# Rishi Vemulapalli

> Computer Engineering @ University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Location: Jericho, New York, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/rishivemulapalli

My name is Rishi Vemulapalli, a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, pursuing a B.S. in Computer Engineering and a Data Science Minor with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Cybernetics. I co-founded a FIRST Tech Challenge team and a non-profit organization to promote STEM education among young learners. As a Programming Lead for Illini VEX Robotics, I lead the team to develop cutting-edge autonomous navigation algorithms. I am highly passionate about artificial intelligence and machine learning, and I am actively seeking research and internship opportunities to further advance my skills and knowledge in these fields.

## Work Experience
### Shop Attendant @ Siebel Center for Design – The Shop
Jan 2025 – Present | Champaign, Illinois, United States
- Assist users with safe operation of makerspace equipment, including the Laser Cutter, CNC Machine, and Waterjet.
- Provide technical support and guidance to help users troubleshoot and bring projects from ideation to completion. 
- Train students in fabrication workflows such as soldering, joinery, and digital design transfer.

### Full-stack Developer @ Illini VEX Robotics
Jan 2024 – Present | Champaign, Illinois, United States
- Leading the re-design and development of a high-performance, responsive website, leveraging HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript to enhance online visibility and user engagement.
- Implementing advanced front-end features to ensure optimal navigation and accessibility across various devices and browsers, significantly boosting user experience and accessibility compliance.
- Engineering website optimizations to streamline content updates and website performance.

### Programming Team Lead @ Illini VEX Robotics
Jan 2023 – Present | Champaign, Illinois, United States
- Spearheading the development of cutting-edge algorithms for advanced robotics, optimizing precision in object manipulation and field navigation.
- Leading a team of fifteen programmers, establishing and enforcing high-quality coding standards, while providing in-depth training on proprietary libraries, autonomous algorithms, and C++ best practices.
- Overseeing the design and implementation of scalable, high-performance code architectures, driving the team to deliver innovative and reliable solutions that consistently push the boundaries of our robots’ capabilities.

### Robotics Mentor @ FIRST
Jan 2023 – Present | Jericho, New York, United States
- Mentored students to spark interest in STEM by organizing hands-on workshops and robotics demonstrations, introducing programming, electronics, and engineering concepts. 
- Collaborated with local schools and community organizations across Long Island, fostering a supportive learning environment and driving the growth of STEM education.

### Co-Founder and Captain @ FIRST
Jan 2018 – Jan 2023 | Jericho, New York, United States
As a co-founder and captain of the FIRST Tech Challenge Team 14461, the RoboHawks, I contributed to all aspects of robot design—mechanical, electrical, and programming—using my experience to inspire and educate interested students in STEM. I collaborated and mentored students from various schools across Long Island, New York to ensure long-term success. This role honed my organizational leadership skills, enabling me to lead the team to sustainable growth while fostering community engagement in robotics.

### Captain and Programming Lead @ VEX Robotics
Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 | Jericho, New York, United States
- Competed at 2023 VEX Robotics World Championship, demonstrating technical expertise and strategic leadership.
- Implemented advanced control systems, including PID, Bang Bang Controller, Odometry, and Computer Vision.
- Led team to success with effective project planning, task delegation, team coordination, and fostering collaboration.


## Education
### Bachelor of Science - BS in Computer Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

### High School Diploma
Jericho Senior High School

### Cornell University


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rishi-vemulapalli

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Source: https://flows.cv/rishivemulapalli
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/rishivemulapalli/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-05