The computer science major has brought a keen eye for design, accessibility and user experience to his student teaching and app creation.
Ajay Gandecha’s passion for computer science started early — really early.
In middle school, he was assigned a semester-long project to create “anything [he] wanted.”
“On a whim, I chose learning how to make an iOS app,” said Gandecha, a senior computer science major from Cary, North Carolina.
He watched YouTube tutorials and through trial and error created an app to help people learn world geography. Though it was his first try — he looks back and laughs at the “crazy colors” he chose — that app was the catalyst for many to come in high school and at Carolina.
“One of my favorite things about computer science is the creativity of it,” he said. “You can use what you learn to create really anything. And it’s cool to have that creative freedom and also have real-world impact on people very quickly.”
Gandecha has made an impact in a variety of roles as a Tar Heel.
As an undergraduate teaching assistant, he’s helped Carolina students learn to work collaboratively and gain real-world coding skills in the pilot class “Foundations of Software Engineering” with professor of the practice Kris Jordan. Gandecha was a student in the class the first semester it was offered and has been supporting its growth ever since.
The opportunity to teach his peers inspired Gandecha to create his own course: COMP 290, “Essential Tools for Computer Science.”
Gandecha along with co-instructor and fellow senior Noah Smith created the outline and syllabus for the one-credit hour class. Their objective was to teach students about career and networking tools that directly translate into professional success.
“We have around 60 students right now,” he said. “Our goal is to make lectures very engaging and have a lot of activities in class.”
Outside class, Gandecha is a leader of Carolina Analytics & Data Science, a student-led organization that supports data science opportunities at UNC-Chapel Hill and runs the Carolina Data Competition, a weekend-long “datathon.”
“There’s free food and workshops, and [students] have 24 hours to make a data science project and then present it,” said Gandecha, who has earned a minor in data science.
He sees the minor and the computer science major working together seamlessly.
“The computer science major focuses on the fundamentals of coding, and the data science minor helps to show how that could be applied,” he said.
Gandecha has also continued to create apps. At the 2024 HackNC hackathon, he and three fellow seniors won first place for their app “Unplugged,” which helps students dial back social media usage and distractions.
“We wanted to create an app that basically has the best of both, where you are able to see your friends’ and favorite organizations’ posts without seeing all the other posts that the algorithm puts in to keep you on the platform,” he said, adding that the initial inspiration was from his team’s personal experiences.
Another of his apps was inspired by learning Japanese and Chinese at Carolina. His Mandarin classes spurred the creation of Luduan, a language learning app that was beta-tested by his instructor, Tanner Award recipient Luyoi Cai.
“It was fun to hear from her perspective as an instructor because there are a lot of things that I didn’t consider originally that she recommended,” Gandecha said. Cai’s recommendations included an app update that allowed professors to be able to upload their own flashcard deck to share with students.
Incorporating as many perspectives as possible while building an app is important to Gandecha, who says that digital accessibility and ethics are core components of his passion for the field.
“With good design, you’re increasing accessibility,” said Gandecha, who was a guest lecturer on the subject in an introductory computer science course. “You’re allowing more people to use the technology that you’re making.”
Looking ahead, Gandecha is excited about a career teaching computer science to others, hopefully as a professor, and has been accepted into Carolina’s M.S. in computer science program to continue his education. He also received the computer science department’s Stephen F. Weiss Award, given to a senior with outstanding academic and community-oriented achievements.
Before graduation on Dec. 15, Gandecha hopes to soak in his last few courses as a student instructor — the accomplishment he’s proudest of during his time as a Tar Heel — as well as plenty of time with friends. And, he’s hoping to catch a game at the Dean Dome, a bucket list item that’s yet to be checked after a busy three and a half years.
By Jess Abel, College of Arts and Sciences