature branching, pull requests) and spearheading A/B testing protocols.
- Shipped ProofFund: XRPL-native, milestone-based crowdfunding with transparent fund release, donor-weighted voting, and proof submission for accountability.
- Pinned campaign metadata and milestone proofs to IPFS via Pinata; stored content-addressed CIDs on-chain for verifiable, tamper-evident history.
- Built FastAPI services for AI-assisted fraud detection and cost validation on uploaded campaign evidence and requests.
- Implemented dual-mode architecture: XRPL-native UX plus optional EVM milestones via Hardhat/Solidity.
0xplain (Decentralized Graphing Platform)
ETH Denver Hackathon Project
- Built interactive React + TypeScript data visualizations (D3/Chart.js) and implemented backend services in Node.js and Python to process and serve on-chain data.
- Designed user flows and high-fidelity UI in Figma; translated designs into components wired to Web3 APIs (Ethers.js) and REST endpoints.
- Improved data pipelines (querying, cleaning, caching) to enable faster, real-time dashboard rendering.
Research Experience
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Kansas • Supervisor: Prof. Esam El Araby
- Designed and evaluated quantum convolution and pooling methods for variational quantum algorithms in high-dimensional quantum ML models.
- Co-authored peer-reviewed research papers in Algorithms (MDPI, 2024) on data locality in quantum convolutional classifiers and multidimensional pooling for VQAs.
- Implemented and ran quantum algorithm simulations in Python; analyzed performance across model configurations.
- Conducted experimental evaluation, debugging, and performance comparison of quantum architectures.
Stack
Skills
PythonJavaScriptRHTMLCSSSolidityReact.jsFlaskNode.jsPandasNumPyMatplotlibGit/GitHubREST APIsPostmanExcelModular API design
Awards
- Best Startup Idea — Beam Venture (2026)
- Runner-up — Midwest Blockathon (2025)
- International Excellence Award (international merit scholarship covering full tuition and fees for four years)
- National Mathematics Olympiad winner for four consecutive years (top 10 in the nation)