About
My name is Yahaya Fofana. I’m pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a focus on Data Analytics and Machine Learning, and I expect to graduate in spring 2027. I enjoy traveling, playing soccer, and volunteering. My passion for technology started when I realized I wanted to build solutions for real problems. I love creating projects that help people across different industries, such as education, healthcare, and construction.
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Work Experience
Skills
Check out my latest work
I've worked on a variety of projects, from simple websites to complex web applications. Here are a few of my favorites.
Developed an interactive R Shiny application for visualizing soccer player performance via radar plots. Engineered a data pipeline to process 183k+ records from the European Soccer Database, enabling comparative analysis of 35 distinct FIFA attributes across physical, technical, and defensive metrics.
Awarded 2nd Place in the NASA Space Apps Challenge. Built a full-stack environmental monitoring platform that integrates MeteoMatics and AQICN APIs to provide real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data, historical trends, and SMS alerts. Architected a Java Spring Boot backend deployed via Docker on Google Cloud Run, utilizing a Cloud PostgreSQL database for subscriber management.
Engineered an end-to-end RAG pipeline that converts static PDFs into interactive AI assistants. Integrated PyMuPDF with Tesseract OCR for robust document parsing and utilized MiniLM embeddings with a FAISS vector store for high-speed semantic retrieval. Implemented FLAN-T5 to generate grounded, citation-backed responses via a Gradio interface.
Co-developed a Java-based social networking desktop application using an MVC architecture. Implemented a robust backend with Hibernate ORM and H2 Database to manage complex entity relationships. Built a messaging system and event RSVP features, validated through rigorous JUnit testing.
Developed a Java application that interfaces with the Wikipedia API to track real-time article revisions. Built a dual-entry system offering both a Swing-based GUI and a CLI, engineered to handle complex API redirects and asynchronous data retrieval.
I like building things
I have attended 1+ hackathons, where I focused on building solutions for overlooked problems that people struggle with daily. I love that technology allows me to create impactful projects across diverse areas.
NASA Space Apps Challenge
Muncie, Indiana
For our project, we developed a web application with API integrations. We used various APIs to poll for Air Quality Index data, climate related news, as well as humidity reports. Our application also has an optional opt-in text-messaging system to alert users to dangerous air quality levels in their area.
Giving back with time and code
I enjoy volunteering because I like working on projects and solving real problems where I can contribute to the solution.
Supported conservation initiatives by building protective fencing, clearing wildlife trails, and restoring habitats for endangered species. Collaborated with park staff and volunteers to ensure safety, punctuality, and team efficiency.
Contributed to construction of homes for underserved families, applying project management and teamwork skills in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Worked alongside mentors to gain insight into effective planning, safety, and quality practices.
