Cassidy Bates
Conway,AR
Summary
Hard working university graduate with a strong background in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Software Engineering. Possesses experience with multiple languages, with particular skills in Java and Python. Strong experience in academic research and publication with multiple published research papers.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
05.2024 - 07.2024
- Concentrated on Unity development of a Virtual Reality learning environment using the Meta Quest 2 for the purpose of cybersecurity education.
- Utilized C#, Photon Unity Networking, UltimateXR, and MetaXR in Unity to develop a high quality educational game within Virtual Reality.
- Collaborated daily with a team of six that consists of four graduate researchers and two undergraduate researchers, focusing on effective communication, teamwork, and contribution in developing an innovative research project.
- Familiarized the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process for conducting usability testing. Contributed to drafting essential documentations for IRB approval, including recruitment forms, consent forms, and sign-up forms.
- Presented final findings to other peer researchers and faculties at the Summer Forum 2024 at the University of Missouri-Columbia (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10975863).
- REU Consumer Networking research group, funded by National Science Foundation.
Count UP Math Tutor
Central Arkansas Library System
Little Rock, AR
10.2025 - Current
- Worked as a math tutor teaching grades 7-12 as a part of the Count UP tutoring program.
- Gained extensive skills in supervising and educating less experienced students to ensure success.
- Furthered expertise in a broad range of math concepts from high school to early college levels and honed expertise in interpersonal skills, teamwork, and adaptability.
B.S. Computer Science Capstone Project Manager
Drury University
Springfield, MO
08.2024 - 05.2025
- Worked alongside the Drury University theatre department in the development of 'School Spirit', an interactive horror movie that allows the viewers to vote on different decisions throughout the movie and influence the protagonists decisions.
- Worked as project manager throughout the year-long project with responsibilities such as organizing team meetings, allocating workload and tasks, and managing sprint goals.
- Gained extensive experience in Unreal Engine 5.
- Developed multiple post processing effects to simulate film within the UE5 game engine.
- Worked on development of UI.
- The university's theatre department.
Herbarium Assistant Manager
Drury University
Springfield, MO
08.2021 - 05.2025
- Worked as an assistant to professor of Biology Dr. Ioana Popescu at Drury University to help with the restoration of the Drury University Herbarium.
- Developed extensive, versatile skills in organization, database development, and specimen photography.
- Gained experience in the development of a multi-faceted, four-year project that required adaptability and a diverse skill set through the creation of the Drury University Herbarium database.
- Assisted professor of Biology Dr. Ioana Popescu.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science, Fine Arts, Graphic Storytelling
Drury University
Springfield, MO05-2025
Skills
GitHub
SQL
Agile Methodology
Scrum
Software Engineering
Application Development and UI
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Teamwork
Project Management
Presentation
Languages
Java
Python
Ruby
C++
C#
HTML
JavaScript
CSS
Node.js
React.js
Research Projects And Academic Achievements
- Completed a semester-long research project in Fall of 2023 investigating the ethics and future applications of AI generated art that involved interviewing many professionals in the field and understanding how generative art models are created and trained.
- Completed a semester-long research project exploring ML Agents in Unity and gained substantial skill in understanding and developing reinforcement-based machine learning models in Fall of 2024.
- Completed a semester-long research project investigating the theory and development of concept art for video games and movies in Spring of 2025.
- Completed minimum viable product and design proposal in automotive design as a part of Human Computer Interface Design class in Spring of 2025.
- Awarded Outstanding Senior in Computer Science before graduating in 2025.
Accomplishments
● Completed a semester-long research project in Fall of 2023 investigating the ethics and future applications of AI generated art that involved interviewing many professionals in the field and understanding how generative art models are created and trained.
● Completed a semester-long research project exploring ML Agents in Unity and gained substantial skill in understanding and developing reinforcement-based machine learning models in Fall of 2024.
● Completed a semester-long research project investigating the theory and development of concept art for video games and movies in Spring of 2025.
● Completed minimum viable product and design proposal in automotive design as a part of Human Computer Interface Design class in Spring of 2025.
● Awarded Outstanding Senior in Computer Science before graduating in 2025.
Conference Experience And Publications
- 2025 IEEE Consumer Communications & Networking Conference (CCNC), Presented the work-in-progress research paper Adaptive Virtual Reality Learning Environment with a Reinforcement Learning-driven Pedagogical Agent as a part of 2024 REU at Mizzou., https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10975863
- 2025 Consortium for Computer Sciences in Colleges (CCSC) Mid South Conference, Awarded best paper as the primary author of School Spirit: Bringing Interaction to Modern Movies Through the Use of a Tree-Based Application in Unreal Engine 5.
- 2023 MINK Women in Computing conference, Kansas City, Gained significant experience in networking and working alongside professionals.
Timeline
Count UP Math Tutor
Central Arkansas Library System
10.2025 - Current
B.S. Computer Science Capstone Project Manager
Drury University
08.2024 - 05.2025
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Missouri
05.2024 - 07.2024
Herbarium Assistant Manager
Drury University
08.2021 - 05.2025
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science, Fine Arts, Graphic Storytelling
Drury University