About

Yash Mali Photo

👋🏼 I am an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) interested in Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence and Optimization. I have worked as a Research Assistant (RA) applying AI to many fields and as a software engineer. I am passionate about understanding how large neural networks work to develop safe and interpretable AI.

Awards

April 2025
Issued by - Department of Computer Science
Funded by - UBC, CIFAR, NSERC

"AML-TN sponsored internships highlight the value of developing young researchers as the next generation of machine learning specialists."

May 2024, 2025
Issued and funded by - UBC

"These awards subsidize professors to hire international undergraduate students to work full-time on their research projects in the Summer Session (May to August)."

Selected Projects

Visualizing Neural Network Feature Transformations ✖️➕

Takes some time to load. Made with TensorFlow JS.

Experience

Healthcare AI - Undergraduate Research🩺
May 2025 - Present

Bringing safe and interpretable AI into medicine. We build software that ingests medical guidelines and delivers evidence-based recommendations through natural language interfaces, with privacy preserved. Our work combines computer science, medical, and clinical research in collaboration with UBC’s Cloud Innovation Centre. Current projects include agentic NLP pipelines with UIs hosted on AWS chatbots for Bipolar Disorder and Depression. Supervised by Dr. John Jose Nunez.

ML Engineer - Undergraduate Research🏡
May 2025 - Present

Working with SCARP and Electrical and Computer Engineering to use large language models (LLMs) to analyze public records from Vancouver's housing development approval process. The work bridges AI and social science to address Canada's housing crisis. Supervised by Dr. Julia Harten and Dr. Christos Thrampoulidis

Unpacking AI 🎨
May 2025 – Present

Working with the faculty of arts to develop modules in existing faculty of arts courses that highlight how AI can be used in their field. For example, sequence modelling in economics or computer vision in archeology. Funded by UBC's Teaching and Learning Enhancement fund (TELF). Supervised by Dr. Laura Nelson and Dr. Jonathan Graves. Find more information here.

AI and Automation Developer🧬
September 2024 - May 2025

Applied AI-based drug discovery tools like AlphaFold and ProteinMPNN to optimize sequences and 3D structures of enzymes. Revamped automation systems for bioprocess engineering, orchestrating sensors, pumps, motors, and valves.

Computer Vision & Automation - Undergraduate Research🔬
May 2024 - September 2024

Developed particle tracking software using an ensemble of open-source computer vision models along with a UI to correct mistakes. Automated and developed data collection software for new instruments invented by the research group. Helped with some day-to-day lab activities. Supervised by Dr. John Frostad

Additional Experience

UBC AI Club 🦾
January 2025 – Present

President: Leading initiatives to encourage student understanding and future pathways in AI and ML.

UBC Uncrewed Aircraft Systems ✈️
September 2024 – Present
UAS

Leading the ML sub-team to explore and tune open-sourced models for object detection and tracking. This is a small piece of the puzzle on our drones that compete in two university-level autonomous drone competitions every year.

UBC Biological Internet of Things 🧬
May 2025 – Present

Automated brewing with IoT-controlled devices while also trying to make glow-in-the-dark beer using green fluorescent protein (GFP).

IT Helpdesk Support (part-time) 👨‍💻
May 2023 – May 2024

Provided technical assistance to faculty, staff, and students for tech-related queries and equipment across campus.