Student Teams

Faculty Mentor : Sudarshan Kurwadkar

Empowering First-Generation Immigrant College Students through a Unified Resource Hub

Individuals who are both first-generation immigrants and first-generation college students face the dual challenges of being first-generation in college and being immigrants, such as limited social capital, language barriers, academic preparation, psycholo gical barriers, the legal system, and cost-of-living expenses. However there is almost a lack of research and effort on this intersectional minority group.

Research from RTI International reveals that only 24% of first-generation students earn a bachelor's degree within six years. NACADA Journal reports that compared to continuing-generation students, more first-generation students had barriers with time to use resources, awareness of resources, and access to resources.

That's why we want to create EduLink, a one-stop educational resources hub that supports underrepresented minorities like first-generation immigrant college students. EduLink will connect them to scholarships, programs, and mentorship, encourage students to participate in activities with rewards, match students with resources that will benefit them, and help manage important events and deadlines.

Faculty Mentor : Sagil James

Disaster Response Bias Detector

Disasters don’t discriminate, but disaster response often does. Marginalized communities—whether by race, income, or disability—face disproportionate impacts, yet systemic biases hinder equitable aid distribution. Our AI-Driven Bias Detector ensures fair, effective disaster relief by identifying and mitigating biases in real time.

Using machine learning and big data, it audits aid distribution, analyzing disparities in food, water, medical supplies, and shelter allocation. It flags biases through real-time data from relief agencies, satellite imagery, and community reports. To prevent reinforcing biases, the model undergoes continuous validation with fairness-focused algorithms.

Beyond detection, the system provides actionable recommendations for equitable resource distribution and logistics optimization. A transparency dashboard enables stakeholders to track response efforts, while a crowdfunding feature empowers communities to mobilize aid. In an era of escalating crisis, our AI-powered solution enhances transparency, accountability, and resilience, ensuring every resource reaches those in need.

Faculty Mentor : Mira Kim

Dignity Plug-in – Build for Everyone in mind

Millions of people with disabilities face challenges using and creating apps because most DIY app-building platforms lack accessibility features. This leaves many individuals unable to fully participate in the digital world. Our solution, the Dignity Plugin, is designed to change that by seamlessly integrating accessibility tools into existing app builders.

This plugin offers features such as screen reader support, voice navigation, high-contrast display options, and customizable settings to accommodate different needs. Additionally, it provides short instructional videos that guide users through tasks step by step, making app creation more accessible for everyone.

By making these features easy to implement, we help DIY app builders expand their reach and create a more inclusive environment. Our goal is to ensure that anyone, regardless of ability, can design and use apps without barriers. With accessibility built in from the start, we can make technology work for everyone.

Faculty Mentor : Jin Woo Lee

A Wheelchair Attachment for Accessible Pantry Shopping

People with disabilities are especially impacted by food insecurity, but many food pantries are not made with accessibility in mind. Due to inadequately built shelving and a dearth of adaptable solutions, wheelchair users frequently have difficulty reaching necessary objects. Our research tackles this problem with two novel designs: the Angled Shelf System, which uses a gondola-style design to make things more accessible, and the Assist Arm, an electrically controlled grabber that can be put on a wheelchair and enables users to acquire objects on their own. By encouraging independence and diversity, these ideas make sure that food pantries better serve everyone. Our project aims to close the gap in food accessibility by creating workable, scalable, and affordable solutions. Convenience is not the only goal of this project; it also aims to improve equality in basic services and reconsider how public areas might serve a range of needs. We hope to bring about long-lasting improvements in the accessibility of food delivery through careful design.

Faculty Mentor : Jaya Dofe

CLEAN AIR FOR ALL: AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

Low-income communities often face respiratory health risks due to inadequate HVAC systems, a problem worsened by natural disasters like California wildfires. Poor air filtration disproportionately impacts underserved populations, increasing exposure to harmful pollutants and exacerbating respiratory conditions.

Our research focuses on developing an affordable, portable air purification system to improve indoor air quality. Equipped with HEPA and activated carbon filters, the device effectively removes wildfire smoke, dust, pollen, and bacteria. It features replaceable filters similar to household HVAC systems but in a smaller, cost-effective form. Integrated with sensors—including smoke, CO2, and air quality monitors like the RRH62000—the system ensures real-time monitoring.

This device enhances air quality and promotes environmental justice, by addressing filtration gaps in low-income housing, our solution supports health equity and mitigates the disproportionate effects of poor air quality on marginalized communities.

Faculty Mentor : Wenlin Han

Hex Cam

Our group chose to address home security in low-income neighborhoods, where break-ins, package thefts, and hit-and-runs are common. The most common deterrent for these crimes is setting up security systems outside a resident’s home. However, many low-income families struggle to afford and sustain these systems. To solve this issue, we plan to create and distribute low-cost security cameras made from recycled materials as an alternative to commercial home security systems. The camera will function alongside an app, be environmentally sustainable, and use minimal plastic to make it more environmentally sustainable. We aim to make them accessible to everyone in impoverished communities. Our design will include essential features of traditional security cameras, such as a light, live-view camera, and a sturdy structure. Additionally, our app will allow users to connect with neighbors to share information about local dangers. We hope our project helps less fortunate families feel safer in their homes

Faculty Mentor : Kanika Sood

Helping Education Become Affordable Again: A Modern Solution to Investing for the Cost of Education

Rising tuition costs are making higher education increasingly unattainable, with California State University tuition projected to jump 33.8%, from $5,742 in 2023-24 to $7,682 in 2028-29 (calstate.edu). Nationally, student debt surpasses $1.77 trillion (federalreserve.gov), hitting lowincome and minority families hardest. Our solution to this problem, a fintech platform, achieves this by combining financial literacy with long-term investing strategies. The platform utilizes a coin-based system for consistent contributions to a diversified portfolio (40% S&P 500 ETFs, 40% Nasdaq-100 ETFs, 20% customizable stocks). Free financial literacy courses and a multisignature withdrawal process encourage responsible fund use. Our sister nonprofit also accepts donations to aid low-income families directly. Together, they provide a collaborative approach to reducing student loan dependence and building generational wealth in underrepresented communities in higher education, offering a hopeful and optimistic future.

Faculty Mentor : Wenlin Han

UndocuLink: A Secure Career & Resources Platform for Undocumented Students

Undocumented students face significant barriers to securing professional opportunities, financial aid, and legal resources due to work authorization restrictions, ineligibility for federal aid, and heightened fears of ICE activity.

UndocuLink is a secure, privacy-first platform designed to address these challenges by providing real-time access to professional opportunities, legal aid, and ICE sighting updates. Through AI-driven recommendations, the platform ensures students receive personalized job and scholarship opportunities that are accessible to the community. With end-to-end encrypted messaging, zero personal data collection, and multilingual accessibility, UndocuLink fosters a safe and supportive community.

By integrating real-time alerts, secure communication, and financial aid resources, UndocuLink enables students to make informed decisions and navigate systemic challenges with confidence. As a nonprofit initiative, it ensures free and equitable access to these vital resources, positioning itself as a transformative tool for social justice and career empowerment. Undoclink aims to bridge the gap and help disadvantaged students succeed.

Faculty Mentor : Mira Kim

AI Powered Job Recovery & Assistance Program

Natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, mudslides, and earthquakes, along with human-caused crises, disproportionately affect low-income service workers in California, leaving many jobless and financially vulnerable each year. The AI-powered Job Recovery & Assistance Platform is a web and mobile application designed to support displaced workers —including nannies, housekeepers, gardeners, and other service industry workers —by providing access to employment opportunities, financial aid, and legal assistance in the aftermath of disasters.

Our proposed platform will use a multilingual AI-driven job matching, automated resume generation, and a grant recommendation engine to ensure equitable access to critical resources for marginalized communities. A free legal aid chatbot will assist workers in filing unemployment claims reporting wage theft, and basic legal information. Additionally, the system will foster community-driven support networks and work-life-related tips exchange to help individuals rebuild their lives and strengthen disaster resilience through communal strength.

This platform aims to reduce gaps in disaster recovery and ensures that vulnerable communities receive the economic opportunities and protection they deserve.

Faculty Mentor : Jin Woo Lee

Bridge of Hope

Millions of immigrants in the U.S. face significant challenges when seeking legal assistance. Finding trustworthy, affordable and accessible legal help can be overwhelming, especially due to language barriers and a lack of clear information. Many immigrants are unaware of their rights, legal options, or available resources, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation and exploitation.

To address this issue, we propose MABITO, a mobile app designed to serve as a bridge between immigrants and essential legal resources. MABITO provides a Pro Bono Lawyer Directory, offering access to free legal assistance based on the user’s location. The app also includes real-time immigration law updates, a Know Your Rights section, and clear guides on visa processes to help users understand their legal options. To make information more accessible, MABITO supports multiple languages, ensuring that users can navigate resources in their preferred language. Additionally, the app is privacy-focused, requiring no personal data, to ensure user security and trust.

Unlike existing resources that are often limited to specific locations or languages, MABITO provides nationwide, multilingual support in a single, user-friendly platform. Our team has conducted extensive research on immigrant challenges, designed the app’s framework and is eager to develop it further.

With MABITO, no immigrant has to feel lost in the legal system. Our goal is to empower immigrants with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate their legal journey safely and confidently.

Faculty Mentor : Kanika Sood

EduCARE: Education For All

EduCARE is an educational platform designed to bridge the accessibility gap between abled and disabled students. The platform integrates AI accessibility tools tailored to students’ needs, particularly for students with ADHD and deafness. The proposed system will enable instructors to upload course materials, and automatically format them for accessibility. Our primary focus is on students with ADHD, by implementing lecture summaries and assignment deadline planning, and deaf students, by adding a speech-to-text feature for video lectures.

The platform also enables students with similar peers to connect, fostering a community that encourages them to share experiences and collaborate. Community features include direct messaging, group forums, and profiles with contact details. Additionally, the platform makes it easier for students to contact their instructors and peers for support. Through EduCARE, we aim to streamline resources for disabled students and educators, as well as create a supportive environment that encourages academic success.

Faculty Mentor : Sudarshan Kurwadkar

TransitEase - AI Public Transit Accessibility Assistant

Public transit accessibility remains a major challenge for over 1 billion people, including seniors, disabled individuals, and those in underserved regions. Existing transit solutions, such as Google Maps and Wheelmap, have struggled with real-time reliability, limited accessibility filters, and inadequate multilingual support. Many past attempts yielded mixed results due to outdated data and poor integration with transit authorities. TransitEase Shuttle is an AI-powered, on-demand shuttle service that offers dynamic route planning, wheelchair-friendly navigation, real-time incident reporting, and multilingual accessibility. Unlike conventional transit apps, it leverages IoT sensors, AI-driven optimization, and verified crowdsourced reports to ensure reliable, inclusive transportation. A gamified rewards system promotes sustainable travel, while offline functionality ensures no user is left behind. Early pilots indicate a 30% reduction in trip abandonment, proving that scalable, equitable transit is achievable. By addressing past shortcomings, TransitEase Shuttle redefines public transportation as a truly accessible and user-centric experience.

Faculty Mentor : Kanika Sood

Empowering Colorectal Cancer Patients

Cancer treatments can drastically alter a patient’s dietary needs, as the body requires additional nutrients to combat the effects of treatment and support recovery. DreamBridge (Visit here) is a cross-platform application designed to provide cancer patients with AI-powered nutritional guidance, assisting them in meeting their dietary needs during treatment. DreamBridge leverages artificial intelligence to generate tailored meal plans and dietary recommendations based on a patient’s cancer type, stage, and dietary restrictions—bridging the gap between diagnosis and access to specialized nutritionists. In addition to dietary guidance, DreamBridge includes a calorie tracker that allows patients to monitor their daily food intake. The platform also features a community forum where users can create threads, share experiences, and engage in discussions, fostering a supportive community. Additionally, a resource hub connects patients with articles, local support groups, and links to established research programs for donations. By combining AI-driven recommendations, community support, and valuable health resources, DreamBridge empowers cancer patients to stay on track with their health goals and improve their quality of life during treatment.