STEM Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025: Engineering & Technology

Ana Gonzalez is a Cuban computer science student pursuing an Associate in Arts degree at The Honors College at Miami Dade College. Early on, she became passionate about technology and first learned programming during high school. Despite the limited access to resources in her home country, she nurtured her interest through self-study and experimentation with code. After moving to the United States, she focused on strengthening her academic and language skills. At MDC, Ana serves as secretary of the Sigma Zeta National Science and Mathematics Honors Society and actively explores her interests in artificial intelligence, robotics, and environmental education. In Spring 2025, she presented at the Honors Communication Conference, where she discussed the evolving role of AI in modern communication and its impact on human interaction. She is currently co-developing an autonomous recycling robot to support campus sustainability. In the future, she aspires to become a software developer specializing in artificial intelligence and hopes to contribute to developing technologies.

Christopher Villanueva is a first-year student at MDC, School for Advanced Studies, North Campus. He is pursuing an associate in arts degree with a focus on electrical engineering. He is passionate about technology that makes solutions with smart systems and automation for everyday problems. Outside of the academic field, Christopher enjoys robotics and learning about emerging AI applications. This Summer, he is working on how AI can be applied to optimize waste management systems in urban areas. The project's intended purpose is to reduce overflow incidents, increase collection efficiency, and overall contribute to much healthier and more sustainable environments. Christopher hopes to work on large-scale infrastructure systems that blend engineering with smart technologies to create an eco-friendlier environment in different cities.

Darikson Valenzuela is an Honors College student at Miami Dade College and a proud member of Phi Theta Kappa, driven by a deep passion for aerospace engineering and space exploration. In January 2025, he broadened his understanding of public policy through the Washington Center Seminar. From September 2024 to January 2025, he refined both his technical knowledge and communication skills while working as a math and chemistry tutor. Currently, he is developing innovative ionic-thruster designs for new applications, with a long-term vision of enabling practical space-mining solutions to help advance humanity. His immediate goal is to transfer to a four-year university that aligns with his ambitions and supports his growth. Outside academics, Darikson practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, paints, and explores philosophy to cultivate discipline, creativity, and perseverance.

Joseph Sester is a student at Miami Dade College pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technology with a concentration in Software Engineering. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Security Management from American Military University. After serving 8 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and working 6 years with the U.S. Department of State overseas doing executive protection for U.S. Embassy personnel, Joseph is now focused on transitioning into the field of software development. He has experience working on projects involving robotics, mobile development, and cloud-based systems, including programming an iPal robot
using Java, Android Studio, AWS, and MySQL. He is proficient in Python, C++, Java, HTML, SQL, Kotlin, Swift, and Bash. Joseph enjoys creating new tools and working collaboratively with others to solve problems through technology. After graduation, he plans to gain industry
experience before pursuing a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence.

The purpose of this study is to predict student success using real data from students at Miami Dade College (MDC) by developing machine learning models to identify those at risk of not graduating. Graduation rates are a key indicator of institutional effectiveness and student outcomes. The system processes large datasets, including over 150,00 enrollment records. Data preprocessing techniques are applied to standardize student identification numbers and effectively merge multiple data sources. The system follows a multi-stage analytical pipeline beginning with exploratory data analysis to examine student demographics, academic performance, enrollment behavior, and financial aid utilization across all MDC campuses. It utilizes four machine learning algorithms, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machines, each used for binary classification to distinguish between students likely to graduate and those at risk. Feature engineering incorporates multiple predictive variables, including GPA metrics, enrollment intensity, financial aid, demographics, academic program selection, and other specialized groups. The system demonstrates strong predictive performance, with ROC-AUC scores ranging from 92% to 97%, indicating reliable classification that significantly exceeds random prediction baselines. This project delivers substantial value to MDC by generating insights for student support services, academic advising, and intervention strategies. Automated identification of at-risk students enables proactive deployment of resources such as tutoring, counseling, and financial assistance before academic issues escalate. The research contributes to the growing field of educational data mining and provides MDC with evidence-based tools to improve graduation rates, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall student success through data driven decision making.

Leandro Izaguirre is a first-generation physics student of Honduran heritage, raised in Miami, Florida. Leandro’s academic journey has been marked by perseverance and deep-rooted curiosity about the natural world around us. It propelled him through challenges and ultimately to discover his own passion for physics. His academic efforts have been recognized by making the Dean's List multiple semesters, with anticipation to graduate from Miami-Dade College in high honors. Leandro not only succeeded in earning high marks in his classes but also became a physics and math tutor; helping other students understand complex concepts, sometimes even igniting the light of curiosity, too. Planning to transfer to the University of Colorado at Boulder, he hopes to continue his studies and research deep in the field of physics, exploring more into the field of astronomy and spectroscopy.