// UNC Chapel Hill — Computer Science · Neuroscience · Data Science

VIVIENNE
HNIN

AI Engineer building for the love of the game.
Request Resume Explore My Work GitHub LinkedIn
Small Language Models Edge AI Efficient Inference AI Systems NVIDIA Jetson
C++ · Java · JavaScript · TypeScript · Python · Swift · R · HTML · CSS

Computer Science @ UNC Chapel Hill building Small Language Models, edge AI systems, and full-stack software that has to work under real constraints.

Business Insider Mentioned for my breakthrough into tech after switching from pre-med.
What I’m Looking For Summer 2027 internships + new grad full-time · SWE · AI/ML · Applied AI · AI System Seattle · New York City · Chicago · San Francisco Bay Area
Vivienne Hnin

SELECTED WORK

Small Language Models · Edge AI · NVIDIA Jetson

Edge SLM Systems @ Utilyst

The future of AI isn’t only bigger models. It’s choosing the right model for the job and putting intelligence where it actually needs to run.

Built and evaluated localized SLM inference across constrained hardware and cloud environments, focusing on latency, memory, reliability, and edge-to-cloud routing.

Built localized inference services using Docker, FastAPI, and Python for real application workflows.
Evaluated Phi, Gemma, and Llama-family models across local endpoints and hybrid edge/cloud routing.
ModelsPhi · Gemma · Llama
HardwareJetson Orin Nano
RoutingLocal + Cloud
StackDocker · FastAPI · Python
Routing mode
User / App
↓
Request Router
↙
Local SLM
↓
Jetson Orin Nano
↘
Cloud Model
↓
Google Colab
↓
Hugging Face
Edge-first keeps requests close to the device when latency, privacy, or offline operation matters, then escalates only when a larger model is justified.
Why local? Lower latency, preserve privacy, and stay usable offline. Why small models? Constrained hardware forces real tradeoffs. Why hybrid? Route up only when cloud adds real value.
View Experience
Embedded Systems · Autonomy · Control Theory

NC-1 The Northern Cardinal — Embedded Flight Control

A state-driven control system for reliable autonomous behavior across hover, transition, and forward flight.

Problem

Coordinate safety-critical behavior across distinct VTOL flight modes.

Built

FSM flight logic and closed-loop sensor feedback in C++.

Result

Clearer mode transitions, stability control, and system observability.

C++ · Embedded · Control Systems · Python
Neural Systems · AWS · Computer Vision

MEGAMIND! — AI Cognitive Testing System

A real-time cognitive testing platform for measuring reflex behavior through browser-based computer vision.

Problem

Capture and stream movement signals without breaking the testing flow.

Built

A computer-vision and WebSocket pipeline backed by AWS.

Result

Live performance tracking and recognition from a senior AWS developer.

Demo View Amazon Feature
TypeScript · React · JavaScript · Python · AWS
Algorithms · Path Planning · Visualization

Mars Rover Simulation — Autonomous Navigation

An autonomous navigation simulator pairing algorithmic path planning with a visual debugging surface.

Problem

Plan safe routes around obstacles while making navigation decisions inspectable.

Built

A* and Dijkstra planners in C++ with modular FSM control.

Result

A React observability layer that exposes routes and debugging state.

Demo View
C++ · JavaScript · React · Algorithms

EXPERIENCE

Engineering
2026
AI Engineering Intern
Utilyst Inc. · Chapel Hill, NC
Built localized AI and geospatial product infrastructure using PostgreSQL/PostGIS, FastAPI, React, Python, and Docker. Worked on small-model inference workflows for Jetson edge deployment, with attention to constrained compute, model optimization, and when local systems should route to stronger cloud models.
SLMsJetsonDockerFastAPIPostGISPython
2025
VTOL Project Engineer
Carolina Skylabs · UNC Chapel Hill
Built autonomous drone platform infrastructure for The Northern Cardinal, designing FSM-based flight control systems and embedded sensor pipelines for stable multi-mode flight.
EmbeddedAutonomyC++
2025
IT Technician
UNC Chapel Hill & Kenan-Flagler Business School · Chapel Hill, NC
Managed device lifecycle for 7,900+ users across Windows and macOS, resolving MFA, account lockout, and identity-access incidents while triaging security and network issues through SolarWinds Service Desk.
Windows/macOSMFASolarWinds
Product & Operations
2025–26
Product Management Extern
BeReal · Remote
Analyzed 50,000+ user interactions and 20+ user interviews to identify retention bottlenecks, recommend feature improvements, and evaluate A/B testing results across activation and retention metrics.
RetentionUser ResearchA/B Testing
Earlier Experience
2024
Data Analyst Intern
Nawarat Autoparts · Yangon, Burma
Built ETL pipelines in Python and SQL to process 50,000+ records, reducing reporting time by 80% and errors by 30%, while designing demand forecasting models that cut stock shortages by 25%.
ETLPythonSQL
2023
Product Management Intern
Success Admissions Center · Yangon, Myanmar
Designed an interactive, board game-style admissions guidebook using user-centered design principles and created branded merchandise, apparel, and recruiting materials to improve student engagement throughout the college application process.
ProductUXBrand Systems
2023
Partnership Associate
Success Education Ventures · Yangon, Burma
Built international partnership pipelines, secured 3+ school contracts through value-aligned positioning, and launched digital campaigns that generated 250K+ interactions.
PartnershipsGrowthGTM

PRESS & RECOGNITION

Featured Press

Stories that frame my work through AI, innovation, and student builder visibility.

Business Insider
Lead Story

Featured for my pivot into AI, the internship search that followed, and the persistence behind building a path in tech as an international student at UNC.

Career pivot · AI · UNC Open Story
Voices
AAJA
Journalism Feature

Featured in Voices by AAJA in a story on how international students turn to AI for support while navigating life abroad.

First-person reporting Read Story
Innovate
Carolina
UNC Feature

Included in UNC startup coverage highlighting summer innovation, student builders, and momentum behind emerging ideas.

University innovation View Feature

Recognition & Mentions

Signals from builders, platforms, and communities that picked up the work.

AOL
Syndication

The Business Insider profile republished for a broader national audience.

National distributionRead Story
Insider
Inventions
Innovation Feature

Highlighted by Invention Insider as part of a broader public-facing spotlight on what I’m building.

Public feature See Post
AWS
Mention
Industry Signal

MEGAMIND earned recognition from a senior developer at AWS, adding an industry nod to the project’s early traction.

Senior developer spotlight Open Post

RECOMMENDATIONS

Vivienne Hnin is one of the finest IT Student Apprentices to ever be employed at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She develops great customer service skills and improves the institution's trust in reliable IT service. When others have called out, she steps in — it shows a level of motivation and drive that we often lack.

TC
Anthony "T.C." Lo Ré
Supervisor · Kenan-Flagler Business School

Vivienne is one of the most talented, determined, and diligent students I have had. She always took initiative to research, write, and learn. A truly multi-disciplinary talented person. I recommend her for any future opportunities with full confidence.

TZ
Thaw Zin Aung Gyi
CEO · Success Admissions · Ivy League + Oxford

"My IT Help desk helper was extremely quick and knowledgeable about setting up my computer." "The support was efficient and clear, resulting in comprehensive answers to my questions and a complete resolution of the problem."

CF
Client Feedback
UNC walk-in survey responses · June–July 2026

MORE PROJECTS

1st Place AfroPix · Community · AI Classification · Maps

Gratitude — Community Resource Discovery

First-place AfroPix winner: map-based discovery for local events, volunteering, food assistance, and community resources with AI-assisted classification.

Demo Devpost
Next.js · React · Maps API · AI
Interactive · Hardware · 3D · AI Voice

EMPL*YMENT! — Horror Game About Internship Applications

A stress-driven survival game about internship applications, blending 3D interaction, Arduino hardware, and AI voice systems into a weird but memorable product experience.

Arduino haptic feedback with ultrasonic sensing
Three.js visuals and ElevenLabs voice synthesis
Demo Devpost
Arduino · Three.js · JavaScript · ElevenLabs · Blender
Computer Vision · Gesture Control · Events

PinchAPic — Gesture-Controlled Photobooth

A hands-free photobooth that uses MediaPipe hand tracking and a custom strip generator to turn gesture input into event-ready output.

Pinch-to-capture gesture recognition via MediaPipe
Custom photo strip layout generator for event output
Demo View
Python · OpenCV · MediaPipe · React · Next.js
Full-Stack · Social · AI-Assisted

Soleada — Social Platform (SolHacks Vultr Track Winners)

An MVP social platform with modular APIs, privacy-aware product decisions, and AI-assisted features built under hackathon startup constraints.

Frontend and backend implementation across the MVP stack
AI-assisted and VR-adjacent experimentation within a collaborative build
LinkedIn
React · Node.js · FastAPI · AI · VR

PLAYGROUND

Need a break? Every game here was built from scratch using vanilla JavaScript and the Canvas API.

Dino Run dinosaur

Dino Run

Medium

An endless runner inspired by the Chrome offline game.

Flappy AI

Hard

Guide an autonomous drone through endless obstacles.

Snake

Flexible

A modern version of the classic arcade game.