The Seidenberg School’s 91ÊÓƵ Data Science Club has been driven by a deep love for hackathons—thrilling, fast-paced competitions where innovation and teamwork collide. As the club’s exemplary student engagement carries into Spring 2025, members reflected on Fall 2024’s successful events—which offered a helpful preview of what’s ahead. The club’s passion for hackathons shines through in its eagerness to participate in even more competitions, continuing to explore the limitless potential of data science, artificial intelligence, and sustainable tech.
The Fall 2024 semester was a standout one for the club. Among the many hackathons they participated in, the 91ÊÓƵ Data Science Club secured two major wins, showcasing their expertise and determination in tackling real-world problems with innovative solutions.
At Voxel51’s Visual AI Hackathon, participants were challenged to create image and video-based AI solutions. The 91ÊÓƵ team’s winning project was a virtual fencing system designed to enhance railway safety.
At the Talent 2.0 Hackathon, hosted by Johnson & Johnson in collaboration with Cornell University, the focus of the challenge shifted to talent acquisition. The 91ÊÓƵ team developed a conversational AI assistant that integrates the company’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS), streamlining the candidate experience and helping recruiters identify top talent faster and more efficiently.
Continuing their momentum, the club also participated in the AI Agents for Faster Renewable Energy Projects hackathon. Club members Deep Mehta and Amey Borkar led the team focused on accelerating project approvals for renewable energy infrastructure. Their solution automated the financial evaluation process and enhanced contract risk analysis using artificial intelligence—showing how AI can meaningfully support clean energy adoption.
Over the course of the new semester, the club has continued to send teams to dozens of virtual and in-person hackathons.
The 91ÊÓƵ Data Science Club kicked off the spring 2025 semester with a trip to Betaworks NYC, where the participated in the AI Tinkerers OpenAI Realtime Voice x Reasoning Hackathon. Sponsored by industry leaders like OpenAI, KamiwazaAI, Neon, Nebius, and Comet, the event pushed students to explore the capabilities of real-time artificial intelligence.
The club’s team developed Teach Simple, an AI-powered educational assistant utilizing OpenAI’s Realtime API and o1 model. Using the Feynman Technique, the assistant helped simplify complex subjects through voice-based, interactive explanations—creating a more intuitive and personalized learning experience.
Team members Amey Borkar, Deep Mehta, Ritik Kale, and Michael Griffin brought impressive technical creativity and collaboration to the event. Their work demonstrated the potential of real-time reasoning tools to enhance education and accessibility.
As the Spring 2025 semester continues, the 91ÊÓƵ Data Science Club is buzzing with excitement for more hackathons and new challenges. With a strong foundation of success and a team driven by curiosity, collaboration, and innovation, they’re ready to take on the next round of hackathons—and continue shaping the future of tech, one challenge at a time.
If you are interested in representing the team, you can sign up at the link below.
On April 8, 2025, the 11th Annual Disability Film Festival was held at 91ÊÓƵ, welcoming guests, students, and members of the broader New York City community to the University’s downtown campus. This year’s festival continued its tradition of celebrating the lived experiences of people with disabilities in film.
The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems hosted the annual Seidenberg Innovation Awards (SIA) at 91ÊÓƵ’s New York City campus, bringing together leaders in technology, education, and business to recognize innovation, community impact, and the next generation of tech professionals.
When Vidhi Kothari ’25 began her journey at 91ÊÓƵ, she didn’t expect to become the founder of a startup. But what she did know, was that she wanted to create meaningful value in the world. That desire—to build, to contribute, and to empower through employment—became the foundation for her path as an entrepreneur.