CS + AI/ML @ Duke University

Harouna
Thiam.

harouna@aws-eks ~ zsh

$ cat stack.txt

LLMs · RAG · AWS Bedrock · EKS · Kubernetes

$ echo $CURRENT_ROLE

SDE Intern — AWS EKS ▌

$ kubectl get pods --namespace=duke

bass-connections 1/1 Running 0 42d

hackduke-odyssey 1/1 Completed 0 90d

scroll ↓
0× Amazon Intern
0% LLM pipeline speedup
0+ App downloads
0+ Students TA'd
0 Selective fellowships
about me

Hey, I'm Harouna.

I'm a sophomore at Duke University pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (expected May 2028). I'm passionate about cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and AI-driven applications.

I've interned at Amazon twice — first on the Fire Tablet Launcher team in Devices (Summer 2025), and returning to AWS EKS (May 2026). I also support graduate education at Duke's Fuqua School of Business as a Technical Coordinator & Grader, and research open-access academic publishing through Duke's Bass Connections program.

Originally from Tampa, FL with West African roots — active in ColorStack@Duke, NSBE, and the AiiCE National Student Advisory Board.

languages & tools

Python Java TypeScript Kotlin Go SQL Swift React
AWS Kubernetes Docker LangChain TensorFlow RAG CI/CD

— Harouna, Durham NC & Tampa FL

Work Experience

May 2026 – August 2026

Software Development Engineer Intern Returning

Amazon Web Services (AWS) — Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) · Santa Clara, CA

Returning internship on the EKS team, focusing on cloud-native Kubernetes infrastructure at scale.

Kubernetes AWS Cloud Infrastructure
August 2026 – 2027

Software & AI Research Intern Incoming

Duke University — Bass Connections · Durham, NC

Researching open-access academic publishing using game theory and graph theory, building AI/ML models and tools to analyze publishing dynamics across academic networks.

Python Graph Theory AI/ML
May – August 2025

Software Development Engineer Intern

Amazon — Devices, Fire Tablet Launcher · Seattle, WA

  • Built a serverless cloud workflow using Java and AWS Step Functions to automate JSON data transformation with LLMs — reduced processing time by 87% via distributed parallel map states with Bedrock.
  • Designed a callback token mechanism with TypeScript SNS listeners and Lambda gateways to synchronize validation responses.
  • Implemented an Utterance Validation Framework with S3 handoffs to validate Alexa text-to-speech across pipeline states.
  • Ensured quality with automated testing suites (unit, integration, load) using JUnit, integrated into CI/CD.
Java TypeScript AWS Step Functions Bedrock Lambda SNS
April 2025 – Present

Technical Coordinator & Grader

Duke University — Fuqua School of Business · Durham, NC

  • Built and deployed a course autograder with Python, Pandas, and Openpyxl — decreased TA grading time by 42%.
  • Integrated generative AI prompts across 150+ pages of graduate textbooks for AI-assisted learning instructions.
  • Overseeing TA team for a 400+ student course; delegated and coordinated assignment grading workflow.
Python Pandas Gen AI LMS
June – August 2023

AI/ML Software Engineer Intern

ZSuite Technologies

  • Developed an LLM chatbot tool with Python and LangChain to improve company representative efficiency.
  • Built a RAG pipeline using Weaviate vector store to ground LLM responses in company CSV data.
  • Containerized the codebase with Docker and Jupyter Notebooks for a scalable, modular dev environment.
Python LangChain RAG Weaviate Docker
projects

Things I've Built

🎙️

Chorus App

iOS app using Delayed Auditory Feedback & choral speech synthesis to improve fluency for people who stutter. Adaptive interface supports both presentation and conversation modes.

Swift AVFoundation iOS
Apple Student Swift Challenge · Nov 2025 – Feb 2026
🌱

Odyssey: 30 Day Journey

Mobile sustainability challenge platform using Gemini API to generate personalized daily challenges. Secured 150+ downloads.

Flutter Gemini API LLMs
🏆 HackDuke Winner · Feb 2025
🌿

Florida GreenGuard AI

On-device invasive species detection via TensorFlow image classification, with async OpenAI plant descriptions. Optimized for offline use with TF Lite.

Kotlin TensorFlow Lite OpenAI API
🏆 1st Place Florida · Nov 2023
🗺️

LinkedIn Voyage

Revamp of LinkedIn Learning's 'Career Charter' presented to LinkedIn engineers & execs at HQ. Used Gemini + RAG for context-aware course recommendations.

Gemini API RAG Prompt Engineering
Presented @ LinkedIn HQ · June 2025

Fellowships & Summits

Selective programs, fellowships, and summits I've been part of.

Fellowships

Amazon Future Engineer

400 students selected internationally

Competitive early-career engineering program recognizing students with high potential in computer science — one of 400 selected internationally.

LinkedIn

Possibilities in Tech · 25 globally

One of 25 students selected internationally for an annual skills development program with LinkedIn executives and the CEO, focused on building the next generation of tech leaders.

JS

Jane Street

UNBOXED · 38 nationally

One of 38 students selected nationally. Simulated real-world trading strategies using quantitative finance principles — team placed 2nd in the JS UNBOXED Estimathon (July 2024, NYC).

CT

Cornell Tech

Break Through Tech AI · 2026

AI Fellow in Cornell Tech's Break Through Tech AI program, building real-world machine learning solutions for industry problem spaces (2026).

BC

Bass Connections

Duke University · 2026–2027

Duke research initiative on open-access academic publishing using game theory and graph theory — building AI/ML tools to analyze publishing dynamics across academic networks.

MLT

MLT

18-month tech mentorship

Selected for Management Leadership for Tomorrow's 18-month intensive technology mentorship and career development cohort, focused on advancing underrepresented leaders in tech.

Summits

GS

Goldman Sachs

Engineering Summit · Top 13%

Selected among the top 13% of applicants for a multi-month intensive program with world-class Goldman Sachs engineers and analysts (Dec 2024 – May 2025).

DE

D.E. Shaw

Connect · NYC

Invited to D.E. Shaw's NYC headquarters to connect with engineers and business executives at one of the world's most quantitative and technologically sophisticated firms.

Walmart

Walmart

Technology Summit

One of ~100 selected tech students invited to explore Walmart's technology headquarters and connect with engineering and product leaders across the organization.

$

Scholarships & Grants ($300k+ earned)

  • ◈
    Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship Amazon · One of 400 students internationally

    Competitive scholarship recognizing early-career engineers with high potential in computer science.

  • ◈
    LinkedIn Possibilities in Tech Scholarship LinkedIn · One of 25 students internationally

    Highly selective scholarship with annual skills development alongside LinkedIn executives and the CEO.

  • ◈
    Jane Street UNBOXED Scholarship 2024 · Jane Street Capital

    One of 38 students selected nationally for the UNBOXED program. Team placed 2nd in the JS UNBOXED Estimathon.

  • ◈
    Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Scholarship Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

    Merit scholarship awarded for academic excellence and community impact.

  • ◈
    Academic Scholarship 2024 · Community Foundation of Sarasota County

    Selected among Sarasota high school seniors to receive $3,500 in scholarships for academic excellence.

  • ◈
    Manasota ASALH Scholarship Association for the Study of African American Life and History

    Top recipient — $2,000 renewable for two years plus mentorship, awarded among high-achieving Black students in Sarasota and Manatee County.

★

Wins & Distinctions

  • ◈
    HackDuke Winner — 1st Place 2025 · Duke University

    Won the Sustainability Track at HackDuke for a mobile sustainability challenge platform built with Flutter and Gemini API.

  • ◈
    U.S. Congressional App Challenge Champion & Recognition in ML 2023 · 1st Place, State of Florida · United States Congress

    Built an invasive species detection app using on-device ML; won Florida's Congressional district competition and received formal U.S. Congressional Recognition in Machine Learning.

  • ◈
    Bradenton Golden Herald Award in Technology 2024

    One person recognized among 11 Manatee county high schools for outstanding achievement and leadership in technology.

On Campus & Beyond

AiiCE

National Student Advisory Board · 2024–Present

Alliance for Innovative and Interdisciplinary Computing Education — advising on expanding access and innovation in CS education nationwide.

ColorStack@Duke

Member · 2024–Present

Community dedicated to increasing the number of Black and Latinx students succeeding in computing and tech careers.

NSBE

Member · 2024–Present

National Society of Black Engineers — committed to increasing the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically.