Hello! I'm Muhammad Ashar, a Computer Science graduate with a BSc
(Honours) from the University of British Columbia, Class of 2025. I
bring hands-on experience in both academic research and competitive
hackathons, and I am passionate about solving real-world problems
through technology. In Fall 2025, I will begin my Master's thesis at
Concordia University, where I aim to further deepen my expertise in
computer science and contribute to impactful research. I'm always open
to new opportunities—whether it's freelance work, research
collaborations, or innovative project ideas. If you'd like to connect
or collaborate, feel free to reach out!
contact me.
Was the mentor and judge for Western Canada's largest hackathon. I
helped hackers around 174, complete their projects and later
judged their submissions.
View the hackathon →
Was one of the judges and mentors for the annual StormHacks at
SFU.
View the hackathon →
Awarded to student(s) on Study Permit(s) with superior academic
achievement entering the first year of an undergraduate degree
at the University of Alberta. Selection based on academic
standing. Preference given to students from the University of
Alberta target regions . Students entering the Bridging Program
and students sponsored by a third party are not eligible.
Awarded to international students entering their first
undergraduate degree program on a Student Visa Permit, this
scholarship recognizes exceptional academic achievement.
Recipients are selected based on outstanding academic
performance and potential. This prestigious award is reserved
for the University of Alberta's most distinguished applicants
who exemplify the institution's core values of learning and
discovery.
Prestigious scholarship awarded to select international students
at UBC for students who achieved a minimum of 80% in previous
year taking a minimum of 24 credits
The Tuum Est Student Initiative Fund was established by the
Associate Vice President, Students portfolio at UBC's Okanagan
campus to provide financial support for student initiatives,
conferences, and competitions.
Travel bursary provided to support participation in the McHacks
hackathon at McGill University. See project:
Drink Service
Awarded for academic excellence and research potential to
graduate students enrolled in research-based Master's or
Doctoral programs.Value: $5,000 – $10,000 (one academic year)
Graduate Research Funding – $11,500/year Concordia University –
Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science Annual financial
support provided through a combination of the Supervisor's
research grant and Faculty Research Support (FRS) program. Paid
in 26 installments over 12 months, contingent on full-time
enrollment, academic performance (minimum CGPA of 3.00), and
satisfactory research progress. Renewable annually based on
performance and funding availability.
The Database Web Development badge is awarded to a student with
one of the top web development projects (minimum 90% score) in
COSC 304 Introduction to Databases in a given year. The web
development project involves constructing an online store
similar to Amazon that sells products. The project involves
database design using UML, constructing the web site using
Node.js, Java, or PHP, writing a significant amount of SQL
embedded in code, and documenting the system. The project also
enhances team skills and communication to deliver the system in
a limited amount of time.
Research Experience:
Honors Research Project – Impact of Gamification on Student
Engagement (NuTeach App) Completed under the supervision of Dr.
Abdallah Mohammed | UBC Okanagan Conducted an honors research
project examining the influence of the NuTeach app on student
engagement and academic performance in a first-year Computer
Science course (COSC 121). Responsibilities included designing and
administering surveys, collecting and analyzing student
interaction data, and evaluating the effectiveness of gamification
features—such as bonus points, coin rewards, and deadline
extensions—on motivation and learning outcomes. Presented findings
at the CMPS Undergraduate Research Conference in April 2025,
followed by additional data analysis to determine the most popular
and impactful gamification features based on student engagement.
Research Assistant – Immersive Technologies (NSERC CREATE CITech
Program) May 2024 – September 2024 | Kelowna, BC | On-site
Selected to join the inaugural NSERC CREATE specialization in
Immersive Technologies (CITech) at UBC Okanagan, working under the
supervision of Dr. Abbas Milani. Contributed to research involving
advanced visualization tools such as augmented reality (AR),
virtual reality (VR), and data-driven interfaces. Developed and
refined skills in software development, hardware integration, and
image segmentation. This role provided hands-on experience in
bridging immersive technology with applied research.
September 2024 – January 2025 | Vancouver, BC | Hybrid Serving as
a Software Research Assistant under the supervision of Madison
Lore and Dr. Holly Caggiano in the PLACE (Planning for Climate and
Environmental Justice) Lab at UBC Vancouver. Contributing to
research projects at the intersection of software development and
environmental planning, with a focus on building tools and systems
that support climate and community resilience initiatives.
March 2023 – June 2023 | Remote Conducted data-driven research
under the supervision of Dr. Ifeoma Adaji, analyzing the impact of
COVID-19 on public interest in coding. Extracted and queried data
from Stack Overflow using SQL, and utilized Python libraries such
as NumPy and Seaborn to create insightful visualizations. The
project combined data analysis and visualization techniques to
uncover trends in programming engagement during the pandemic.
