Felix Deng

Resume

I build real projects: games, AI tools, research prototypes, and social-impact software.

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Education

  • University of California, Berkeley

    Berkeley, CA

    Computer Science.

  • Redmond High School

    Redmond, WA

    GPA 3.98/4.0. AP Scholar with Distinction.

Skills

  • Languages

    Python, C++, C#, JavaScript, HTML/CSS

  • Game development

    Unity, combat systems, multiplayer/networking experiments, UI, VFX, game-feel tuning

  • AI / ML

    AI chat integration, prompt engineering (LLMs + diffusion models), evaluation rubric design, speech-to-text, survey/experiment data analysis in Python

  • App & web development

    Ionic React, push notifications, App Store shipping, Express.js, MongoDB

  • Certifications

    HTML and JavaScript — Computing for All

Experience

  • Companion Connect — Founder / CEO

    Aug 2023 – present

    Founded an AI-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit addressing teen loneliness. Lead a 20-person volunteer team serving 2,000+ users in 4 countries (500+ daily users, 60,000+ chats, 10,000+ affirmations delivered); partnered with schools and youth organizations.

  • Cal Poly Pomona, Softcom Lab — Research Intern

    Jun 2025 – present

    Design and run surveys and experiments on AI and teen mental health; clean and analyze data in Python. Co-authored and presented an empathetic-AI paper at BINLP 2025; co-filed a provisional patent application with the USPTO (No. 63/869,337). Also designed Unity-based AI agents that dynamically adjust challenge levels, under Prof. Yu Sun.

  • Computing for All — Pre-Apprenticeship Intern

    Oct 2024 – Aug 2025

    Built HTML/CSS/JavaScript projects, including a JavaScript game raising mental-health awareness and a published website on environmental sustainability resources.

Projects

  • AI companion app for teen loneliness — live on the iOS App Store; 2nd place, Google IgniteCS.

  • Two peer-reviewed papers on multimodal AI storytelling; improved model iteration efficiency by 39–51%.

  • AI-guided learning game — 1st place at Microsoft's national game development competition; 300+ App Store downloads.

  • 2D fighting/arena game with original combat systems.

  • Multiplayer Unity/C# game, published on the App Store with 500+ downloads.

  • Corporatify

    Full-stack web app converting plain English into corporate speak using LLMs — Express.js, MongoDB, Gemini API, Bootstrap.

Research

Leadership

  • President, RHS Video Game Development Club

    Doubled membership (35 → 63), hosted 10+ workshops on Unity and game design, partnered with 3 clubs for a district-wide competition, and coordinated with Microsoft to provide mentors — two club teams won Microsoft's Hunt the Wumpus competition.

  • Vice President, RHS Fighting Games Club

    Organized two district-wide tournaments with 100+ players and hosted wellness talks on healthy gaming culture.

  • Senior Patrol Leader, BSA Troop 520 — Eagle Scout

    Led 80+ Scouts; planned weekly meetings and camps and mentored younger Scouts. Earned Eagle rank with Gold Palm; Eagle project rebuilt a community trail.

  • Organized a youth TEDx event on mental health — secured the venue, recruited and coached speakers — and gave the talk "Transforming Loneliness to Growth."

  • Volunteer Instructor, Redmond STEM Center

    Taught introductory VEX robotics to 5th–8th graders and wrote a six-week curriculum on drivetrain physics, sensors, and autonomous programming; redesigned outreach materials, doubling summer enrollment.

Awards

  • Microsoft Hunt the Wumpus Game Development — 1st Place

    National · 2024

    Placed 1st of 160+ contestants.

  • Google IgniteCS Programming Competition — 2nd Place

    International

    Led development and demo of Companion Connect; judged on technical quality, functionality, and impact.

  • USACO Gold Division

    Jan 2025

    Promoted to Gold, the second-highest division, in the USA Computing Olympiad.

  • AIME Qualifier

    Oct 2022

    Qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam via the AMC 10 (about the top 3% of test-takers worldwide).

  • AP Scholar with Distinction

    National

    Averaged 3.5+ across all AP exams with scores of 3+ on five or more.

  • DECA State Qualifier — Business Plan

    Feb 2023

    Qualified for state with a 20-page business plan for a computer-vision swimming app.

  • Eagle Scout with Gold Palm

    Jan 2024

    BSA Troop 520, Redmond.