PhD in Bioengineering
University of Colorado Denver Anschutz, In Progress
Masters of Science in Software Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), NASA Research Park, Moffett Field, CA,
Bachelors of Science in Cognitive Science
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pittsburgh, PA
Concentration in Artificial Intelligence
Minors in Computer Science and Computational Neuroscience
Concentration in Artificial Intelligence
Minors in Computer Science and Computational Neuroscience
Computers
What am I Best At?
I love data. I am excellent at serving as an interface between computer scientists and individuals in other disciplines.
I love data. I am excellent at serving as an interface between computer scientists and individuals in other disciplines.
Favorite Computer Languages
Standard ML, MATLAB, Python
The most significant lesson I learned from CMU Computer Science is not any particular language, but how to formulate precise and concise problems and solutions like a computer scientist. Thus, I can solve problems independently of language and learn new languages easily.
Standard ML, MATLAB, Python
The most significant lesson I learned from CMU Computer Science is not any particular language, but how to formulate precise and concise problems and solutions like a computer scientist. Thus, I can solve problems independently of language and learn new languages easily.

Principal Security Architect
Identity and Access Management Supervisor
Stanford Health Care Information Technology
April 2015 - September 2015, Signature Consultants
September 2015 - Present
I manage work for the IT Security Operations team and serve as the functional manager and technical lead for automation projects up to $4M because I am an all purpose developer, strong leader, trusted with confidential information, and comfortable working in a healthcare environment without tolerance for failure. A few technologies that have been especially important are Microsoft Powershell, Active Directory, Imprivata OneSign, and knowledge of Windows Servers and Desktops.
Stanford Congressional Cyber & AI Boot Camp, 2019
Stanford Cyber Policy Center | Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance
I worked with the organizing team to develop and execute a ransomware attack simulation. I gave participants (US Congressional Staffers) feedback on their plans as part of the "Board of Trustees" panel, along with other industry experts and executives.
Identity and Access Management Supervisor
Stanford Health Care Information Technology
April 2015 - September 2015, Signature Consultants
September 2015 - Present
I manage work for the IT Security Operations team and serve as the functional manager and technical lead for automation projects up to $4M because I am an all purpose developer, strong leader, trusted with confidential information, and comfortable working in a healthcare environment without tolerance for failure. A few technologies that have been especially important are Microsoft Powershell, Active Directory, Imprivata OneSign, and knowledge of Windows Servers and Desktops.
Stanford Congressional Cyber & AI Boot Camp, 2019
Stanford Cyber Policy Center | Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance
I worked with the organizing team to develop and execute a ransomware attack simulation. I gave participants (US Congressional Staffers) feedback on their plans as part of the "Board of Trustees" panel, along with other industry experts and executives.
Teaching Assistant Neuromorphic Computer Architecture
CMU - Electrical Engineering Department
Spring 2018
I assisted with the development of a new course that introduced Space-Time Algebra, Temporal Neural Networks, and Generalized Race Logic. Responsibilities included creation of new lab assignments, grading student work, coaching team projects, and giving lectures and recitations.
CMU - Electrical Engineering Department
Spring 2018
I assisted with the development of a new course that introduced Space-Time Algebra, Temporal Neural Networks, and Generalized Race Logic. Responsibilities included creation of new lab assignments, grading student work, coaching team projects, and giving lectures and recitations.
Data Mining and Applications Graduate Certificate
Stanford University
June 2015 - August 2016
I pursued data skills by taking courses at Stanford that covered everything from K-Means clustering to Neural Networks.
Stanford University
June 2015 - August 2016
I pursued data skills by taking courses at Stanford that covered everything from K-Means clustering to Neural Networks.
Hathor Tech
Adventures in a Silicon Valley Startup
December 2014 - March 2015
Adventures in a Silicon Valley Startup
December 2014 - March 2015
Head Teaching Assistant 15-150 Principles of Functional Programming
CMU – Computer Science Department
January 2012 – May 2014, Worked with Dr. Michael Erdmann, Dr. Stephen Brookes, Dr. Jeanette Wing, Ian Voysey, Dr. Dan Licata
I assisted the development of 15150 Principles of Functional Programming, especially as different professors joined the course. Responsibilities included
Social Computing Research Assistant
CMU – Human Computer Interaction Institute
May 2011 – December 2012, Advised by Dr. Robert Kraut
I was a key designer, the sole programmer, and one of two who carried out the experiment in the following paper, which won an Honorable Mention for Best Paper at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2013.
CMU – Computer Science Department
January 2012 – May 2014, Worked with Dr. Michael Erdmann, Dr. Stephen Brookes, Dr. Jeanette Wing, Ian Voysey, Dr. Dan Licata
I assisted the development of 15150 Principles of Functional Programming, especially as different professors joined the course. Responsibilities included
- teaching and supplementing course material in labs
- holding office hours and responding to student questions on online bulletin boards
- grading student work,
- creating and improving assignments and exams
- hiring and training new Teaching Assistants
- managing a course staff of 15 to 20, scheduling assignments and delegating responsibilities appropriately
- assisting under exceptional circumstances
- "Amy was super helpful and nice; she helped me go over a homework without outright telling me the answer and I was very grateful for her."
- "Amy is so nice! Plus, she helps me at like 3 am."
- "Amy is soooo nice! I thought she did really well teaching the lecture on Regular Expressions."
- "I wish I got help from Amy Z more."
Social Computing Research Assistant
CMU – Human Computer Interaction Institute
May 2011 – December 2012, Advised by Dr. Robert Kraut
I was a key designer, the sole programmer, and one of two who carried out the experiment in the following paper, which won an Honorable Mention for Best Paper at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2013.
Zhu, H., Zhang, A., He, J., Kraut, R. E., & Kittur, A. (2013, April). Effects of peer feedback on contribution: a field experiment in Wikipedia. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 2253-2262). ACM.
Brains
What am I Best At?
I am excellent at using new technologies to study neuroscience.
Program in Neural Computation Undergraduate Fellow
CMU – Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition
May 2012 – May 2014, Advised by Dr. Nathan Urban
I studied the neuroscience of odor tracking in Professor Nathan Urban's lab. To accomplish this we trained mice to follow odor trails under a variety of conditions, built video tracking software to work with a diffused illumination multitouch surface, and gathered behavioral data.
Neuroscience Undergraduate Research
Brown University – Neuroscience Department
The Leadership Alliance - Summer Research Early Identification Program
Summer 2013, Advised by Dr. Barry Connors
I used immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology to study vitro slice physiology of inhibitory neurons in postrhinal cortex in mice.
Psychology of Mathematics Independent Study
CMU – Psychology Department
January 2011 – May 2011, Advised by Dr. Robert Siegler
Laboratory Skills
Mouse (mus musculus) laboratory work including care, behavioral training, perfusion, immunofluorescence, patch/voltage clamp recording
pCLAMP, SPSS, E-Prime, Microsoft Excel
I am excellent at using new technologies to study neuroscience.
Program in Neural Computation Undergraduate Fellow
CMU – Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition
May 2012 – May 2014, Advised by Dr. Nathan Urban
I studied the neuroscience of odor tracking in Professor Nathan Urban's lab. To accomplish this we trained mice to follow odor trails under a variety of conditions, built video tracking software to work with a diffused illumination multitouch surface, and gathered behavioral data.
Neuroscience Undergraduate Research
Brown University – Neuroscience Department
The Leadership Alliance - Summer Research Early Identification Program
Summer 2013, Advised by Dr. Barry Connors
I used immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology to study vitro slice physiology of inhibitory neurons in postrhinal cortex in mice.
Psychology of Mathematics Independent Study
CMU – Psychology Department
January 2011 – May 2011, Advised by Dr. Robert Siegler
Laboratory Skills
Mouse (mus musculus) laboratory work including care, behavioral training, perfusion, immunofluorescence, patch/voltage clamp recording
pCLAMP, SPSS, E-Prime, Microsoft Excel