Product Engineering Manager

Dating apps have become the primary way romantic relationships begin, with over 40% of couples now meeting online through algorithmic matching systems. Yet despite mediating humanity's most intimate decisions, these AI-driven platforms operate with minimal transparency about how their algorithms shape partner selection, reinforce social biases, and influence relationship outcomes. This capstone project will investigate how artificial intelligence in dating apps affects college students' romantic decision-making, exploring the critical gaps between what users authentically seek in relationships and how algorithms optimize for engagement metrics. The research aims to uncover patterns of manipulation, trust, and authenticity in AI-mediated connections, while examining how algorithmic recommendations fundamentally alter self-presentation strategies and partner selection behaviors. By developing both a comprehensive ethical framework for AI in romantic contexts and a prototype algorithmic transparency tool, the project will demonstrate how design interventions can restore user autonomy while preserving the accessibility benefits of digital dating. This work addresses urgent questions about algorithmic governance in intimate domains, proposing that transparent, user-centered design in dating technology isn't just ethically necessary but essential for fostering genuine human connection in an increasingly AI-mediated world.

Despite Uber processing over 25 million rides daily, the pickup experience remains the most friction-filled moment in the rider journey, with mismatched expectations between drivers and passengers leading to cancellations, delays, and frustration. This UX research project investigates pain points in Uber's current pickup flow through comprehensive user research, identifying how communication breakdowns, location ambiguity, and cognitive overload during the critical pickup window create anxiety for both riders and drivers. The study examines how riders struggle with identifying vehicles in crowded areas, determining optimal pickup spots, and coordinating with drivers in real-time, while drivers face challenges navigating to precise locations and managing impatient passengers. Through competitive analysis of Lyft, Grab, and emerging mobility platforms, the research identifies best practices and innovative solutions for streamlining pickups, including AR-based vehicle identification, predictive pickup spot recommendations, and enhanced visual communication tools. The project proposes a redesigned pickup interface that reduces cognitive load through progressive disclosure, provides contextual awareness for both parties, and introduces smart defaults based on location patterns and user preferences. By addressing this critical touchpoint in the ride-sharing experience, the redesign demonstrates how thoughtful UX interventions can transform moments of uncertainty into seamless interactions, ultimately improving satisfaction, reducing cancellations, and strengthening trust in the platform.

Cultiflow is an AI-powered crowdfarming platform addressing the $170 billion financing gap that prevents smallholder farmers from scaling their operations. Despite producing 70% of the world's food, these farmers remain excluded from traditional financial systems, with 80% lacking access to formal credit. Cultiflow solves this by connecting everyday investors directly with farmers in Ghana, enabling investments starting from just $50. The platform uses data analytics to track farm performance, predict yields, and provide transparent reporting to investors, while farmers receive the upfront capital they need for seeds, fertilizers, and equipment. By removing intermediaries and leveraging technology for risk assessment and monitoring, Cultiflow makes agricultural investment accessible to retail investors while providing farmers with fair, timely financing. This model transforms subsistence farming into profitable agribusiness, creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers and attractive returns for investors. Since launch, the platform has demonstrated that technology can bridge the gap between global capital markets and local farming communities, proving that financial inclusion in agriculture is not just possible but profitable for all stakeholders involved.