Addressing Problems by Leveraging AI and Machine Learning
Vrushti Nilesh Shah, MS’26, information systems, decided to deepen her technical expertise by coming to Northeastern. Throughout her time in her master’s program, she has developed ambitious projects and completed complex coursework that have strengthened her skills and abilities.
Vrushti Nilesh Shah is currently pursuing an MS in software engineering systems. She earned her bachelor of technology in information technology from Dharmsinh Desai University in India, where she built a strong foundation in software engineering concepts, data structures and full-stack development.
Alongside her academics, she completed internships at Crest Data Systems and Firebolt LLC, working on full-stack web applications and mobile app development using technologies such as Java, Spring Boot, React, Flutter and Firebase. She also gained experience deploying applications to production and collaborating in fast-paced, cross-functional teams. These academic and professional experiences provided her with both technical skills and practical exposure, motivating her to pursue a master’s at Northeastern University to deepen her expertise and expand her global perspective.
Shah chose to join Northeastern to deepen her technical expertise, gain global exposure and enhance her ability to build scalable software solutions. Northeastern stood out for its experiential learning model and strong co-op program, offering opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. She was also drawn to the university’s emphasis on innovation, industry partnerships, and a diverse community, making it an ideal environment for both academic and professional growth. Courses in advanced software development and data structures aligned with her goal of strengthening both theoretical knowledge and hands-on programming skills. The prospect of learning from professors with strong industry experience and gaining practical exposure through co-op placements made Northeastern an excellent fit for her ambitions.
The “Java Programming” course under Adjunct Professor Daniel Peters had a particularly significant impact. It deepened her understanding of Java and object-oriented programming and prepared her for her co-op, where she applied these skills to real-world projects. Other courses, such as “Program Structure and Algorithm”, “Database Management Systems” and “Mobile Application Development”, emphasized practical applications and fostered a mindset of creating real-world, production-ready solutions.
Shah hasn’t followed a specific research paper; rather, she has been inspired by the innovative approaches her professors bring to courses and projects. She was particularly motivated by faculty who emphasized applying algorithms, software design and AI concepts to real-world problems. This approach influenced her own work, such as the ScanMate iOS app, where she focused on building practical, user-centric solutions using the skills she developed in class.
Shah secured her co-op at PTC Inc. as a software developer intern, where she worked on Java-based projects. She contributed to enhancing Onshape CAD software by developing new features to improve design workflows, implementing user-focused interface improvements and collaborating on bug fixes and performance optimizations to ensure smoother user experience. This experience provided her with hands-on exposure to full-stack development, professional coding practices and team collaboration.
Shah shares that she obtained her co-op by applying through LinkedIn and PTC’s career portal and completing three technical interviews. Beyond technical skills, the co-op strengthened her professional abilities, including effective communication, teamwork, and project management, which were emphasized in co-op preparation courses. This experience allowed her to contribute meaningfully to projects, gain confidence in her skills, and better understand how to translate academic knowledge into practical, impactful solutions.
She expresses gratitude to her co-op advisor, Ariana Brody, who guided her through the start of her placement, helping her navigate the process and expectations. Brody also provided practical advice for thriving in a professional environment, easing Shah’s transition from classroom learning to real-world work.
Shah has been fortunate to work with Northeastern’s On-Campus program, contributing to the Office of Assistant Professor Mona Minkara and projects such as monaminkara.com, minkaracombinelab.com, and planestrainscanes.com. She helped improve and maintain accessible websites, focusing on creating an inclusive digital experience for blind and partially sighted users. Her work involved UI development using Python (Flask), React and web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS), while ensuring compliance with accessibility standards. This experience allowed her to apply her technical skills meaningfully and reinforced her commitment to building software that serves diverse users.
Projects and Innovations
During her time at Northeastern, Shah undertook several personal and group projects that highlighted both her technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.
One of these projects was a personal finance management system, developed using Java, ReactJS, Spring Boot and MS SQL. The system enables users to track their income, expenses, and budgets through key features such as transaction logging, budget setup and history tracking. Shah applied Object-Oriented Programming principles, using encapsulation for secure data handling and inheritance to efficiently manage different transaction types.
Another major project was “ScanMate”, a comprehensive Document Scanning and Management Solution for iOS, which Shah designed and built independently using SwiftUI with UIKit integration. The app offers high-quality scanning, smart cropping, image filters, drawing and annotation tools, signatures, OCR-based text extraction, folder and tag management, and PDF export. This project demonstrates her ability to architect and implement complex, user-centric applications from the ground up, integrating multiple advanced features while maintaining a polished and intuitive user experience.
Like any ambitious project, both came with unique challenges. For the personal finance management system (a group project), one of the biggest challenges was coordinating tasks and integrating code from multiple team members. Shah took the lead in connecting the frontend and backend, designing the transaction management structure and guiding the team to divide responsibilities effectively. This experience strengthened her leadership, teamwork, communication, and project planning skills, while ensuring a robust technical implementation and on-time delivery.
For “ScanMate” (an individual project), the challenge was to build a fully functional scanning and document management app independently. Implementing OCR text extraction, smart cropping and multi-page editing—all while keeping the interface user-friendly—required careful planning. Shah overcame the challenge by developing the app modularly, testing each component thoroughly, and iterating on the design based on usability feedback. This process honed her self-discipline, problem-solving, and creative thinking abilities alongside her technical skills.
Both projects have clear real-world applications and through these projects, Shah has developed a strong balance of technical expertise and soft skills, preparing her to excel in both collaborative and independent professional environments. They reflect her ability to build impactful software solutions that address everyday problems, boost productivity, and enhance user convenience.
Extracurricular Activities
In June 2025, Shah participated in the Dream AI Hackathon, held on June 21–22 at The Foundry in Cambridge, MA. Along with her team, she developed “MotherCare AI”, an innovative AI-powered health companion designed to offer personalized healthcare solutions.
The platform integrated features such as daily health data collection, symptom analysis, personalized health reports, diet and workout recommendations and a 24/7 intelligent health chatbot, creating a one-stop solution to address gaps in fragmented healthcare journeys.
The idea for “MotherCare AI” was inspired by the fragmented nature of personal healthcare. Many individuals struggle to track symptoms, consult doctors, manage workouts, and follow diet plans because existing tools are often scattered and lack personalization. The team envisioned “MotherCare AI” as a comprehensive, personalized health assistant that could provide actionable guidance tailored to everyone’s medical history, lifestyle and daily habits.
Although the team did not win the competition, the experience was incredibly valuable. Shah strengthened her skills in team collaboration, rapid prototyping and pitching innovative ideas under tight deadlines. She also gained deeper insights into AI applications in healthcare; an area closely aligned with her academic and professional interests.
Future Perspectives
Looking ahead, Shah aspires to work on innovative software solutions that leverage AI and machine learning to address real-world problems. She plans to pursue advanced AI coursework to deepen her technical expertise and apply these skills toward developing intelligent, user-centric applications with meaningful impact. Ultimately, she aims to contribute to projects that combine cutting-edge technology with practical solutions, improving efficiency and accessibility in everyday life.
Reflecting on her time at Northeastern, Shah highlights the unique balance between rigorous academics and hands-on experiences. From leading group projects to developing her own applications, she consistently applied classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. The combination of faculty mentorship, co-op opportunities and project-based learning strengthened not only her technical abilities but also her creativity, problem-solving and professional confidence.
These experiences have made her journey at Northeastern both enriching and transformative, preparing her to take on ambitious roles in the technology industry.