SW

Summer Wang

Software developer with a researcher's discipline.

I build backend and full-stack applications with Java, Spring Boot, React, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and AI APIs. My path into software started in biomedical research, where careful thinking and real-world problem solving were part of the job every day.

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My Story

From ovarian cancer research to production software.

I started my career in biology research, where I worked on ovarian cancer projects and contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications. That environment taught me how to work methodically, handle complex data, and stay rigorous when the problem is hard.

My transition into software began by building tools that made lab work faster and more reliable. I wrote Python programs to automate analysis pipelines and built a Java desktop application to improve specimen record management.

After fully pivoting into engineering, I completed an MS in Software Development at Boston University with a 4.0 GPA. Today I focus on backend and full-stack applications, cloud infrastructure, and AI-assisted product experiences.

What I Work With

Tools for building reliable systems.

Languages

  • Java
  • Python
  • JavaScript
  • SQL
  • PHP

Frameworks

  • Spring Boot
  • Express.js
  • React

Cloud & DevOps

  • AWS
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • Terraform
  • GitHub Actions
  • CI/CD

Data & Testing

  • PostgreSQL
  • Redis
  • DynamoDB
  • JUnit
  • Git
  • Linux

AI Platforms

  • OpenAI API
  • Amazon Nova

Featured Projects

Production-minded projects across search, cloud, and AI.

Search Assistant

Airbnb AskBot

A full-stack search assistant that turns natural language prompts into structured Airbnb rental filters.

  • Built with Spring Boot and React
  • Integrated OpenAI APIs for intent interpretation and query generation
  • Containerized services with Docker and deployed with Kubernetes
  • Set up CI/CD with GitHub Actions and added JUnit tests
Cloud Platform

File Upload and Metadata Lookup Platform

A cloud-native system for file uploads and metadata retrieval on AWS.

  • Built with React and Spring Boot
  • Stored files in Amazon S3 and metadata in DynamoDB
  • Used API Gateway, ALB, Lambda, and DynamoDB Streams
  • Provisioned infrastructure with Terraform
Hackathon Build

Dog-Friendly Real Estate Finder

An AI-assisted home search experience that helps users discover homes near dog parks.

  • Built with Spring Boot and React
  • Integrated real estate data and Google Maps and Places APIs
  • Used Amazon Nova to summarize reviews and surface dog park insights
  • Added Redis caching and backend filtering for faster results
View Devpost gallery

Experience

Research Technician

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Dec 2015 - Jul 2022

  • Developed Python programs to automate laboratory data analysis, reducing routine analysis time by 50%
  • Built a Java GUI application to manage specimen records, improving specimen input turnaround time by 30%

Education

Academic Foundation

  • Boston University MS in Software Development, 2024, GPA: 4.0
  • University of Oklahoma MS in Microbiology, 2015
  • Ocean University of China BS in Biological Science, 2011

Recognition

Highlights and distinctions

  • Outstanding Student Award
  • Academic Excellence Scholarship
  • Multiple peer-reviewed publications in cancer biology and biomedical research

Publications

Peer-reviewed research contributions.

  1. Wang L, Wang L, Cybula M, Drumond-Bock AL, Moxley KM, Bieniasz M. Multi-kinase targeted therapy as a promising treatment strategy for ovarian tumors expressing sfRon receptor. Genes Cancer. 2020 Jul 22;11(3-4):106-121.
  2. Cybula M, Wang L, Wang L, Drumond-Bock AL, Moxley KM, Benbrook DM, Gunderson-Jackson C, Ruiz-Echevarria MJ, Bhattacharya R, Mukherjee P, Bieniasz M. Patient-Derived Xenografts of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Subtype as a Powerful Tool in Pre-Clinical Research. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Dec 15;13(24):6288.
  3. Moxley KM, Wang L, Welm AL, Bieniasz M. Short-form Ron is a novel determinant of ovarian cancer initiation and progression. Genes Cancer. 2016 May;7(5-6):169-81.
  4. Drumond-Bock AL, Wang L, Wang L, Cybula M, Rostworowska M, Kinter M, Bieniasz M. Increased expression of BRD4 isoforms long (BRD4-L) and short (BRD4-S) promotes chemotherapy resistance in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Genes Cancer. 2023 Sep 12;14:56-76.
  5. Wang L, Cybula M, Rostworowska M, Wang L, Mucha P, Bulicz M, Bieniasz M. Upregulation of Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDHA) Contributes to Enhanced Bioenergetics of Ovarian Cancer Cells and Higher Sensitivity to Anti-Metabolic Agent Shikonin. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Oct 18;14(20):5097.
  6. Drumond-Bock AL, Cybula M, Wang L, Wang L, Bieniasz M. Cloning BRD4 long isoform into overexpression vectors for stable overexpression of BRD4-L in mammalian cells. STAR Protoc. 2022 Oct 26;3(4):101785.
  7. Wang L, Bradstock P, Li C, McInerney MJ, Krumholz LR. The role of Rnf in ion gradient formation in Desulfovibrio alaskensis. PeerJ. 2016;4:e1919.
  8. Krumholz LR, Wang L, Beck DAC, Wang T, Hackett M, Mooney B, Juba TR, et al. Membrane protein complex of APS reductase and Qmo is present in Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Desulfovibrio alaskensis. Microbiology. 2013;159(Pt 10):2162-2168.