Nathan Li

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States · nathanli@college.harvard.edu

Hey there! I'm a senior in the Harvard class of 2025 studying Computer Science, Economics, and History. I love exploring my interests in technology, business, and community impact. See more below!

Education

Harvard College

Class of 2025
Double A.B. in Computer Science and Economics; Secondary in History
Groups:
  • Harvard Open Data Project President 2023 - 2024; Director of Finance Spring 2023
  • HackHarvard Executive Director 2022; Director of Logistics 2021
  • Pforzheimer House Committee Stein Chair and Merch Chair 2023 - Present
  • Harvard Club Swim Team 2022 - 2023
  • Varsity Men's Lightweight Crew 2021 - 2022
  • Harvard Chinatown Citizenship 2021 - 2022
    • Revelant Courses:
  • Artificial Intelligence, Engineering Usable Interactive Systems, Economics and Computation, Data Structures and Algorithms, Systems Programming, Abstraction and Design in Computation, Probability
    • August 2021 - May 2025

    Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS)

    Class of 2021
    GPA Unweighted: 98.1/100, ACT: 36/36
    GPA Weighted: Not calculated
    Groups: Crew team 2017 - 2021, Debate team 2018 - 2021, Robotics team 2020 - 2021, Science team 2019 - 2020
    September 2017 - June 2021

    Skills

    Programming Languages
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • React.js
    • TypeScript
    • HTML
    • CSS
    • C++
    • R
    • Java
    Software & Tools
    • Git
    • VS Code
    • Kubernetes
    • AWS
    • Terraform
    • Onshape
    • Sketchup
    Work Ethic
    • Leads responsibly and is team-oriented
    • Communicative and organized
    • Asks questions and eager to learn
    • Data driven problem solver

    Experience

    Klaviyo
    3 Months

    Software Engineer Intern
    • Planned and executed a backend domain decomposition effort to help move Klaviyo’s data platform from a monolith to a microservices architecture, supporting peak email/sms sends of 11.6 million per minute
    • Proposed, implemented, and integrated new consolidated service interface in Python and Django for campaigns domain; returning DTOs instead of ORMs to protect data usage; impacting 8 different teams
    Summer 2024

    Medra
    3 Months

    Software Engineer Intern
    • Increased Medra’s lab automation robot usability by over 40% with new full stack React and TypeScript web-app features, including workflow configurability, remote robot control, and live robot status updates
    • Reduced robot footage review time by over 50% with an automated video post-processing Python script
    • Built foundation for integrating PyBullet path planning and led codebase version migration to Python 3.10
    Summer 2023

    Markforged
    6 Months

    Software Engineer Intern
    • Implemented cloud autoscaling for high traffic using DevOps tools like Kubernetes, AWS, and Terraform
    • Designed and implemented a full stack feature using Angular and Typescript that notifies Markforged industrial 3D printer users with updates on print status. Feature shipped to over 12,000 customers globally
    • Developed a suite of automated Mocha and Jest software tests that cut code deployment time by over 75%
    Summer 2022 and 2021

    New England Aquarium
    4 Months

    Visitor Education Intern
    • Taught visitors about the various exhibits offered at the aquarium and their residents
    • Educated visitors about the threats that marine life and ecosystems face, and how they can help
    • Ensured everyone’s safety during summer 2020 via COVID-19 health guidelines
    Summer 2020 and 2019

    Cambridge Public Schools
    2 Months

    Accounts Payable and Purchasing Department Intern
    • Contacted 3rd party vendors to coordinate transactions for district school supplies
    • Organized 1,000+ documents for digitalization, including quotes, invoices, and orders
    • Worked closely with accounting supervisors to learn about office life and organization
    Summer 2018

    Cambridge Community Center
    2 Months

    Youth Guidance Counsellor
    • Assisted Guidance Counselors to organize daily activities for campers
    • Organized end of the summer outdoors sporting event for campers
    Summer 2017

    Extracurriculars

    HackHarvard
    2 Years

    Executive Director
    • Led Harvard’s largest annual international hackathon, attended by 500+ students and 30+ volunteers
    • Directed and trained team of 30 Harvard undergrads across multiple subteams, like marketing and finance
    • Managed $50,000+ budget and acquired sponsors like Meta, HRT, Google Cloud, SIG, and MathWorks
    • Built HackHarvard website using React.js, both web and mobile friendly, received over 24,000 views
    2022
    Director of Logistics
    • Led logistics subteam to organize hackathon event scheduling and budgeting
    • Spearheaded partnership with Gather Town to create virtual hackathon venue
    2021

    Harvard Open Data project
    2 Years

    President
    • Led Harvard's largest data science community, hosting free data journalism bootcamps and data journalism publications
    • Taught data science and machine learning to support 150+ annual new data journalism students
    • Directed team of 14 to organize free data science events like HODP's datathon and predictions game
    2023 - 2024
    Director of Finance
    • Led financial management initiatives to fund HODP's free bootcamp and data science events
    • Managed $10k budget and raised funding through grants and corporate sponsors
    Spring 2023
    Data Journalist
    Fall 2022

    MGH Cardiovasular Imaging Research Center
    2 Years

    Undergraduate Researcher
    • Used python, fastai, and CNN deep learning models to predict osteoporosis risk using chest radiographs
    • Awarded $1k grant from Harvard College Research Program for term time osteoporosis risk research
    • Used R and machine learning to apply longitudinal approach to smoking data and predict lung cancer risk
    • Presented progress and findings to research team, including comparisons of data analysis methods
    2022 - 2023

    Harvard Varsity Men's Lightweight Crew
    1 Year

    Coxswain and Rower
    • '21-'22 season: Coxed 3V to victory over Georgetown and MIT at Overpeck Invitational, victory over Dartmouth and MIT on Charles River, victory over Princeton at HYP, victory over Princeton in heat at Eastern Sprints, qualified for Grand Final at Eastern Sprints
    • Trained over summer of 2022 for '22-'23 season as a rower, had to leave fall season early due to directing HackHarvard
    2021 - 2022

    CRLS Varsity Crew
    4 Years

    Coxswain and Rower
    • As a coxswain, directed rowers in boats and advised new members on best practices
    • Helped execute practices and races while maintaining and prepping equipment
    • Played a flexible role in the team as both a skilled coxswain and rower
    2017 - 2021

    Boston Chinese Musicians Association Youth Orchestra
    3 Years

    Orchestra Erhu Player
    • Selected to perform a trio at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts for Chinese New Years
    • Launched a successful orchestra fundraiser for hospitals against COVID-19
    2018 - 2021

    Portfolio

    In my spare time, you can find me getting hands on with various projects. From machine learning to robotics to woodworking, I love creating both functional and exciting projects. Take a look at some of my works below!

    Lung cancer xray
    Click to see more

    AI and Predicting Lung Cancer

    Since early 2022, I've been researching how to use AI for lung cancer predictions at the Cardiovascular...READ MORE

    Airplane
    Click to see more

    Machine Learning and Airline Reviews

    In this fun project, I wanted to create a machine learning model to categorize sentiments of airline reviews...READ MORE

    Markforged
    Click to see more

    Your Olympic Path - Fullstack ML Webapp

    I put together a fun webapp that uses ML to predict the Olympic event you'd be best at! The problem was...READ MORE

    Tank
    Click to see more

    DIY Nerf Turret Tank Design

    In a blend of programming and robotics, I decided to design and a program and tank with a nerf turret that...READ MORE

    Projects
    Click for full portfolio

    In addition, I programmed much of the structure and features for this website! Feel free to check out my source code here.

    Volunteering

    Harvard Pforzheimer House Committee
    2 Years

    Stein Chair and Merch Chair
    • As Stein Chair planned and executed socials and happy hours for the house, each with 100+ attendance
    • As Merch Chair managed all merchandise design, orders, and sales for the house
      • Raised over $2,500 for future house events through merch sales
    2023 - Present
    House Staff Hiring Committees
    • Served on Faculty Dean Search Committee to interview and select new Pforzheimer Faculty Deans
    • Served on Pre-Med Tutor Search Committee to interview and select residential tutors for Profzheimer's Pre-Med students
    2023 - 2024
    Housing Day Video Director & Editor
    • Coordinated, directed, and edited 2023 and 2024 housing day video for house spirit as part of Harvard tradition
    • Accumulated 16,000+ views on YouTube, Pforzheimer's best since 2018, ranked third by the Harvard Crimson in 2023
    2023 - 2024

    Asian American Civic Assocation
    3 Years

    Head Citizenship Class Teacher
    • Prepared immigrants for the naturalization exam through my currated citizenship course
    • Led a team of Boston University and high school volunteers to help during class
    • Provided support to students outside of class through Google Classroom, online chats, etc.
    2019 - 2021
    Bilingual Lecturer and Tutor
    • Lectured in Mandarin to teach groups of immigrant Chinese women how to use technology
    • Created computer class materials in Chinese and English and collaborated with other tutors
    2018 - 2019

    New England Aquarium
    4 Months

    ClimaTeens Member
    • Met weekly with peers to discuss environmental initiatives and plan educational events
    • Led ClimaTEENS presentation development for climate summit
    • Co-led workshop at BLS YouthCAN's 15th Annual Climate Summit April 2021
    March 2021 - June 2021

    Cambridge Public Schools
    3 Years

    Freshman Advisor
    • Led bi-weekly discussions with freshman homerooms regarding transitions into high school
    • Provided guidance to freshman regarding classes, social life, and extracurricular opportunities
    2019 - 2021
    Math Tutor
    • Assisted high school peers with math questions after school up to and including the Calculus level
    2018 - 2019

    Awards & Certifications

    • CRLS 2021 Super Senior - Among 22 out of ~450 graduates chosen for academics and embodiment of school motto
    • Edward Hopkins Scholar - Awarded to top three males and top three females in graduating class (~450 students)
    • National Merit Commended Scholar
    • National AP Scholar
    • Octofinalist among 58 teams in Novice Public Forum Lexington National Debate Tournament
    • Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy With Distinction - Chinese (Mandarin)
    • Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy - Spanish
    • Member of the National Honors Society
    • CRLS First Honors, 2017 to 2021