The Art and Science of Profitable Product Development

Build a data analytics pipeline to unveil trending open-source projects on GitHub, providing deep insights into project health, community engagement, and technology adoption patterns.

From Plans to Quantities: Estimating Essentials in a Construction Project

As organizations increasingly rely on open-source software, understanding project health and community trends becomes crucial yet challenging due to vast amounts of unstructured data. In this Build Project, you'll take on the role of a Data Engineer, creating a systematic approach to analyze GitHub's rich dataset. You'll develop a robust pipeline that periodically fetches, stores, and refines GitHub data to uncover insights about repository activity, community engagement, and technology trends. Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll build a system that transforms raw data into meaningful metrics that can guide technical decisions and open-source strategy. This project mirrors real-world scenarios where organizations need to process and analyze large datasets to understand technology trends and community dynamics.

civil-engineering, material-estimation, plan-reading, excel-automation

Margarita Vizcaino

Design a worksheet to estimate materials such as concrete, steel, CMU and brick using real-life projects as a case study.

Civil Engineer Fellow

In the construction industry, accurate estimation of materials like concrete, steel, and brick is essential for project planning and budgeting. By designing a worksheet to estimate these materials, you will tackle a real-world challenge faced by construction companies daily. This project not only will give you practical skills crucial for success in the field but also fosters critical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities essential for your professional development. Additionally, mastering estimation techniques enhances your employability and prepares you to contribute meaningfully to construction projects upon entering the workforce. In today's U.S. society, where infrastructure development and construction projects are essential for economic growth and societal well-being, professionals equipped with such skills play a vital role in driving progress and meeting the evolving needs of communities across the nation.

Launch a Space Finance Program: How Securitizations Will Drive Space Travel

excel-modeling, financial-data-analysis, financial-research, securitization-technology

Florian Georg

Gain a practical understanding of structured financial products by engaging in the modeling and calibration process using Excel. This project offers a comprehensive learning opportunity, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, empowering students to navigate the complexities of structured finance with confidence and proficiency.

Identify the Potential Applications of Spatial Genomics

Are you intrigued by the dynamic world of finance, where decisions made today can shape the economies of tomorrow? Welcome to our space finance project, where we dive deep into the intricate mechanisms of securitized financial markets, investment strategies, and risk management techniques. Embark on a journey that challenges your intellect and sharpens your analytical skills as we explore topics ranging from capital structure optimization to rating agency arbitrage. Through hands-on exercises, real-world case studies, and collaborative discussions, you'll gain invaluable insights into the principles that drive global financial systems. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just beginning to explore the world of finance, this project promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of today's financial landscape.

Under the supervision of an experienced industry expert, you'll learn how financial analysts assess risk and investors decide where to put their money to work. You'll become familiar with Excel modeling, scenario analysis and the structured products methodology. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real investment team.

molecular-biology, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals

Yi Sun

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.

Propose a Design of an Automated System to Control a Bioreactor

biotechnology, chemical-engineering, automation

Truyen Le

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. 

Develop a Tool to Store & Share Password Securely

full-stack-development, rest-apis

Bhupendra Thakur

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

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

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.

software-development, web-development

Shritesh Bhattarai

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

Build a Python Chatbot for EdTech Support

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.

software-development, artificial-intelligence, natural-language-processing, python, education

Deepthi Peri

Learn how to use Python to build an NLP Chatbot that answers EdTech support questions.

Computer Science Fellow

By the end of the Build Project, you'll prepare two Chatbots in the form of working code on GitHub repository / PRD - A very simple rule based Chatbot and a Predictive Chatbot using ML. You will also learn about how to use large language models to build an advanced Chatbot that builds upon the previous two. Your solution should have working code, emulate a real-life chatbot that can answer questions, and have a PRD that meets industry standards). In the final project session, you'll present your results to the Build Fellow in a format that mimics a job interview (so you’re ready to discuss your work in real-life interviews).

Prepare a Performance Analysis of Tesla's Advanced Safety Features

mechanical-engineering, automotive-engineering, electrical-engineering, advanced-driver-assistance-systems-adas, automotive-safety, automotive-testing, active-safety

Sundar Raman Nagarajan

Analyze the performance of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) features of a Tesla Model 3.

Automotive Engineering Fellow

In this Build Project, you'll step into the role of an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Testing Engineer. You'll be tasked with analyzing data from Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) tests conducted on the Tesla Model 3 encountering a stationary pedestrian target and an impactable vehicle target. Your objective is to draw meaningful conclusions regarding pedestrian detection across various scenarios, FCW activation, braking efficiency, and avoidance rates. You will also compare the low-speed pedestrian tests against high-speed vehicle target tests. Guided by an experienced Build Fellow, you'll create spreadsheets, presentations, and reports to effectively convey your findings to the project team. Through this project, you'll gain insights into ADAS testing protocols, current research, technological advancements in ADAS, and the performance of Tesla’s FCW/AEB system. Additionally, you'll develop a comprehensive understanding of the algorithms behind Tesla’s FCW/AEB functionality.

Design Optimization of Automative Bracket for Additive Manufacturing

additive-manufacturing, latticing, topology-optimization, optimization, fea, mechanical-design, computational-design, dfam

Ajay Prasad

Optimize an automotive bracket using topology optimization and latticing for additive manufacturing.

Mechanical Engineering Fellow

Lightweighting is strategically decreasing mass while preserving overall strength and structural integrity. Additive manufacturing has created opportunities to apply new lightweighting techniques that enable you to achieve even greater mass reduction.

In today's rapidly evolving engineering landscape, additive manufacturing (AM) stands at the forefront of innovation, offering unparalleled opportunities for maximizing performance and efficiency while minimizing lead times. Companies across industries are embracing AM to push the boundaries of traditional manufacturing methods and unlock new possibilities in design optimization.

In our Build Project, you will learn the power of computational design and AM technologies to lightweight mechanical parts, mirroring the innovative approaches in real-world industry applications. Through this project, you will gain invaluable skills in computational design, material selection, and additive manufacturing, positioning them for success in the dynamic landscape of modern engineering and manufacturing roles.

Develop a Risk Management Plan for a Mid-Size Company

risk-management, business-operations, risk-financing

Luis Sarmiento

Understand the operations and business exposures to provide business risk management solutions using the Risk Management Process.

Develop a Secure SafeAPI Web Application

It's imperative for the survival of a company to understand the cost & opportunity of various risks and to learn how to manage them. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Chief Risk Officer / Risk Advisor and build a comprehensive risk management plan for a client. You will help that company understand their vulnerabilities and opportunities and give them your recommendation on how to manage their risk. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll learn about the different risk management techniques: risk transfer, risk avoidance, risk mitigation, and risk acceptance. You will become familiar with the Risk Management and Financial methodologies like the risk management process, the financial ratios, forecasting, and the loss triangulation, in an environment that simulates the operations of a real risk management team.

software-development, cybersecurity, cloud-computing

Rehana Shaikh

Learn how to create a secure web application with reCAPTCHA integration and real-time API request analysis using Google Cloud Functions.

Prepare a Malware Analysis Report

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, defending against different cyber threats is a critical challenge. This Build Project focuses on developing a secure web application with reCAPTCHA authentication and implementing a Cloud Function for real-time API request analysis. Under the guidance of an experienced Build Fellow, you will actively contribute to the project's core deliverables, gaining hands-on experience with industry tools such as Cloud Pub/Sub and Firestore. This project mirrors the operations of a real-world Security Analyst team, providing invaluable insights and practical skills for a career in cybersecurity.

cybersecurity, information-security, information-technology, forensics, vulnerability-management

Zeeshan Ahmed

Learn how to analyze malware like a Cybersecurity pro by using market-leading Cyber Forensic tools.

Cybersecurity Fellow Fellow

Malware analysis is one of the key processes in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity specialists are constantly asked to analyze suspicious files to check whether they're legitimate or malicious. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of Security Analyst and prepare a standard report that companies use to develop countermeasures and strategies for preventing or mitigating future attacks. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll learn about different types of malware, steps of incidence response investigation, and how to use forensic tools like PEiD, ProcMon, and Wireshark. You will be exposed to the daily life of a Malware Analyst and learn the procedures and techniques that any cybersecurity specialist should know.

Product, Contracting, and Dollar Flow in the U.S. Healthcare Industry

healthcare-industry, life-science, drug-pricing, pharmaceutical-supply-chain

Ranganath Narayanan

Build an overview of product, contracting, and dollar flow between key stakeholders in the U.S. healthcare industry.

Health Services Fellow

The landscape of the US healthcare industry resembles a complex and fragmented puzzle with various types of pieces. Numerous stakeholders, including healthcare providers, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and government agencies, contribute to a system that often appears intricate and challenging to navigate. The intricate web of regulations, varying payment structures, and the multitude of players involved can make understanding the flow of dollars, products, and contracts seem like solving a 1000-piece puzzle without edge-pieces.Imagine that a pharmaceutical organization that partners with Company X, has reached out asking for support to provide an overview of the value drivers of key stakeholders in the healthcare industry and the flow of product, dollar, and contracts between these stakeholders that they plan to use to train their salesforce new hires. This information will provide a foundation for their salesforce that will help them navigate conversations with healthcare providers, hospital administrators, and payers. You are part of the Company X team and will have to work on this challenge.

In this project, you will first describe the roles, responsibilities, and value drivers of key stakeholders in the healthcare industry including Beneficiaries, Pharmacies, Wholesalers, Payers, Providers, Manufacturers, Funders, and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and then create a visually appealing flowchart that accurately represents the flow of product, dollar, and contracting between them. This is an opportunity for you to understand the value that each of these stakeholders provide to the healthcare system and how they co-exist to finally provide affordable and quality healthcare services to patients. After completing this project, you will get a deep understanding of the intricacies of the US healthcare industry, develop strong strategic thinking, research, and analytical skills, and improve your ability to communicate your knowledge and insights gathered in a clear, specific, and visually appealing format.

Risk & Return: Making Investments in Equity Securities

finance, accounting, due-diligence, private-equity, equity-research, investment-banking

Chirag Malkani

Learn how professional investors evaluate, model, and discuss investment opportunities.

Predict Stock Returns Using Factor Model

Pensions, colleges, and nations across the world rely on investment firms to generate financial returns to support the long-term needs of their retirees, students, and citizens.

In this Build Project, you’ll learn how investors decide to invest in businesses by donning the hat of an analyst entering an investment firm that is in the process of acquiring a public company. Under the guidance of an experienced industry expert, you will identify a potential investment opportunity, analyze the company’s performance, and build an Excel financial model to value it.

You’ll synthesize your findings to create your own investment memo in PowerPoint—skills critical to succeeding in entry-level roles across financial planning, accounting, banking, investment management and consulting. Entry-level roles in such fields typically pay upwards of $60-80K per year.

python, data-analysis, statistics, quantitative-finance, linear-regression

Camilla Guo

Use factor model to predict stock return and evaluate our predictions on stock returns.

Analyze Solar Projects Development to Inform Business Expansion

In this Build Project you will use factor models to predict stock returns. The project is an example of quantitative finance field, where people utilize the skill of data analysis, statistics and programming to predict stock return and make investment decisions. You’ll learn to handle data using Python and get a solid introduction to forecasting in finance. The project covers important basics like data analysis and applying factor models. Completing it will gear you up for entry-level finance and data science jobs, which are key roles in many U.S. industries. This is a great start for students aiming for a future in the financial sector.

renewable-energy, community-solar, business-intelligence, data-analytics, google-sheets, bigquery, tableau

Pavel Shteling

Perform an analysis of Interconnection Queue data to drive renewable company expansion strategy.

Business Intelligence Fellow

To understand which markets to focus on in the future, Ampion needs to analyze open-source data provided by power grids called Interconnection Queue. Ampion is one of the industry leaders in Community Solar, providing opportunities to participate in shared solar projects through a concept called Community Solar. Through a software platform, Ampion connects residents, businesses, and other types of consumers with clean energy facilities, primarily Solar Farms. Interconnection Queue is a compilation of power generation and transmission projects seeking connection to the power grid. In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Data Analyst/Business Intelligence Analyst and perform an analysis of Interconnection Queue data to drive Ampion's expansion strategy. Under the supervision of an experienced Project Leader, you'll become familiar with Structural Query Language (SQL), which is used by thousands of companies for communicating with and manipulating databases. You'll also learn how to translate big data into a visual story using Tableau, another tool popular in the industry. All this will happen in an environment that simulates the operations of a real Data Analytics team.

Develop an Interactive Web-Based 3D Visualization Tool

software-development, gaming-development, visualization

Qiaodong Cui

Use WebGL to create a web page that allows users to visualize and interact with 3D objects.

Analyze the Growth Potential for an Innovative Biometric Technology

In the rapidly evolving field of software development, the challenge of creating real-time, appealing visualizations and simulations is a critical industry demand (particularly in areas like gaming, virtual reality, and data visualization). In this Build Project, you'll wear the hat of a Software Engineer and develop interactive web-based graphics tool for visualization of 3D models. Under the supervision of an experienced Build Fellow, you'll design and implement user interfaces, optimizing graphics rendering performance, and integrating various types of data sources for dynamic visualization.

business, finance, economics, management-of-technologies, cybersecurity, innovation, strategic-management

Benoit Goyens

Assess the growth potential and revenue model for a novel multi-market high-tech company.