Software engineer building accessible, user-centered applications and visualizations. Experienced in Python, Swift, and C, with a track record of leading small dev teams and collaborating directly with end users.

I'm Molly Kessler - scroll down to see how I bring ideas to life.

skills

Programming Languages

Python (matplotlib, Pandas, PyGame) Swift (SwiftUI) C (CMake, SDL, Criterion) Kotlin (JUnit) R Haskell MATLAB HTML & CSS (Flexbox) Git

Software Development Practices

Agile Methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean) Feature Driven Development Pair Programming Test Driven Development Algorithm Optimization Model-View Frameworks Automated Unit Testing

User Experience and Visualization

User Testing Usability Heuristics User Interviews Figma Information Architecture Wireframing Accessibility (WCAG 2, Section 508) Data Visualization

work

stacked bar chart

Analysis and Visualization of State Legislative Funding

I conducted exploratory data analysis which revealed the extent of funding disparities faced by state legislative candidates in rural districts. I sourced, cleaned, combined, and validated datasets using Python (Pandas, GeoPandas), and created accessible visualizations with Matplotlib and Seaborn to communicate trends including heat map geographical maps, pie/donut charts, and histograms. I designed summary tables and graphs and calculated statistics to support storytelling across the organization's website, presentations, and social media, helping to communicate complex political data succinctly.

Python (matplotlib, Seaborn, Pandas, GeoPandas) Data Visualization
black and white app screens

Clew iOS App

As lead front-end developer for CLEW, a blind and low-vision indoor navigation app, I directed a full UI/UX overhaul with a focus on low vision accessibility, and re-architected the codebase using the MVVM framework and reusable, single-responsibility components to improve scalability and decouple front- and back-end logic. In 6 months, my team deployed 10+ builds to the App Store for user testing in a continuous development process and conducted over a dozen user interviews as part of our human-centered design process. I mentored three junior developers in iOS development (Swift, SwiftUI), Git workflows, and accessible design practices, fostering a collaborative and inclusive dev culture.

Swift (SwiftUI) Git Feature Driven Development User Testing Accessiblity (WCAG 2) Agile Methodologies (Scrum, Lean) User Interviews Information Architecture Figma
Redesigning Complexity Evaluation for Pfizer Global Clinical Supply (GCS). Olin College SCOPE Summit. May 8, 2024

Clinical Trial Complexity Analysis for Pfizer

I co-led a project consulting for Pfizer's Global Clinical Supply (GCS) team to develop a tool for quantifying clinical trial operational complexity. My team of five designed a backend evaluation engine in Python and a manager-facing dashboard in Spotfire to communicate results with tables and graphs. We addressed data sparsity and inconsistency by implementing logic to standardize evaluation despite significant missing fields and variable data coverage. I led project planning, coordinated deliverables, and facilitated communication between our team, our advisors, and the Pfizer stakeholders.

Python (matplotlib, Pandas, scikit-learn) Feature Driven Development Algorithm Optimization Data Visualization User Interviews
colorful app screens

Chronic Illness Management App

I developed a prototype of a chronic illness management app in Figma and Swift (SwiftUI). I conducted user research to identify major issues user's had with competitor apps which informed the design of a highly-customizable application with an aesthetic, modern interface. I implemented parts of the introduction sequence, calendar tab, and settings section in Swift and prototyped the rest of the app in Figma.

Swift (SwiftUI) Figma Wireframing Usability Heuristics
scatter plot with groups colored

K-Means Clustering Algorithm Demo Interface

I developed a graphical user interface (GUI) visualization of the k-means clustering algorithm for unlabeled dataset partitioning, a form of unsupervised machine learning, complete with customizable example graph generation. Using the interface, I conducted a comparative analysis of traditional k-means versus PCA-informed centroid selection (k-means++) based on the paper "An Improved K-means Clustering Algorithm Towards an Efficient Data-Driven Modeling", highlighting gains in consistency and cluster accuracy.

Kotlin (JUnit)

Coding this Portfolio Website

I designed and coded this portfolio website from scratch in HTML, CSS (Flexbox), and JavaScript. I implemented a responsive layout and a high contrast color scheme to create a clean, accessible experience across devices.

HTML & CSS (Flexbox)

Flappy Bird

Led a team of three to develop a Flappy Bird clone in C using SDL for graphics and game loop logic, collaborating via pair programming. We structured the project using MVC code architecture for modularity and maintainability. We configured builds with CMake and implemented comprehensive unit tests to evaluate edge case behavior.

C (CMake, SDL) Test Driven Development Model-View Frameworks (MVC) Git Automated Unit Testing

Word Search and Replace Algorithm

I designed and implemented a real-time command-line word search tool in Kotlin, leveraging the Knuth-Morris-Pratt (KMP) algorithm for efficient linear-time substring matching. I followed test-driven development practices and used JUnit to write comprehensive unit tests covering complex edge cases.

Kotlin (JUnit) Test-Driven Development Automated Unit Testing Algorithm Optimization
colored interconnected nodes

Graph Coloring Algorithms

My team and I implemented multiple graph coloring strategies in Python, including brute-force, greedy, Welsh-Powell, and DSatur algorithms. I led the build of a random graph generator with customizable inputs for number of nodes and amount of connectivity, and a visualization tool to compare identical graphs colored with different algorithms. We analyzed theoretical and empirical time complexity to explore performance trade-offs across heuristic and exhaustive approaches to NP-hard graph coloring, and summarized our findings in a computational essay.

Python (matplotlib)
Pair Programming
Algorithm Optimization

CYK Algorithm

My partner and I implemented the CYK parsing algorithm in Haskell, which determines whether a string belongs to a language defined by a context-free grammar in Chomsky Normal Form. CYK is a foundational parsing technique in natural language processing (NLP), forming the basis for syntactic analysis in compilers, text recognition systems, and early AI language models.

Haskell Pair Programming
interconnected nodes with blue line showing the shortest path

Shortest Path Algorithm Comparison

My team and I developed a Python tool to visualize Dijkstra's, A*, and Bellman-Ford algorithms on randomly generated graphs. I built a custom random graph generator with adjustable parameters (e.g., node count, edge density) to simulate diverse scenarios, and co-authored an interactive computational essay demo that compares pathfinding behavior and algorithm performance. Lastly, we designed a modified pathfinding algorithm that finds the closest path of a particular (user inputted) length, avoiding simple loops.

Python (matplotlib)
Pair Programming
Algorithm Optimization