Zuhair Merchant

Software Engineer

Worked on projects with AWS, and used AWS’s services to create chatbots, voice recognition & translators

In my projects, I extensively utilized Amazon Web Services (AWS) to harness its powerful cloud computing capabilities. Specifically, I created sophisticated chatbots, voice recognition systems, and language translators using AWS’s diverse range of services. For instance:
• Amazon Lex: I used this service to build conversational chatbots with natural language understanding, enabling users to interact with applications through text and voice.
• Amazon Polly: Leveraged this text-to-speech service to convert written text into lifelike speech, enhancing the functionality of voice recognition applications.
• Amazon Translate: Implemented this service to develop real-time translation features, supporting multiple languages and ensuring seamless communication across different linguistic barriers.



Discovered the world of AWS and the hundreds of services that it offers

During my exploration of AWS, I delved into the extensive ecosystem of services it provides. This journey included:
• AWS Lambda: Understanding serverless computing to run code without provisioning or managing servers.
• Amazon S3: Utilizing scalable storage for data and media, ensuring high availability and security.
• Amazon EC2: Deploying virtual servers in the cloud to handle various workloads and applications.
• AWS CloudFormation: Automating resource provisioning and management through infrastructure as code.
• Amazon RDS: Implementing managed relational databases for scalable and secure data storage.



Integrating AWS products in several projects

I have successfully integrated various AWS products into multiple projects to enhance their functionality and scalability. This included:
• Using AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management): To manage access and permissions securely across different services and users.
• Incorporating AWS CloudWatch: For monitoring and logging application performance and resource usage.
• Utilizing AWS SNS (Simple Notification Service): For setting up notifications and alerts to ensure timely responses to critical events.
• Implementing AWS DynamoDB: To leverage a fast and flexible NoSQL database for high-performance applications.



Optimized application performance and improved user experience

To enhance application performance and user experience, I focused on several optimization strategies:
• Performance Tuning: Analyzing and optimizing code, databases, and server configurations to reduce latency and improve response times.
• Utilizing AI:Utilized AWS SageMaker for advanced AI-driven data analysis and insights generation.
• Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Using tools like AWS CloudWatch and AWS X-Ray to monitor performance, identify bottlenecks, and continuously optimize the application for better performance and user satisfaction.

Research Assistant

Incorporating AWS services like Elastic Load Balancing, EC2, Lambda, and S3 in the project:

In my project, I utilized key AWS services to build a robust and reliable e-commerce platform:
• Elastic Load Balancing (ELB): Ensures seamless distribution of incoming traffic across multiple EC2 instances, preventing downtime and enhancing user experience during high-traffic periods.
• EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud): Provides scalable virtual servers to run the platform's core applications. I configured EC2 instances to accommodate varying workloads efficiently.
• AWS Lambda: Integrated serverless computing to handle event-driven processes such as generating recommendations, sending notifications, or processing user feedback, reducing operational overhead.
• Amazon S3: Utilized for secure and scalable storage of product images, user data, and backups, ensuring high availability and durability while minimizing storage costs.



Researched complex user requests regarding software installation challenges using knowledge base articles and vendor resources:

Drawing on my problem-solving skills, I addressed intricate technical issues faced by users during software installations. This involved:
• Team Coordination: Working closely with other developers, database administrators, and project managers to ensure smooth project execution. Regular meetings and communication channels were established to facilitate collaboration and address any challenges promptly.
• Leveraging knowledge base articles: Consulted internal documentation to understand recurring issues and their solutions.
• Collaborating with vendors: Engaged with software providers to clarify complex configurations and update best practices.
• Streamlining resolutions: Documented findings to refine processes, reducing resolution time and enhancing customer satisfaction.

This proactive approach not only improved issue resolution rates but also strengthened my analytical and research capabilities, which were instrumental in my e-commerce platform development.



The potential of cloud computing in transforming other industries based on insights gained from my platform:

My experience with AWS underscored the transformative power of cloud computing across industries:
• Healthcare: By leveraging services like AWS HealthLake, cloud computing can enable secure storage and analysis of patient data, driving better diagnostics and personalized care.
• Education: Services such as AWS AppStream and EC2 can provide scalable virtual labs, making remote learning accessible and interactive.
• Finance: With tools like AWS Kinesis, real-time data streaming can enhance fraud detection systems and improve decision-making processes.

Summer IT Intern

Working with C#, SQL Database, and Visual Studio to create Web POS projects and web forms

In my role, I have leveraged C#, SQL databases, and Visual Studio to develop interactive projects and web forms. This involved:
• C#: Utilizing this versatile programming language to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code for various applications. I used C# for both backend logic and frontend interactions, creating dynamic and responsive user interfaces.
• SQL Database: Implementing and managing SQL databases to store, retrieve, and manipulate data. This included designing database schemas, writing complex SQL queries, and ensuring data integrity and security.
• Visual Studio: Using this integrated development environment (IDE) to streamline the development process. Visual Studio’s robust features, such as IntelliSense, debugging tools, and integrated testing, enabled me to develop, test, and deploy applications efficiently.
• Interactive Projects and Web Forms: Building Web POS Projects, interactive web forms and applications that provide a seamless user experience. This involved implementing form validation, data binding, and event handling to ensure robust and user-friendly interfaces.



Collaborated with a team on multiple projects to access the company's database

Collaboration was a key aspect of my work, particularly in projects requiring database access. This included:
• Team Coordination: Working closely with other developers, database administrators, and project managers to ensure smooth project execution. Regular meetings and communication channels were established to facilitate collaboration and address any challenges promptly.
• Database Access: Developing and implementing secure methods to access and manipulate the company’s database. This involved writing and optimizing SQL queries, stored procedures, and functions to handle data efficiently.
• Role-Based Access Control: Ensuring that database access was managed through role-based access control (RBAC), allowing only authorized personnel to perform specific actions on the database. This was crucial for maintaining data security and compliance.
• Version Control: Using version control systems like Git to manage code changes and ensure that all team members were working with the latest codebase. This also facilitated code reviews and collaborative problem-solving.

Lamar University

Lamar University