ABOUT

Pappu Jha is an Honors Keystone Scholar at the University of Southern Mississippi, recognized for his strong foundation in data science and software development. His professional experience includes contributions at the Institute for Advanced Analytics and Security, where he developed real-world Skills in data analysis and software engineering. He is currently pursuing his internship in the IT department at Jones Capital, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise systems and technology operations. Previously, he worked as a Web Developer at the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, creating practical, user-focused solutions. In addition, he volunteers as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Cyber Innovation Lab, where he applies machine learning and data science to real-world challenges in cybersecurity. Beyond professional roles, Pappu has been selected as a TEDx Southern Miss 2025 Speaker, reflecting both academic excellence and leadership. Proficient in Python, C++, SQL, and modern data tools, he is passionate about leveraging technology and analytics to solve complex problems and deliver meaningful impact. Connect with Pappu to explore potential collaboration and build a meaningful connection!

Skills

Experiences

Education

Data Science
Python, Pandas, NumPy, Exploratory Data Analysis, Visualization, Machine Learning Algorithms, Statistics
Programming
Python, C++, OOP, API, SQL, Web Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress)
Technologies
Atlassian (JIRA, Confluence), n8n, MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Cloud Services, GitHub, MongoDB
Spoken Languages
English (Fluent), Nepali, Maithili (Native), Hindi

Information Technology (IT) Intern
Sept 2025 - Present
Jones Capital - Hattiesburg, MS

● Built 30+ data-driven gadgets in Jira Service Management and Excel using JQL filters to track ticket resolution performance of 5 agents and automated data workflows using n8n with Confluence documentation, significantly reducing manual reporting time for IT operations.
Research Assistant
May 2025 - Present
Institute for Advanced Analytics and Security - Hattiesburg, MS

● Built AQUAVIEW, a Python library with 7+ API endpoints (1000+ downloads), processed 17M+ oceanographic data points from 125 years of World Ocean Database, developed LLM-powered classification tools for 10+ data sources, and created an adapter for National Data Buoy Center (NDBC)'s real-time and historical datasets.
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Volunteer)
Sept 2024 – Present
Cyber Innovation Lab - Hattiesburg, MS

● Led two cybersecurity research projects using machine learning in collaboration with faculty and mentors, resulting in a presentation at the SEDE 2025 conference, and 1st place at the USM Research Symposium.
Web Developer/Producer
Oct 2024 - May 2025
Roy Howard Community Journalism Center - Hattiesburg, MS

● Developed the website (rhcjcnews.com) of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center from scratch, designed digital materials such as e-newsletters, and ensured SEO and strong public visibility.

The University of Southern Mississippi

BS in Computer Science and Economic Data Analysis (Minor)
Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA
Expected Graduation: May 2027
GPA: 4.0/4.0

Awards:
● President's List (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Fall 2025 semesters)
● Honors Keystone Scholarship 2025 (USM Honors College)
● International Ambassador of The Year 2025 (USM Center for International Education)
● First Position under the 'Computational Approaches' category in 2025 Undergraduate Symposium for Research and Creative Activity (UGS)
● 2025 Innovation & Excellence Award (Roy Howard Community Journalism Center)

Leadership:
● Creative Director, The Entrepreneurship Society (August 2025 - Present)
● International Student Ambassador, Center for International Education (August 2024 - Present)
● Director of Finance, Residence Hall Association (April 2024 - May 2025)

Areas of Interest

Machine Learning

Develop machine learning models with a focus on real-world applications. Conduct model training, testing, validation, and optimization to achieve accuracy and efficiency.

Data Science

Perform data analysis to turn raw data into meaningful insights. Work with tools like Pandas, NumPy, and Seaborn of Python language to clean and visualize data to identify patterns and present findings in a clear and effective way.

Cybersecurity

Conduct research on cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, including but not limited to password classification, phishing, and social engineering attacks. Develop and evaluate machine learning models to detect and prevent these threats.

Projects

World Ocean Database

Processed more than 17 million data points of oceans and seas worldwide from the year 1800 to 2024, generated and stored their metadata in MongoDB, indexed on Google Cloud, and integrated with the Elasticsearch so that results are visible in the UI based on the queries of spatial and temporal filters.

Skills: Big Data Analysis, Python, MongoDB, Google Cloud, API

Adversarial Machine Learning for Password Strength Estimation

Developed five supervised machine learning models to accurately classify adversarial passwords based on their strengths into strong, medium, and weak categories.

Tools: Pandas, Seaborn, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, Decision Tree, XGBoost

Regulating College Dorms Using C++

Built a dormitory management system using concepts from the C++ course, streamlining student check-ins/outs, visitor logs, and violation detection.

Tools Used: C++ (Object-Oriented Programming, File Handling, Vectors, and Other Advanced Level Concepts)

Aquaview Python Library

Developed Aquaview, a Python-based SDK providing unified access to oceanographic datasets with search, filter, preview, and download capabilities, released June 2025 and downloaded nearly 1,000 times in six months by NOAA and IAAS researchers.

Boston Daddy (Hack Harvard 2025)

Developed a full-stack smart city infrastructure platform that integrated energy, traffic, and weather data — achieving predictive analytics and actionable insights for 15+ buildings and 10+ intersections in real-time.

Delagent (MHacks 2025)

Built an AI-based scheduling platform using Fetch.AI uAgents framework, FastAPI, and SQLite, resulting in automated 3-agent calendar coordination and negotiation, with 80% reduction in manual scheduling overhead.

PAPPU JHA

Data Science | Machine Learning