Here is info about me:
Aizhuldyz Nadirkhanova
Computer Science, SEDS 2024 Alumni
Core Network Engineer Huawei

My name is Aizhuldyz Nadirkhanova, and I am applying for the Social and Humanitarian Contributors category of the SEDS Alumni Walk of Fame. As a SEDS student, I've often found myself torn between focusing on my research and tech career or continuing my social contributions. Over time, I realized that my true path involves balancing both. Throughout my time at NU, I've dedicated myself to using technology for social good.

I actively mentor high school girls, secure grants and lead social projects. For example, I implemented “Safe.Qogam", a massive mental health project for rural high schools in Atyrau, funded by the USgov AEIF grant, where we conducted sessions for psychologists and students. I also co-designed a "Forest Burning Prevention" project at Huawei SFTF, which earned a Top-3 spot in the MECA region and was showcased in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, UAE. As one of the active prominent students in the program, I had the opportunity to visit the UAE and China. I also mentored students in the Technovation program, where my mentees won the local "Jury’s Choice" award. Through the LeadershipKZ project, I organized over 100 sessions and posted more than 900 educational content pieces to inspire and educate youth in Kazakhstan. Currently, I'm working on a social project that is US funded to develop a fraud cases database to help elderly people avoid scams, enhancing their safety and well-being.

My university life has been equally active. I was the class representative of the Computer Science 2024 cohort, and resolved registrar and schedule problems for my peers and many more. I organized the Club Fair at NU as president for two consecutive years, engaged 6000 students and coordinating various student organizations. I was a proud member of ACM, Latino Social Dance, and the Board Games clubs, where I performed, organized events, and actively contributed to university life.

In addition to my social good initiatives, I worked as a Research Assistant at the IoT lab and published a paper titled "Energy-efficient Clock-Synchronization in IoT Using Reinforcement Learning" at the IEEE DCOSS IoT conference. Currently, I work as a Core Network Engineer at Huawei.

Overall, I would describe my journey as finding a balance between advancing my tech career and making meaningful social contributions. Starting from mentoring young students to developing innovative solutions for social issues, my work reflects a strong commitment to education, community safety, and environmental protection. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with my own startup in the future, combining both my passions for technology and social good :)

Thank you for considering my application!

Best,
Aizhuldyz Nadirkhanova

My name is Aldamzhar Kiikbayev, Class of 2024,
Alumni, Master of Data Science and Bachelor of Computer Science,
both degrees obtained at NU SEDS.

My category is Startup Innovators

Among my many achievements during my time at NU SEDS the brightest ones are:
1. Co-founder and CEO of Mental (AI Mental Therapy startup, striving to be a supplementary product for therapists and provide faster access to them for users)
2. Mental is the member of Microsoft For Startups Founders Hub (accelerator, that provides sponsorships to startups, in this case Mental, up to $150000 for further development)
3. Co-Founder of NU Student Investment Fund Quantitative Division (usage of Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Investment Portfolio optimization, is active in the fund)
4. Co-Founder of PerFe agency (as co-CEO, built 2 products for students and members of NU community, a website and telegram bot)
5. Quest Ventures "Venture Leaders" Scholarship Recipient ($2500 program)
6. 1st place at investment portfolio competition at AIFC BCPD program
7. Finalist of Changellenge IT Cup Kazakhstan 2020 competition
8. QWANT Upskill Data Science Program Alumni
9. Speaker at NU Alumni Reunion at 2022 (was invited due to my IT career accomplishments in product and project management)

There are many success stories and challenges in my career as an IT entrepreneur and an operator, I will share the most significant that contributed to the startup ecosystem:
1. Co-founding PerFe agency, because it has shown the team spirit of NU students, readying for tackling any challenge related to app development for successful digitalization of Kazakh businesses of any size. I see it as a product of my Computer Science Bachelor degree. In our case, we succeeded in creating a telegram bot for organizers of dance festivals and creating a landing page for an influential NU student to boost her business' indicators even further
2. Co-founding Mental, because it has a great potential and is in the process of gaining a large traction of students and not only students who are in need of accessible and affordable mental therapy. I illustrate it as a product of my Data Science Masters degree journey. First frontier of the market that we target is our beloved NU community, and currently we are in the process of creating an effective marketplace bridge between therapists and users, in order to fasten the access, because time is everything in terms of saving a healthy body and mind. Our successful enrollment to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub only proves the product-market fit of our AI product
3. Provided valuable consultation to the people who participated in Hackathon for youth at NU, which resulted in 2nd place. It felt very great that my time and experience invested in talented minds gave dividends and made me inspired to do something like this in the future!

Among the challenges and lessons learned, all I can state is that working in a team, finding compromises and powerful deals to make everyone in the startup community was not easy, but in the end it paid and will pay dividends both career and personal-wise

At the end of this letter, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all my fellow students, professors that support my startup journey, my family for believing in me and the SEDS for giving the opportunity to platform my achievements and successful stories and to give upcoming students something to believe in and to be an inspiration and role model!

During my time at NU SEDS, I embarked on a transformative journey, driven by a passion to bridge the gap between traditional scientific research and practical applications, with a particular focus on the commercialization of innovations for Kazakhstan's sustainable development. My academic and professional pursuits have been deeply intertwined with the belief that science can be a powerful catalyst for positive change, and this conviction has guided me through every challenge and opportunity.

As I delved into my doctoral research on the “Design Study of Interfacial Microstructure of Topologically Complex Multi-Scale Composition,” I uncovered new ways to integrate diverse materials, pushing the boundaries of material science. This work not only earned me a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Nazarbayev University but also resulted in the publication of four Q1 research papers in top-ranking journals and the acquisition of two patents. These accomplishments were not just personal milestones; they were a testament to the potential of innovative research to shape the future of industries and improve the quality of life.

Beyond my research, I have been actively involved in the management and execution of several grant-financed scientific projects, including “Tens-Air-Blade,” “Ultrasat,” “Multilayer Inertial Reactive Armor,” “WICAN,” “COREWind,” and “Zhas Galym” - “QZ-SAT.” Each of these projects has provided me with the opportunity to apply my expertise to real-world challenges, from developing advanced materials for defense to pioneering new technologies in renewable energy.

My dedication to science extends beyond my own research. As a member of the Council of Young Scientists at the Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a board member of the Young Researcher Alliance, I have worked tirelessly to foster a collaborative and innovative scientific community. I believe in the power of mentorship and have made it my mission to inspire and support the next generation of scientists in Kazakhstan.

Throughout this journey, I have learned invaluable lessons in perseverance, collaboration, and adaptability. I have come to understand that true innovation is not just about groundbreaking discoveries but also about the ability to translate those discoveries into solutions that address the practical needs of society. Every project I have undertaken has been a stepping stone in my lifelong commitment to building a sustainable and prosperous future for Kazakhstan through the power of science and technology.

As I look to the future, I am filled with a sense of purpose and determination. My journey is far from over, and I am eager to continue exploring new frontiers in science, pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and contributing to the betterment of our society. Together, we can build a future where innovation drives progress, and where every scientific achievement is a step towards a brighter, more sustainable world.

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to submit my profile for the "Eminent Career Role Models" category in the SEDS Alumni Walk of Fame.

Notable Achievements:

Internships: Gained valuable experience interning at Yandex and Meta.
Professional Experience: Worked as a Software Engineer at Zenpulsar, UvU (Kazakhstan's leading taxi transportation service), and Aliro Immigrations (a dynamic immigration startup).
Current Role: Currently employed as a Software Engineer at Meta in London.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: Co-founded and served as CTO for startups Vbox (smart vending machines) and Eventter (an app for local events).
Competitions: Achieved semi-finalist status in the ICPC and won several hackathons, including the National Bilim Hackathon.

Best regards,
Meiirlan Suiirkhanov