America Gaona Borges

I'm a senior majoring in Computer Science and graduating from Berea College in May 2026. I love diving into new challenges and exploring different areas of tech, particularly in design, AI/ML, and robotics.

I am currently seeking entry-level opportunities where I can contribute my skills while learning from industry professionals. My coursework, projects, and internships have given me hands-on skills in human-centered computing, software development, and computational intelligence.

I've developed strong leadership and collaboration skills as Lead TA for the Computer Science Department. I'm also actively involved in organizations like SHPE and GWC, where I aim to increase diversity and inclusion in tech.

Contact Me

Experience & Skills

Building real-world solutions through internships and on-campus work

Lead Computer Science Teaching Assistant

Berea College | Berea, KY

August 2024 – Present

I support the Berea College Computer Science Department as a Co-Lead Teaching Assistant, where I mentor and onboard new TAs and help coordinate weekly meetings to ensure consistency in teaching support. I contributed to building the department's website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, creating a central hub of information for students exploring the CS major. I also lead tutoring sessions in robotics and game design, and provide detailed feedback on capstone projects to help students navigate technical challenges and scope feasibility.

HTML/CSS JavaScript Python C++ Git/GitHub

Full-Stack Software Engineer Intern

NextGen Justice | San Jose, CA

June 2025 – August 2025

I worked on the development of a full-stack, AI-powered legal assistance platform. This application integrates fine-tuned AI models with a modular Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipeline to deliver context-aware legal responses, source citations, and document-based reasoning.

On the backend, I built RESTful APIs with NestJS, PostgreSQL, and Swagger UI, including a complete user settings service following the Model-Controller-Service architecture. I enhanced RAG pipelines by building a dedicated prompt template service with LangChain, and created a TypeScript endpoint that generates and stores document embeddings with Ollama and pgvector for scalable semantic search. On the frontend, I created user settings and document management pages using React, and designed user flows and wireframes by hand before translating them into Figma, directly shaping the application's user experience.

TypeScript NestJS Node.js React PostgreSQL LangChain Prisma Docker Figma

Robotics Engineering Intern

Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN

May 2024 – July 2024

I helped design a smart container system using embedded systems and ML algorithms to analyze eating habits. My work included programming nRF52 microcontrollers in Embedded C, integrating multiple sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, and temperature), and debugging firmware with JTAG and SEGGER Embedded Studio to improve system performance and reliability. I also authored and presented a paper on SPI, TWI, UART, and BLE communication protocols to peers, strengthening my ability to communicate technical concepts.

Embedded C Microcontroller Programming Firmware Development SPI TWI UART BLE JTAG SEGGER

Projects

Things I've built to learn and solve problems

Web Dev

SHPE-Berea Website

Official website for SHPE Berea chapter promoting Hispanic students in STEM. Features responsive design, team profiles with LinkedIn integration, membership information, and dynamic photo carousel showcasing community events.

HTML/CSS JavaScript Bootstrap Responsive Design

UI/UX

Berea CS Slack Optimization

Human-centered design research project addressing how students find career opportunities. Conducted participatory design sessions, user research, and usability testing to create an optimized interface for Berea's CS community.

User Research Prototyping Usability Testing Figma Participatory Design

ML/Robotics

ML Autonomous Navigation System

Autonomous robot navigation system using machine learning for visual recognition. Integrates computer vision, custom-trained neural network for handwritten digit recognition, and BFS path planning with SLAM localization.

Computer Vision Python OpenCV Path Planning Alg SLAM Localization

Web Dev

CS Department Website

Collaborative web development project creating a comprehensive website for the CS department. Serves as a centralized information hub for department resources, and interactive features for student and faculty engagement.

HTML/CSS JavaScript Design Collaboration

ML/Robotics

Real-Time Coordinate Navigation

Implemented navigation system in C++ allowing robot to drive to specific coordinates and avoid obstacles. Uses odometry, frame transformations, and bug navigation algorithm to achieve 3cm positioning accuracy.

C++ Frame Transformations Encoders Bug Nav Algorithm

ML/Robotics

Robot Pathfinding System

Implemented graph search algorithm in C++ for autonomous robot navigation. Features BFS search with distance transforms for optimal path planning around obstacles using occupancy grids.

Graph Search BFS Algorithms C++ Distance Transforms

Leadership & Community

Committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in tech

President

Leading initiatives and campus events to promote minority engagement in STEM.

Official Berea-SHPE Website

Public Relations Officer

Boosting campus presence and participation to foster mentorship and inclusion in computing fields for women and underrepresented groups.

View on LinkedIn

Hispanic Outreach Program Volunteer

Created and led interactive Spanish lessons for adult English learners to improve language skills and cultural understanding in the community.