The Build Fellowship Hub: Articles

The E-Commerce Boom which began 5-10 years ago was really accelerated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. With people unable to leave their homes, brands really needed to find a way to bolster their online presence - this has not only led to retailers of every size now having direct-to-consumer/online sales channels, but also created a real spike in new digitally-native brands popping up every single day. The current macroeconomic conditions and low barrier to entry in online commerce has sustained this growth despite our return to the physical world. This has created an immense demand for skilled digital marketers, especially at the entry-level, because this is also most of these brands’ target market.

In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Digital Marketer and develop the marketing roadmap for a digitally native brand. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll become familiar with digital marketing fundamentals and key performance indicators, research design and methodology, content creation best-practices, and E-Commerce systems/platforms. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real Digital Marketing team and relevant business executives with support from your project leader every step of the way.

computing-data-science

web-development, rest-apis, full-stack-development, react

Develop a Web App for Lobby System

Ruicheng Wu

and 1 more

From scratch to build a full stack web app: create a lobby system for hosting various types of virtual events.

Computer Science Fellow

Are you looking for entry-level software development experience with a wholistic vision? In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of Full-stack Software Developer and analyze the user needs, prepare necessary programming knowledges, plan stepwise approach for UI, API implementations and conduct the software development from scratch to support users playing tic-tac-toe using virtual web lobby to join or create the event. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll develop a full-stack web app using React, REST API using Node JS and Express framework and version control your code in a repository. You'll become familiar with full-stack software development like React, HTML, CSS, Node JS by following the Object-Oriented Principles. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real software development team.

engineering

biotechnology, biomedical-engineering, molecular-biology, high-throughput-pipeline, single-cell-segmentation

Build a Pipeline to Segment Single-Cell Immunofluorescent Images 

Ali Al Abdullatif

and 1 more

Design a high-throughput image analysis pipeline using Cell Profiler and ImageJ software.  

Biomedical Engineering Fellow

Immunofluorescence is a widely used tool in the visualization of protein and biomolecules within fixed cultured cells (immunocytochemistry) or preserved and sectioned patient or animal tissue (immunohistochemistry). Fluorescent immunostaining is a reliable confirmation technique used across scientific disciplines both in academia and industry. However, without extremely expensive and proprietary software, analysis and interpretation of this data can be complicated and time-consuming. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a scientist or engineer and build a pipeline capable of delivering high-throughput single cell data from immunofluorescent images. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll design a segmentation workflow and analyze data. You'll become familiar with industry tools like Cell Profiler and ImageJ. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real biotech team.

engineering

mechanical-engineering, materials-engineering, structural-engineering, cad, automotive-engineering

Design an Enclosure for an Electrical Vehicle Battery

Luca Entremont

and 1 more

Use CAD to design a frame intended to provide safety for an Electrical Vehicle (EV) battery and provide structural support for the vehicle.

Mechanical Engineering Fellow

Electric Vehicle design has become incredibly widespread in the industry of mechanical engineering, due to new developments that make this technology more attractive than ever. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of an Electric Vehicle Mechanical Engineer and design an Electric Vehicle battery enclosure. Our goal is to make sure the function of the frame is fulfilled in a lightweight way, while still having structural integrity to ensure safety. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll learn how to use common formulas to evaluate the performance of the designed battery enclosure. You'll become familiar with useful and widespread tools like Google Sheets, FEA and CAD software. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real engineering design team.

computing-data-science

blockchain, intents, web3, crypto

Build an Intent-based Token Trading Platform

Felix Madutsa

and 1 more

Design and implement a multichain web3 application for buying and selling tokens using a general-purpose intent protocol.

Software Development Fellow

Intent-based blockchain systems are the next-generation architecture for building scalable web3 applications. One of the challenges that every intent-based system faces is having competent solvers to fill orders. Unfortunately, not much work has been done to create solver solutions that are easy to run and can be used in these intent-based systems. In this Build Project, you will wear the hat of a Software Engineer and create a prototype of a much-needed solver solution for reliable and efficient filling of intents. Whether new to blockchains or not, this entry-level project provides a solid basis for designing, developing, and testing decentralized systems accessible by billions of users. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll use JavaScript as well as tools such as web3 libraries, Infura, and other external APIs to interact with blockchains and software that runs on decentralized networks.

computing-data-science

blockchain, software-development

Develop a Decentralized Lottery System Smart Contract

Mauro Delazeri

and 1 more

Create a decentralized, transparent, and fair lottery system leveraging blockchain technology for secure and tamper-proof draws.

Software Engineering Fellow

In this Build Project, you'll be asked to develop a smart contract that simulates a decentralized lottery system. Such a system requires transparency, security, and verifiability to ensure trust among participants. A smart contract is essentially a “black box” that executes predefined rules, but understanding its internal mechanics and ensuring its fairness can be complex. Therefore, comprehensive testing and evaluation are crucial to confirm the smart contract's reliability and performance. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll develop a fully functional smart contract that will be deployed in the Ethereum Sepolia Testnet. You'll also use various metrics and test simulations to identify potential vulnerabilities or failure modes.

engineering

fpga, verilog, hdl, pwm, pfm

Design a FPGA based LED Dimmer controller

Boyun Wang

and 1 more

Program a FPGA board using Verilog hardware description language to achieve an adjustable PWM/PFM signal with human input button.

Electrical Engineering Fellow

FPGA, Field Programmable Gate Array, is an emerging tool for various engineering applications, especially prototyping and real-time control. In recent years, the dramatically reduced price associated with high density semiconductor manufacturing, FPGA can now be used in a product directly and cost-effectively.

Learning FPGA and implementing it to solve an actual engineering problem in such a short time is the challenging part. Unlike traditional software programming, FPGA Verilog programming emphasis hardware thinking. Converting the mind set from software programming to hardware would be challenging at the beginning, but extremely rewarding when the user gets used to it.

computing-data-science

computer-science, python, data-driven-development, version-control, maintainability, object-oriented-programming

Learn Professional Software Development Practices with Python

Leon Staubach

and 1 more

Use Python to write high-quality code applying object-oriented concepts and data-driven development style. This Project is facilitated with the support of Himanshu Raghuvanshi.

Data Science Fellow

In this Build Project, you will learn how to take your Python skills to the next level. You will learn how to write software in a way that it can easily be maintained, tested, and extended so that it fulfills industry standards. Through object-oriented patterns, you will be able to apply design patterns to create modularized code. Version control will be a crucial part of the feedback loop and development of your project. Towards the end, you will work on your final deliverable, creating a software application in a domain of your own choice. For example, you can build a weather data analysis app, language translation app or sports prediction app. This Build Project is different from most others because during it, you’ll receive guidelines and support not from one but two Build Fellows!

This Project is facilitated with the support of Himanshu Raghuvanshi.

engineering

sustainable-development, supply-chain, business-modeling, business-analysis, environmental-science-engineering, environmental-policy

Business Model Analysis Using Material Sustainability Frameworks

Apurva Bafana

and 1 more

Evaluate a company's business logic to address and mitigate environmental and sustainability impact of material consumption.

Materials Science Fellow

Being the base requirement in the production of goods, the use of raw materials in the global economy is steadily rising. Both the general public and industry professionals are becoming more concerned about how material consumption contributes to climate change, ecosystem degradation, chemical pollution, and resource limitations. A growing number of industries and individual companies are taking a more comprehensive lifecycle approach to their materials and processes to stay competitive in the long run. Thus, knowledge of sustainable use of resources and different aspects of the material lifecycle becomes increasingly important for success in many types of engineering careers.

In this Build Project, you will wear the hat of a Sustainability Analyst and prepare a business analysis that employs sustainability principles for more efficient use of materials. With the help of an experienced industry expert, you will evaluate an organization using a multistage analysis that involves strategies, drivers, and barriers for business models, the role of governments, and the influence of policies. Sustainability is a cross-disciplinary field of study, and this project will promote the development of your own ideas to become more involved in the transition to a Circular Economy.

business

quickbooks-online, microsoft-excel, google-sheets, kinnser

How to Use QuickBooks Online

Bud Khurelbaatar

and 1 more

Get hands-on experience in QuickBooks, focusing on essential accounting practices, financial management, and real-world applications to enhance your practical skills and career readiness.

Accounting Fellow

QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting software that helps businesses manage their finances by tracking income and expenses, invoicing customers, paying bills, and generating financial reports. It's crucial for modern accountants to understand QuickBooks Online because it streamlines financial management, offers real-time data access, and enhances bookkeeping accuracy and efficiency. Approximately 80% of small businesses use QuickBooks, making it the most popular accounting software in the U.S., with over 26.5 million businesses utilizing it.

In my QuickBooks Online project, you will develop essential accounting skills through hands-on experience with the software, learning to navigate its features and manage accounts effectively. You will gain proficiency in generating and interpreting financial reports, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets. Additionally, you will build strong bookkeeping skills by understanding and performing fundamental tasks such as accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), and bank reconciliations. By applying core accounting principles to real-world scenarios, you will enhance your practical knowledge and prepare for successful careers in the accounting industry.

physical-life-science

cell-gene-therapy, immunotherapy, oncology

Quantify Cytokine Release to Functionally Characterize CAR T-cells Targeting Tumor Antigens 

Sai Valli Srujana Namburi

and 1 more

Learn the biology of CAR T-cells and cytokines with a major focus on quantifying cytokine secretion in response to cancerous tumors.

Molecular Biology Fellow

Cytokines are cell signaling proteins and are released by the CAR-T cells upon engagement with tumor antigens. So, measuring cytokines release is one of the most often used techniques in tumor research. This data is often critical for Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to the FDA. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Research Associate and quantify a certain set of cytokines to evaluate the functional profile of CAR T-cells before their clinical application. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll learn how to process the raw data for visual and quantitative analysis using statistical software like MS Excel and GraphPad Prism. You'll also develop skills for drawing meaningful conclusions from the analysis you perform.

computing-data-science, business

python, portfolio-management, optimization

Application of Markowitz Portfolio Theory to Build Your Own Portfolio

Zhenan Li

and 1 more

Implement and apply the Markowitz Portfolio Theory to construct diversified portfolios that strike an optimal balance between risk and return.

Finance Fellow

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, constructing and managing portfolios that optimize returns while minimizing risk is a fundamental challenge for investors. The Markowitz Portfolio Theory, introduced by Nobel laureate Harry Markowitz, offers a pioneering framework for portfolio optimization. This project aims to leverage Markowitz's model to build and back-test portfolios, providing valuable insights into the construction of efficient investment strategies.

The primary objective of this project is to implement and apply the Markowitz Portfolio Theory to construct diversified portfolios that strike an optimal balance between risk and return. By utilizing historical financial data, we will back-test these portfolios to evaluate their performance under different market conditions.

computing-data-science

software-development, web-development, frontend, digital-art, creative-coding

Painting with Pixels: Crafting a Portfolio of Generative Art Experiences

Tanuj Lalwani

and 1 more

Use JavaScript and P5.js to develop an interactive gallery of generative art pieces.

Software Development Fellow

Web development is a cornerstone in today's digital world where websites are increasingly moving from static documents to dynamic and interactive experiences. That puts more pressure on Software Developers, as they should know how to create web solutions that are not only well-functioning but engaging and visually appealing. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Creative Coder and explore the world of generative art using JavaScript and the P5.js library – all while developing an interactive portfolio to showcase your creativity and technical skills. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you’ll design and develop a series of generative art and creative code experiences, prepare an interactive slide deck showcasing these projects, and link your work to source code in interactive notebooks. You'll become familiar with industry tools like JavaScript and P5.js, and techniques like interactivity, repetition, randomness, and image processing. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real Web Development team.

physical-life-science

high-performance-liquid-chromatography-hplc

Propose a Method to Optimize the Assessment of Oligonucleotide Purity

Juan Carlos Garcia-Prieto

and 1 more

Research modern liquid chromatography techniques (HPLC) and help improve the method for separation and resolution of oligonucleotides.

Chemistry Fellow

Oligonucleotides are synthetically produced biomolecules that have proven to be crucial for gene editing therapies. Biotech companies put a lot of time and effort in optimizing and developing groundbreaking analysis techniques for these molecules; purity assessment being one of the most significant ones. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is one of the tools almost every research team uses to assess and characterize the constituents found in a compound. Knowing this technique becomes a very important skill even for entry-level jobs.

In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of an Analytical Development Scientist and help optimize a method for purity/integrity assessment of oligonucleotides through RP-IP HPLC. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll become proficient in navigating scientific literature and building your own conclusions and course of actions in the development of this method. You'll learn the science behind liquid chromatography and how biomolecules such as RNA behaves in such. You will also be able to appreciate role that oligonucleotides play in gene editing therapies; a rising focus for biotech companies. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real Analytical Development team.

computing-data-science

software-development, web-development, full-stack-development

Build a Full-Stack Software Application

Karan Kwatra

and 1 more

Learn how to use PostgreSQL, Typescript, React and Vue to create a software app.

Software Development Fellow

The deliverables for this project are focused on building artifacts that you can use to showcase your work in a job application. By the end of the project, you will have built a full-stack software application that follows multi-tier architecture. You will learn about databases, back-end systems, and front-end systems. You will learn how to build an application that is extensible and complete. The application can do what you wish but must have all the relevant components. At the end of the project, you will deploy your application for anyone on the internet to view. This way, you’ll have something tangible to show recruiters for future job prospects.

computing-data-science

data-science, gender-data

Analyze a Dataset from a Critical Gender Perspective

Belise Bwiza

and 1 more

Learn gender data best practices and audit a dataset of your choice and create an improved version of the dataset analysis.

Data Science Fellow

In the field of data science, the issue of data equity is an ongoing movement that aims to promote responsible data work. The current problem with major data practices is not that the data we have is insufficient, but that it doesn’t not accurately reflect the realities of women and non-binary people. For example, the gender binary (male/female) classification system in data collection will result in omission errors that make certain people’s experiences invisible. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Data Analyst and audit data cycle practices with a gender lens. Based on it, you'll produce a data visualization project that incorporates standard visualization frameworks and gender data best practices. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll uncover the flaws in current research methodologies that have led to inaccurate and incomplete data on the status of women and non-binary persons. You'll explore marginal changes that can be made to the way that we collect, analyze, and visualize gender data. You’ll become familiar with data visualization frameworks such as Tufte’s rules, Junk Chart’s trifecta, and Schwabish’s core principles, as well as such ubiquitous industry tools as Excel, R, or Tableau.  

computing-data-science

user-experience-design, product-design, web-accessibility-standards, prototyping-and-usability-testing

Design an Educational Platform for Remote Learning 

Abiola Folaranmi

and 1 more

Design an easy-to-use and visually appealing online learning platform that works well on all devices and is accessible to everyone.

Design Fellow

Since the 2020 pandemic, many industries, including education, have had to embrace digital solutions more than ever. In this project, you'll take on the role of a UX Designer to create an engaging and user-friendly e-learning platform that meets today's educational needs. Guided by an experienced Build Fellow, you'll conduct user research, design visually appealing interfaces, and implement web accessibility standards to ensure everyone can use the platform. You'll work with industry tools like Figma for prototyping and usability testing. This project will give you hands-on experience and insights into the real-world challenges of designing effective digital education solutions.

engineering

operations, project-management, climate-tech

Hydrogen Engineering Project and Supply Chain Mastery

Johannes Lamprecht

and 1 more

Develop and implement optimization models and project plans for hydrogen engineering projects, supply chains and operational processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs in the deployment of hydrogen fuel systems for Class 8 trucks.

Operations Research Fellow

In this Build Project, you will take on the role of an Operations Research Analyst and Technical Project Manager, focusing on optimizing the supply chain and operational processes for hydrogen fuel systems and ensuring that your team of engineers is functioning at its highest level. This project is crucial for the deployment of clean fuel solutions in Class 8 trucks, aiming to reduce global emissions.

You will work on real-world challenges such as supply chain dynamics, supplier collaboration, and operational efficiency. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you will develop mathematical models, perform risk assessments, and utilize data analytics to support decision-making. This project provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge field that is pivotal for achieving a zero-emission future.

computing-data-science

software-development, software-engineering, computer-science

Build a Virtual Office Feature for Remote Teams

Xinyi Chen

and 1 more

Use JavaScript to develop a full-stack web application that allows remote teams to communicate via video calls. 

Computer Science Fellow

Web Development occupies a huge part of the total Software Engineer job market. For example, at Facebook, at least 30-40% of engineers are working on various Web Development projects. In this Build Project, you’ll wear the hat of a Software Engineer and develop a video call feature that can be used by remote teams. This task will allow you to develop skills across both front-end and back-end. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you’ll become familiar with web development frontend framework/libraries such as ReactJS and Redux and web development backend framework/libraries such as NodeJS. You’ll also get hands-on experience in using basic network concepts such as WebRTC and web socket, as well as using a real-time database. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real software engineer team. 

business

investments, venture-capital, finance, economics, business, blockchain

Create an Investment Memo for a Tech Startup

Rebecca Jovicevic

and 1 more

Provide a recommendations to a Venture Capital firm whether to invest in a technical startup or not. 

Finance Fellow

By the end of the project, students will have produced an investment memo report in the form of a PDF file. The report will include analysis of the industry the startup operates in, a competitive landscape and a capital recommendation. In the final project session, they will present their results to the Project Leader.

computing-data-science

ms-sql-server, c, javascript, web-development, net

Web Application for Flexible Data Visualization

Pavlo Tarasenko

and 1 more

Use MS SQL Server, C# and JavaScript to develop a small web app that presents and manipulates data within a browser.

Computer Science Fellow

In today's world, each web application works with data, displays large amounts of data, and processes it efficiently. The most convenient way to present this data is often in the form of tables. This Build Project challenges participants to take on the role of a Software Developer and build a small web application that presents and manipulates data within a browser. Using MS SQL Server, C#, and JavaScript, participants will create an interactive and user-friendly application. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, they will learn to handle data storage, server-side logic, and client-side scripting to deliver a seamless web experience. The challenge includes working with databases, coding dynamic web pages, and implementing data manipulation techniques to ensure the application meets user needs. Participants will become familiar with industry-standard tools and methodologies in web development. This hands-on experience will provide valuable skills applicable to entry-level jobs in software development and web engineering.

physical-life-science

molecular-biology, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals

Identify the Potential Applications of Spatial Genomics

Yi Sun

and 1 more

Analyze the technology advancements in the spatial genomics field and explore their potential industry applications.

Molecular Biology Fellow

Spatial transcriptomics, acknowledged as Method of the Year by Nature Methods in 2020, is poised to bring transformative changes across diverse domains such as biological research, pathology, diagnostics, drug discovery, and therapeutics. In this Build Project, you will wear the hat of a Research Associate and perform a comprehensive case study to demonstrate the potential applications of spatial genomics in understanding health and disease. Under the supervision of an experienced Molecular Biology Scientist, you will conduct literature research to identify the potential applicable areas of spatial genomics. You will gain an in-depth understanding of molecular biology tools, such as FISH, next-generation sequencing, and spatial omics technologies, and how they can be utilized in a real R&D team in the biotech industry.

engineering

biotechnology, chemical-engineering, automation

Propose a Design of an Automated System to Control a Bioreactor

Truyen Le

and 1 more

Create a ladder logic program that automatically controls the operations of a bioreactor.

Chemical Engineering Fellow

In biotech industry, bioreactors are essential for producing various products like pharmaceuticals, enzymes, biochemicals, and more through biological processes such as fermentation. An automated control system optimizes and regulates critical parameters (temperature, pH, agitation, aeration, etc.), that are necessary for the growth and productivity of microorganisms within the bioreactor. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of Process Development Engineer and design an automated control system for a bioreactor. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll learn how to create a ladder logic program to monitor and control various parameters for optimal growth conditions inside a bioreactor. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real DSP team. 

computing-data-science

full-stack-development, rest-apis

Develop a Tool to Store & Share Password Securely

Bhupendra Thakur

and 1 more

Use Node.js to create APIs that allow company employees to follow the security compliance while sharing their passwords.

Software Development Fellow

In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Full Stack Web Developer and develop a tool to store & securely share passwords. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll write Node.js code to create the login, signup, save password, share password, list passwords APIs, and create a user interface to access the same. You’ll become familiar with Full Stack Development, REST API development, Relational Database management system, Cryptography, Reusable UI components, Glitch and Retool. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real Full Stack Development team.

computing-data-science

software-development, web-development

Local-First Web Applications: Real-time, Offline and Collaborative

Shritesh Bhattarai

and 1 more

Build and deploy web applications where the user has ultimate control and ownership of their data.

Software Development Fellow

Almost all the apps that we use run on the cloud and store our data there. This has enabled us to collaborate in real-time among users, but we neither have control nor ownership over our data anymore. In this Build Project, we will explore the alternative by building and deploying local-first web applications. You will learn about and use Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs), as well as real-time and offline APIs. You will also get familiar with the issues and impact of data privacy for users and businesses.