Hi! I'm Noga, an incoming freshman at Carnegie Mellon University, planning to study computer science.
I'm from Charlotte, NC, and am interested in cybersecurity, sustainability, human-computer interaction—or any other interdisciplinary routes with CS.
Feel free to email me at noga.gercsak@gmail.com or reach out on the social media platforms linked below.
Conducting research under Dr. Saptarshi Debroy on privacy-preserving AI systems that protect personal data when smart devices collaborate with cloud servers for processing, developing adaptive algorithms that automatically adjust privacy protection levels based on data sensitivity and network conditions in real-time.
Co-founded the UNC Charlotte Teen Hackathon, a dynamic event empowering teenagers across the Charlotte Metro Area to develop their programming, project-building, and collaboration skills. The hackathon has impacted 50+ students, providing them with hands-on experience and mentorship from industry professionals, including experts from Bank of America.
Conducted research in the College of Computing and Informatics Department under Dr. Faklaris, focusing on enhancing cybersecurity in smart grids through innovative blockchain and differential privacy approaches. Read more about my research →
Founder and president of my high school's Girls in STEM club, where female students can connect and explore topics in STEM. When I first entered high school, I joined the coding club only to find myself alone as the only girl. I founded Girls in STEM because I know how community and inclusion is essenital to exploring science. We go on field trips, explore topics in science and math, and lead community STEM outreach!
Selected to be one of the 30 participants out of 150 applicants for the Women's Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (WISTEM) program. This fully funded six-month initiative provided me with an on-campus residential experience and interactive virtual sessions. Through this program, I had the opportunity to connect with a cohort of peers, gain insights into STEM admissions, and deepen my understanding of women's experiences in STEM.
Conducted research in the College of Computing and Informatics Department under Dr. Krishnan. My research was about detecting hate speech using methods such as sentiment analysis and causal analysis. I used Google Colab and Python to tune existing ML models to better detect hate speech in online spaces. Received a stipend of $4,500 through the Army Educational Outreach Program.
I was selected as one of the top 10% applicants from over 100 countries to collaborate with a global community in creating innovative solutions to global challenges. In 2023, I participated in the Minerals of Technology Challenge, and currently, I am leading my team in the 2024 challenge to develop an ethical AI tool.
I assisted with social media and video making. I created new videos to post, managed Instagram and TikTok of the company, and contributed new ideas to help gain traction. I assisted with increased Instagram accounts engagement by 448% and accounts reach by 909%.
I was a part of the Mobile App program. During the program, I learned Swift and SwiftUI. I used Xcode to create a fully-functioning iOS-capable mobile app with two other teammates. Our app was designed to help users learn more about food waste and food conservation, along with the ability to log foods.
I participated in the summer self-paced program. I completed the three tracks provided including the Data Science Track, Web Dev Track, and Cybersecurity Track. Check out my projects to learn more about what I made!
An app designed to reduce food waste starting with our daily routines. Funded by National Geographic.
A Python-based machine learning tool that detects and mitigates algorithmic bias in AI systems through visual analytics, addressing the critical need for fairness and ethical decision-making in modern AI deployment.
A custom rule-based machine learning model developed for NYU's Winston Data Scholars Program that predicts forest fire risk using meteorological data, achieving a 91.36% fire detection rate to prioritize public safety over precision in emergency management scenarios.
A location-based platform that connects disaster-affected individuals with available aid and local organizations to support.
An app designed to connect students and local nonprofits and organizations, facilitating engagement in meaningful community service projects.
ZeroTrace
ZeroTrace is a carbon footprint tracking app for drivers that provides insights and recommendations for reducing emissions. It promotes eco-friendly driving habits and encourages sustainable practices.
Website developer for Faiza Finance, a nonprofit encouraging muslim students to achieve financial literacy.
This was my group's submission for the FearLess, Tech More Innovation Challenge. We created a prototype for an app called, "Salus" on figma. Salus is a food wellness app designed to help you manage your diet by providing meal plans, alternatives, and recipes tailored to your personal preferences.
This is my group's task submission for the Uber Hackathon 2023. We developed an app using Swift and SwiftUI that allows users to track their carbon emissions and find local areas to donate to.
I created this website while participating in the 2023 Minerals fo Technology Challenge. This website is aimed to help people across the US to find local e-waste recycling centers and inform others on the issue of e-waste.
I created this website during Girls Who Code SPP 2023, for my final project. I coded it with HTML & CSS, along with JavaScript to create an ocean fact generator.
I used pandas to create scatter plot, comparing the percent of women with secondary education over time from Haiti with Ethiopia.
I programmed this in python to allow users to input any message they would like to encrypt or decrypt, using Caeser's Cipher. The cipher can have a key ranging from 0 to 93.
This program was made with python that allows users to input an encrypted message without knowing the key. Then, the program will go through all the possible messages that the encrypted message has, ranging from keys 0-93.
Selected to receive $10,000 from National Geographic for project, Mazah, out of 2,100 applicants internationally. Chosen as team leader to represent our project at the National Geographic Explorer's Festival in Washington D.C.
Selected as 1 of 10 recipients from over 200 applicants for a $5,500 scholarship covering tuition for a data science course and the GSTEM summer research program.
Received First Place Overall in the Poster Presentation (1/100+). Competed in the Engineering and Technology Category. Qualified for National JSHS.
AEOP Travel Award - $2,500 to present research at IEEE AI IoT conference.
May 2025Ready, Set, App! Finalist - Top 9/50+ finalist, presented app at Lenovo HQ.
April 2025UNCC Ignite Research Grant - 1 of 3 recipients for $1,000 research funding.
November 2025NCWIT Aspirations in Computing - National Honorable Mention (400/3,300 applicants).
January 2025
Presenting Research @ NYU
National JSHS 2025
National Geographic Exploer's Festival 2024
IEEE AI IoT 2025, Seattle, WA
AEOP Research presentation 2024
Harvey Mudd WiSTEM 2025
Nat Geo HQ 2025
NCWiT Awards 2025
Pomona College
Teen Hackathon 2025
Teen Hackathon 2025
George Washington Sustainability Dept.