Ludovico Federici

About

Past, Present, and Future

Born and raised in Italy, at 13 years old I moved with my family to London (where I did IGCSEs at Dulwich College and then the IB at Sevenoaks School). After finishing high school I was looking to embark on a new challenge, hence I packed for California and started this exciting journey at Cal.

In December 2024, I will graduate with simultaneous degrees in Computer Science and Cognitive Science and a minor in Data Science, all while having developed an entrepreneurial mindset from the SCET Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Technology. In my early career, I am looking to develop my data and ML skills in fast-paced and stimulating environments, working behind cutting-edge products and technologies while being surrounded by inspiring and knowledgeable entrepreneurs.

Skills

A dedicated, organized and methodical individual, I am an excellent team worker and a confident yet humble leader. Thanks to the symbiosis between my wide range of technical skills and my business-focused mindset, I am able to both identify opportunities and guide their implementations. My time management skills make me very reliable and allow me to have an active and dynamic approach to work and getting things done, driven by determination and consistency.

My biggest strength lies in my insatiable curiosity paired with my willigness to always learn something new, a trait that has consistently propelled my personal and professional development. A fast learner who is always hungry for new knowledge, I can adapt to evolving situations and deliver creative solutions. By quickly grasping the essence of various subjects, I am able to connect ideas across different domains, fostering innovation and a holistic approach to problem-solving. I love being out of my comfort zone and am always up for a challenge!

Fitness and Wellbeing

A firm believer in the importance of looking after one's body and mind and having a good balance in all aspects of life, I love everything related to fitness and wellbeing - from nutrition to sports and working out. Staying active is a priority for me, since it helps me focus and improves my mood and sleep.

Growing up, I enjoyed many different sports and ended up focusing on basketball to play it at a relatively high level. In the last year, I have committed to consistent weight lifting and boxing; however, I never give up an invite to play soccer or basketball in Berkeley's Intramural League.

Traveling

I am fond of traveling and immersing myself in new cultures: my international upbringing makes me very open-minded. In my opinion, speaking to locals while traveling is the most valuable form of education there is - everywhere I go, I try to learn something new to take back to my everyday life.

Some of my favourite travels include exploring the values of the Buddhist philosophy in Japan, Thailand and Burma, backpacking around Spain during the Camino de Santiago with my family, and getting lost in Costa Rica's tropical jungle with my friends. Nature is very central to my destinations.

Work Experience

Spotify, Data Science Intern Jun 2024 - Aug 2024

During my Data Science internship in the Podcast Mission's Insights team, I led a cross-functional project in collaboration with product, engineering, and marketing teams to identify key success drivers for video content on Spotify - unpacking the need for video integration and segmenting creators by video type.

Throughout the project, I analysed high-volume datasets using a comprehensive data stack, from ETL processes with BigQuery, FiveTran, and dbt to data analysis and visualization with Python (pandas, seaborn) and Tableau.

To evaluate the success of video shows, I developed the 'success score': a continuous weighted metric created by normalizing and combining key performance indicators, which enabled data-driven decision-making.

At the completion of my 10-week internship, I delivered actionable insights and recommendations to 50+ stakeholders and executives, influencing Spotify’s video strategy for creator education, content recommendations, and promotional activities.

AWEAR, ML Engineer Intern Jan 2024 - May 2024

I developed and fine-tuned machine learning models to personalize AWEAR's service by creating new EEG-based metrics, which increased emotion detection accuracy by 20% and enhanced the user experience with tailored recommendations.

Additionally, I led a team of 4 to create a MVP real-time GUI in Flutter for visualizing EEG insights and providing actionable recommendations based on emotional metrics, thereby improving cross-platform compatibility and user engagement.

NVIDIA, Consulting Team Lead Jan 2023 - May 2023

Personally working with NVIDIA's Global Healthcare AI Startup Lead, I managed a team of 7 people focused on the integration of NeMo Large Language Models in clinical trials for drug discovery. We interviewed 20+ NVIDIANs and people in the industry to develop GTM strategies focused on short-term revenue. Our solutions were presented to NVIDIA's VP of Healthcare upon the completion of our project.

Neurode, Software Developer Jan 2023 - May 2023

I assisted Neurode (Australian Startup) in the creation of a drug-free solution to ADHD focused on brain stimulation. More specifically, I developed short games with Flutter to promote and assess user focus and an eye-tracking algorithm with OpenCV to monitor user attention by following the user's gaze.

Blue Origin, Business Analyst Aug 2022 - Dec 2022

Reporting to Blue Origin's Corporate Development Team, my team of 6 developed an investment thesis and valuation model structure for minority investments within the space industry. I personally pioneered the establishment of selected metrics and criteria following a thorough competitor analysis.

Cruuz, SWE Intern May 2022 - Aug 2022

While reporting to Cruuz's CTO, I co-lead development, staging, and production of UI/UX website re-design to increase session length by 30%. Moreover, I integrated the platform into Google Reserve to supply merchant and availability feeds for processing and booking.

Gusto, Business Analyst Jan 2022 - May 2022

My team of 7 collaborated with Gusto to provide them with a better understanding of the accounting industry. We specifically conducted both industry analysis and competitive review to help Gusto attract accountants to its platform and reposition itself in this increasingly automated industry.

Coding Projects

This section highlights many of the technical projects I invested time in, listed and described in reverse cronological order. Source code is available upon request.

Video Focus with EEG | MUSE S, Python, OpenAI API, React Native

In this hackathon-winning project, we utilized the Muse S 4-channel EEG Headset to make online lectures more understandable. After receving signals from the headset, we effectively filtered EEG signals using Python to detect when the viewer is paying attention or is confused by the content. At the end of the video, the program feeds the video transcript into an OpenAI API model to summarize and simplify content from sections where user focus was below a chosen threshold, to aid the comprehension of confusing information.

CNN Model for Breast Cancer Diagnosis | Python, TensorFlow, ResNet-50, scikit-learn, NumPy

I developed a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) using TensorFlow, ResNet-50, and scikit-learn to predict breast cancer severity from over 175,000 biopsy images in the Nightingale dataset, achieving 90.8% accuracy. To enhance clinical applicability, I optimized preprocessing, applied class weighting, and adjusted thresholds. This project demonstrated my ability to leverage deep learning for impactful healthcare solutions.

Database Management System Implementation | Java, SQL, NoSQL (JSON)

After taking a bare-bones database implementation which only supported executing simple transactions in series, I used Java to implement B+ tree indices, efficient join algorithms, SQL & NoSQL query optimization, multigranularity locking to allow concurrent execution of transactions, and database recovery.

Portfolio Website | SCSS, HTML, CSS, JavaScript

I adapted a basic template to my own personal experiences and minimalistic style, while learning the foundations of web development in HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Thanks to this project, I also experimented with icon ideation and design, and created one to represent my initials and my brand.

Parallelized Convolutions | C

To begin with, I wrote a program in C able to handle 2D convolutions. Then, I optimized with the implementation of parallelism, leading to a 10x performance speedup. In particular, I used OpenMPI directives for process-level parallelism, OpenMP directives for thread-level parallelism, and SIMD instructions for data-level parallelism.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) | Logisim

Using Logisim, I designed a 2-stage pipelined CPU capable of running RISC-V instructions. This project involved implementing the function of all datapath components, and then of the datapath itself (pictured above). The 2-stage pipeline allows the datapath to work on 2 different assembly code instructions simultaneously.

Assembly Language Classifier | RISC-V

I wrote an assembly code system to classify handwritten digits with a simple machine learning algorithm (Artificial Neural Net) - following Berkeley-developed Instruction Set Architecture RISC-V. I learnt how to allocate memory on stack and heap, use registers efficiently, write functions and follow calling convention.

2D World | Java

Working through every stage of development from ideation to presentation, I created an engine in Java for generating 2D tile-based explorable worlds; the software builds a world which the user can explore by walking around. The game starts with the display of a User Interface which allows users to create a new world, save a loaded one or replay past movements.

NGram Explorer | Java, JavaScript, HTML

I constructed a browser-based tool to allow users to explore the history of word usage in published English texts. The data analysis back end for this tool was written in Java and relies on Time Series and nested TreeMaps, while the front end code in Javascript and HTML collects user inputs and displays a visualization of outputs.

Scheme Interpreter | Python

Created during the 1970s at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory by Guy L. Steele and Gerald Jay Sussman, Scheme is a dialect of the Lisp family of programming languages. Using Python, I developed an interpreter for the Scheme language, able to recursively evaluate Scheme expressions.

Blackjack | Python

My first real project, I coded a terminal-based version of Blackjack using Object Oriented Programming (OOP) in Python. The program allows for standard game functionality, including betting with a chosen starting balance.

Organizations

NextGen Consulting at UC Berkeley

About NGC

NextGen Consulting is a student-run management and strategy consulting organization at UC Berkeley, with a focus in leveraging research and data to provide cutting edge solutions to our clientele. At NextGen, we recognize how diversity is now more paramount to success than ever before. Our goal is to empower students and leverage diversity, transparency, and creativity to solve the problems of tomorrow. Through a diversified outlook on solving problems, we help companies of all sizes respond to industry changes, in order to stay competitive.

Senior Advisor Jan 2024 - Present

I am currently serving as an advisor for the student organization, providing guidance on leadership and standard club operations.

Vice President of Client Relations May 2023 - Dec 2023

I reached out to 100+ companies to source 5 new clients for our organization and then worked directly with points of contact to develop partnerships and establish project scopes. Then, onboarded 10 project managers and ensured the success of all projects, increasing NGC's earnings by 400%.

Clients Sourced for Fall 2023: Discover, Electronic Arts, Intel (2x), Palantir.

Project Manager for NVIDIA Jan. 2023 - May 2023

Senior Analyst for Blue Origin Aug. 2022 - Dec. 2022

Analyst for Gusto Jan. 2022 - May 2022

Neurotech@Berkeley

About NT@B

Neurotech@Berkeley is an established student organization at Cal with a mission of fostering a vibrant community on campus for students interested in the intersection of neuroscience and technology. We contribute to the greater neurotechnology community by working on consulting projects, furthering neurotechnology research in academia, reporting on recent neurotechnology field developments, and teaching neurotechnology fundamentals to other Cal students. Our goal is to increase accessibility to neurotechnology through our 6 dedicated divisions, and extensive external events.

Software Developer for Awear Jan 2024 - May 2024

'Intro to Neurotech' Staff May 2023 - Dec 2023

I was part of the team in charge of running our student-run course (Decal) called 'Introduction to Neurotech' to 100+ other Cal students every semester. My role was to develop up-to-date curriculum for the class, including designing Jupiter Notebooks to allow students to interactively engage with course material.

Software Developer for Neurode Jan 2023 - May 2023

Research Software Engineer Aug. 2022 - Dec. 2022

As part of our submission to NeuroTechX Clubs Competition, I built a communication platform using AI symbiosis to enable user communication through visual BCI techniques. In particular, I worked on a Python flask backend and a reactive JS framework frontend to acquire and process EEG data.

Nova Talent Network

About Nova

Nova is the merit-based access network where the top 3% of talent connect with each other, develop and accelerate their careers. The Nova 111 Student List (Italy) brings together the best talent of ages 18-25 to accelerate their development and maximize their potential.

Nova 111 Student List Winner Oct 2023 - Present

Nominated as one of the top 10 Computer Science talents in Italy, I have access to Nova's exclusive mentoring program, coffee chats with people in industry, events with CEOs, career development courses, and other unique growth opportunities.

LeadTheFuture

About LTF

LeadTheFuture is a mentorship nonprofit in Science and Engineering where top talent comes to accelerate their ideas and careers, surrounded by a world-class community of mentors and mentees rooting for you and your success. The selected mentors are employed at leading industry and research institutions in their fields, with a passion for giving back and creating new personal, professional, and economic opportunities.

Mentee Oct 2023 - Present

Selected by merit to be a part of LTF's private community, I am being indiviually mentored academically and professionally by an established Enginneering Manager.

Coursework (3.976 GPA)

A senior at the University of California Berkeley, I will graduate with simultaneous degrees in Computer Science and Cognitive Science and a minor in Data Science, all while having developed an entrepreneurial mindset from the obtainment of the SCET Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Technology.

I was recently nominated as one of the top 10 Italian Computer Science Students in the world, as part of a group of 111 students rewarded for their talent (Nova 111). Moreover, I was awarded a Leadership Scholarship from the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) for 2023/2024, and repeatedly qualified for Dean's List and Honors to Date.

All classes listed below were taken in reverse cronological order. Feel free to contact me to talk about any of these!

COMPUTER SCIENCE & DATA SCIENCE

• CS 188 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligencein progress
• CS 161 - Computer Securityin progress
• DATA C104 - Human Contexts and Ethics of Datain progress
• CS 170 - Efficient Algorithms and Intractable ProblemsA
• CS 186 - Introduction to Database SystemsA+
• PBHLTH 132 - Artificial Intelligence for HealthcareA
• CS 61C - Great Ideas in Computer Architecture (Machine Structures)A
• CS 70 - Discrete Mathematics and Probability TheoryA-
• DATA C100 - Principles & Techniques of Data ScienceA+
• CS 61B - Data StructuresA+
• DATA C8 - Foundations of Data ScienceA
• CS 61A - Structure and Interpretation of Computer ProgramsA-
• EECS 16A - Designing Information Devices and Systems IA
• MATH 1B - Calculus IIA
• CS 10 - The Beauty and Joy of ComputingA+

COGNITIVE SCIENCE

• MUSIC 108 - Music Perception and Cognitionin progress
• SOCIOL 150 - Social PsychologyA
• SPANISH 100 - Introduction to Hispanic LinguisticsA
• COGSCI 132 - Rhythms of the BrainA+
• COGSCI 131 - Computational Models of CognitionA+
• COGSCI 115 - Neuropsychology of HappinessA
• LINGUIS 100 - Introduction to LinguisticsA+
• PHILOS 12A - Introduction to LogicA+
• MCB W61 - Brain, Mind, and BehaviorA
• COGSCI 1 - Introduction to Cognitive ScienceA+

CERTIFICATE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP & TECHNOLOGY

• ENGIN 183C - Transforming Brain Health with NeurotechA+
• ENGIN 183C - How to Think Like an EntrepreneurA+
• INDENG 95 - A. Richard Newton Lecture SeriesP

Volunteering

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

About NPH

NPH transforms the lives of vulnerable children in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. Together, NPH helps children overcome poverty and become productive, caring leaders in their own communities. Founded in 1954 by Father William Wasson, NPH is supporting more than 8,000 children, both inside and outside our homes, ensuring they have a safe and nurturing place to live, an education, clothing, healthcare, and a strong family support system.

Volunteer and Fundraiser Jul. 2017 - Present

I traveled 4 times for 2-week-long periods each to the NPH foster home in the Dominican Republic, where I helped build houses for volunteers to stay, taught English lessons, and engaged in sports and activities with kids.

While in Europe, I received guests at 3 fundraising events at Teatro Alla Scala (Milan), Bulgari Hotel, and Sumosan Twiga (London), during which I set up 3 auctions to collect money for NPH's 9 foster homes across Central America.

EduSpots STEM

About EduSpots STEM

EduSpots is a Ghanaian and UK registered NGO, which exists to connect, train, and equip over 250 local volunteers who drive community-led change in Ghana through education spaces named ‘Spots’. The ‘Spots’ are led and owned by community committees comprising local educational leaders, traditional leaders, political leaders, teachers, students and parents. The Ghanaian staff team lead programmes in leadership, STEM and literacy development, enabling local volunteers to impact an estimated 15,000 learners annually. Students start to echo the volunteerism they benefit from, creating a world in which communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.

Video Producer Aug. 2017 - May 2021

I promoted STEM education by creating, directing, and editing 12 science experiment videos based only on easily available equipment for children in remote communities in Ghana to recreate without the need for expensive tools.

I created and displayed a video titled ‘How to make a homemade newton meter’ during a 240-people school assembly to raise awareness and get more people involved in our mission.

Contact

Please reach out if would like to learn more!

• Mail
• LinkedIn
• GitHub

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