About Me

Hello, I am Sami Melhem

I am currently a senior at Texas A&M University majoring in Computer Science, with an emphasis in Data Science and a minor in Cybersecurity. Earlier in my time at A&M, I built a strong academic foundation in machine learning, big‑data analytics, and AI workflows through coursework and early technical projects. During this period, I was actively involved in the Aggie Coding Club and Aggie Data Science Club, where I contributed to applied projects such as market trend forecasting and data visualization, gaining hands‑on experience working with real‑world data in collaborative environments.

As I moved into my sophomore and junior years, my involvement deepened and my responsibilities grew. I took on a leadership role as a Projects Officer in the Aggie Data Science Club, where I led technical initiatives, managed teams, and helped improve the organization both internally and externally. Alongside this, I joined research and development efforts as a conversational AI developer and undergraduate researcher, while also gaining industry exposure through internships at both startup and enterprise companies. During my junior year, I balanced a heavy course load with serving as a teaching assistant for Data Structures and Algorithms, leading independent and team-based projects, and formally studying machine learning and large language models through research-focused programs. These efforts culminated in contributing to a published research paper analyzing the use of ChatGPT in mechanical engineering education.

Entering my senior year, my focus has shifted toward specialization and long‑term impact. I returned to work with a startup, built and deployed developer tools such as my Notion RAG CLI, and launched my personal website to showcase my work. In parallel, I began creating and contributing to open‑source projects and continued developing a startup idea that originated from my work in the Aggie Data Science Club. Today, I am focused on building scalable internal tools, small language model applications, and AI infrastructure, with the goal of creating practical, user‑centered software that improves productivity and delivers meaningful real‑world impact.

Skills & Expertise

Programming Languages

Python (Advanced), TypeScript (Advanced), JavaScript (Advanced), HTML/CSS (Advanced), SQL (Advanced), C++ (Intermediate), Java (Intermediate), Go (Beginner), Rust (Beginner), R (Beginner)

Frameworks & Libraries

React.js, Next.js, Node.js, FastAPI, Flask, Zod, Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Tailwind CSS

Tools & Platforms

Git, Docker, Bun, Electron, Vercel, GitHub Actions, Kibana, Power BI, Tableau, Pytest, Ruff, CLI, Cursor

Cloud & Databases

AWS (S3, Lambda), Supabase, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, ElasticSearch, Firebase, MySQL, Linux, SQLAlchemy, ChromaDB

AI & Data Science

Machine Learning, OpenRouter, ScrapeGraphAI, Computer Vision, Statistical Modeling, Feature Engineering, Embedding Generation, Prompt Engineering, Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite, tiktoken

APIs & Integrations

Notion API, REST APIs, WebSocket APIs, WebAuthn/FIDO2, Authentication Systems, Third-party Integrations

Methodologies

Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, LLM Benchmarking, Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), ETL Pipelines

Education & Background

Texas A&M University

Master of Science in Computer Science (Expected December 2027)
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Expected May 2026)
Minor: Cybersecurity | Emphasis: Data Science | GPA: 3.8/4.0

Relevant Coursework: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Structures & Algorithms, Database Systems, Cloud Computing, Data Visualization, Cryptography, Cybersecurity Risk Management

Honors & Awards

Meloy Fellows Scholarship (2025-2026)
Association of Former Students Scholarship (2025-2026)
Michelle '88 & Todd Steudtner '87 Scholarship (2025-2026)
Michael '78 & Dianne '79 Pfister Endowed Scholar (2024-2025, 2025-2026)
Best Juniors at ACPC Spring Competition (Spring 2025)
Distinguished Student (Fall 2024)

Leadership & Activities

Music Leadership

• Principal Clarinet - TAMU Wind Symphony
• Principal Clarinet - TAMU Chamber Orchestra
• Treasurer - TAMU Wind Symphony (2024-2025, 2025-2026)
• Vice President - Carnival of Animals (2024-2025, 2025-2026)
• Treasurer & Secretary - Carnival of Animals (2024)

Technical Leadership

• Projects Officer - Aggie Data Science Club (2024-2025)
• Project Manager - Aggie Data Science Club (2024-2025, 2025-2026)

Campus Partners

• Handshake (AI Fellow, Nov. - Dec. 2025)
• Perplexity (Fall 2025)
• BoodleBox (Spring 2025)

Professional Documents

Interested in learning more about my professional background and experience? View my resume and CV for detailed information about my projects, skills, and achievements.

Research & Publications

I've conducted research in artificial intelligence and machine learning, focusing on Large Language Models, reasoning-augmented AI systems, and their applications in engineering education. My work spans from comprehensive surveys of emerging AI techniques to evaluating AI capabilities in academic contexts.

Reasoning-Search-Augmented Large Language Models: A Comprehensive Survey

Texas A&M University (December 2025)

Co-authored with Biswas Poudel, Justin Liu, and Xianshun Jiang. This survey synthesizes over forty systems that interleave planning, querying, retrieving, verifying, and stopping, analyzing training paradigms and architectural choices in reasoning-search-augmented LLMs.

View Research Paper

An Assessment Of ChatGPT 4o Performance on Mechanical Engineering Concept Inventories

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition (Accepted June 15, 2025)

Co-authored with Dr. Rujun Gao, Hillary E. Merzdorf, Xiaosu Guo, Dr. Kristi J. Shryock, and Prof. Arun R Srinivasa. This research evaluates ChatGPT-4o's performance on mechanical engineering concept inventories, examining AI's potential and limitations in engineering education support.

View Research Paper

Media & Speaking Engagements

I've been featured in various media outlets and speaking engagements, sharing insights on AI in education and innovative learning methodologies that bridge technology and pedagogy.

Featured in Nature - AI in Education

Nature (March 2025)

Featured in Nature's comprehensive article on how students are creatively using ChatGPT and AI tools for learning, highlighting innovative approaches to AI-assisted education and the "priming" methodology.

Read Article

Public Speaking - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

UIUC Graduate Students (March 2024)

Presented to 100+ graduate students on practical AI applications in education, demonstrating the "priming" methodology and innovative ways to leverage ChatGPT for academic success.

View Details

Featured in AI x Education Newsletter

AI x Education Substack (February 2024)

Featured in the "Efficiency vs Ethics of AI in Education" newsletter, sharing insights on the "priming" methodology and how students can effectively use AI tools for academic preparation while maintaining authentic learning experiences.

Read Newsletter

Beyond Code

Music

Principal Clarinet at TAMU Wind Symphony & Chamber Orchestra

Fitness

Weightlifting enthusiast & strength training

Pickleball

Weekend warrior on the courts with friends

Travel

Been to 5 countries and 13 states.

Recent Adventures

⛷️

Utah

Skiing

Spain

Performance Tour

Cancun

Beach Getaway

"I believe in the power of technology to solve real-world problems and make a positive impact on society. Through my work with startups, research labs, and various projects, I strive to create solutions that not only improve productivity but also help others improve their life situations."