Michael Puthumana

Summer Graduate Intern @ NYPD | Computer Engineering @ NCSU | Pitt Alumni

West Nyack, New York, United States

About

As a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, studying Computer Science with a biology and chemistry concentration, I am deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and science with problem-solving. My initial fascination with natural science and its analysis has evolved into a love for hardware and software engineering, which I believe has the versatility to address a wide range of real-world challenges. I thrive in collaborative team environments that drive innovation through diverse perspectives. Whether leading a project or contributing as a team member, I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is valued. With proficiencies in Python and Java, I am eager to expand my programming skills further and explore the intricacies of these languages. I am particularly excited about delving into robotics and embedded systems engineering, applying my software expertise to these dynamic fields. I am committed to continual growth and learning, and I look forward to making a positive impact by applying my skills in various settings.

Experience

  • Summer Graduate Intern at New York City Police Department
    Jun 2026 - Present · 1 mo

    Information Technology Bureau | Strategic Technology Division

  • Kappa Theta Pi @ Pitt (2 yrs 10 mos)
    • Vice President of Standards
      Apr 2025 - May 2026 · 1 yr 2 mos

      - Coordinated with President and Vice President the establishment of Standards Committee and code of conduct in line with university guidelines - Enforce adhering to policies, expectations, and values outlined in code of conduct - Organize education regarding responsibility and appropriate behavior within fraternity

    • Vice President of Membership
      Apr 2024 - Apr 2025 · 1 yr 1 mo

      - Organized and hosted recruitment events and interviews to meet potential new members - Oversaw assistant recruitment chair and new member education - Coordinated Big/Little matching events with executive board

    • Assistant Recruitment Chair
      Aug 2023 - Apr 2024 · 9 mos

      - Coordinated with executive board to organize recruitment events for prospective members

  • Robotics Hardware Researcher at University of Pittsburgh FACETLab
    Aug 2024 - May 2026 · 1 yr 10 mos

    - Developed C++ code for ESP8266 and ESP32 microcontrollers for real-time pipelined speech communication with social programmable robots using Microsoft Azure - Breadboarded circuits to integrate audio-based ESP behavior with Hummingbird robotics - Added new features for robotic control to custom user-interface used by lab for interacting with robots

  • Full Stack Engineer Intern at PNC
    May 2025 - Aug 2025 · 4 mos

    - Designed full stack solutions to web development of client and advisor family office banking portals adding new components, updating UI, and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards - Created dashboard to oversee system performance and failure metrics for client and advisor portals

  • Research Engineer at Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute
    May 2024 - Aug 2024 · 4 mos

    - Collaborated with team to develop GUI designed to interact with an automated robot involved in the deconstruction of electronic devices to simplify the process of recycling - Labelled data and trained MLM with intention of identifying device components to be removed by robot