M.S. Computer Science · DigiPen Institute of Technology

Alina Chuang

ML Engineer·AI Systems

Building intelligent systems — from real-time AI simulation to deep learning. 4 years in game AI & multiplayer systems, now focused on machine learning and neural networks. Currently pursuing an M.S. in CS with a focus on AI.

Alina Chuang

Work

Projects

UE5 AI Traffic Navigation demo
AI Systems Algorithms C++

Spline-Based AI Traffic Navigation

M.S. thesis project — 100-vehicle city traffic simulation in Unreal Engine 5. Replaced brute-force junction detection with a Grid Hash spatial index (400× speedup) and upgraded A* to a binary min-heap, enabling real-time re-routing at scale.

100+ AI Vehicles
400× Speedup
O(N) Detection
C++ · Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer XR demo
Systems Design Networking Unity

Multiplayer XR Architecture

Architectural documentation of a multiplayer XR system built with Unity and Photon Fusion. 47 classes across 5 system layers with an interactive class diagram covering networking, full-body avatar sync, and hand-interaction contracts.

47 Classes
5 Layers
4 yrs Industry
Unity · C# · Photon Fusion

Background

About

I'm a software engineer transitioning from game AI systems to machine learning. I spent 4 years building multiplayer VR gameplay at a professional level — writing real-time networking, physics-driven interaction, and synchronization systems in Unity.

That background gave me a strong foundation in algorithms and systems thinking. Now I'm applying it to ML: building neural networks from scratch, understanding backpropagation and gradient descent at the implementation level, and exploring deep learning architectures in PyTorch.

I'm currently pursuing an M.S. in Computer Science at DigiPen Institute of Technology (focus: AI & Computer Graphics), where I also serve as a Teaching Assistant for both Data Structures and Calculus. My thesis work involves building a scalable 100-vehicle AI traffic simulation system in Unreal Engine 5.

I'm actively looking for ML / AI Engineer roles where I can contribute to model development, applied deep learning, or AI systems work. Authorized to work in the U.S. — no sponsorship required.

Technical

Skills

Machine Learning

  • PyTorch
  • NumPy
  • CNNs / MLPs
  • Backpropagation
  • Regularisation (BN, Dropout)
  • Binary Cross-Entropy

Languages

  • Python
  • C++
  • C#

AI & Algorithms

  • A* (binary min-heap)
  • Grid Hash / Spatial Index
  • Behavior Trees
  • AI Navigation
  • Pursuit Steering

Engines & Frameworks

  • Unreal Engine 5 (C++)
  • Unity (C#)
  • Photon Fusion
  • XR Interaction Toolkit

Graphics

  • OpenGL
  • Vulkan

Tools

  • Git
  • Visual Studio
  • Jupyter Notebooks
  • Trello

Academic

Education

DigiPen Institute of Technology
M.S. in Computer Science
Focus: Artificial Intelligence · Computer Graphics
Sep 2026 – Aug 2027
DigiPen Institute of Technology
B.S. in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation
GPA: 3.947 / 4.0
Sep 2025 – Apr 2026
Tamkang University
Bachelor's degree, Computer Science
Sep 2016 – Jun 2020

Recognition

Awards & Honors

Dean's Honor List — Spring 2026
Issued by DigiPen Institute of Technology · Apr 2026
Dean's Honor List — Fall 2025
Issued by DigiPen Institute of Technology · Dec 2025
Triangle Game Jam Award — Top Prize
Issued by Triangle Game Jam · Mar 2025
Awarded for outstanding performance in the 2025 Triangle Game Jam, a collaborative game development competition across Duke, UNC, and NC State. Theme: "ACROSS DIMENSIONS." Our team earned the top award among multi-college teams.

Served as the C++ programmer for Whiskerhold, a dungeon crawler where players survive through a castle's hallway to reach the end. Responsible for gameplay mechanics and performance in Unreal Engine 5.