Griffin Scholar · CompSoc VP · EdinburghAI Exec · International Olympiad Medalist
Anna
Petrusenko
Physicist studying the universe.
From refugee to researcher, builder to advocate — a journey through technology, science, and impact.
World I
Astronomy & Physics
Gauge symmetries at Vienna, nuclear physics at Argonne, and a medal cabinet built on astronomy, physics and mathematics olympiads.
Education in physics
BSc (Hons) Computer Science & Physics
University of Edinburgh · 2024–2028
94% A1 average in all first-year CS courses.
Summer School in Particle Physics & Advanced Mathematics
University of Vienna · Summer 2025
Topics: spin groups, Clifford algebras, gauge invariance, symmetries, effective theories.
Nuclear Physics course
Argonne National Laboratory (USA)
Inspired her pacemaker-powered-by-nuclear-decay startup concept.
Olympiad & competition results
Finalist
International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2022)
Represented Ukraine.
Silver medal
International Olympiad in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Three Silver prizes
International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC)
2021, 2022, 2023.
Silver medal
All-Ukrainian Physics Olympiad national finals (2021)
Bronze medal
British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) Senior Challenge 2023
Bronze medal
British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO)
Bronze award
International Youth Maths Challenge (IYMC 2023)
Qualified for the pre-final round.
Gold Certificate
UK Senior Mathematical Challenge (UKMT 2022)
Best result in her year.
Three Gold Certificates
International Math Olympiad "Kangaroo"
2019, 2020, 2021.
Gold medal
National All-Ukrainian Astronomy Olympiad
Entered the national team for IOAA.
One Gold and two Silver certificates
All-Ukrainian Physics competition "Levenya"
Bronze medal
All-Ukrainian Scientific Studies competition (JASU) in Maths (2021)
Bronze medal
Team leader, National Physics Team Competition "Motion" 2021
Team leader · 4 consecutive years
Natural Sciences Internet Tournament "Open Nature Demonstration" (UNESCO and JASU)
3rd place · 2018
Leader of the Ukrainian national team in an International Maths and Physics Battle
Scientific research projects
Pacemaker powered by nuclear decay
Original startup concept inspired by Argonne National Laboratory experience. Pitched to scientists, secured funding, won national award in Scientific Study Competition 2020.
National award · 2020
Innovative methods for the generation and use of electricity
Built a mini-electric power plant that generates and accumulates electricity from biomass as an alternative to thermal power stations to reduce carbon footprint.
Silver medal · JASU physics 2020
Nature of electricity and lightnings
Explained the formation of ball lightning and conducted a plasma-from-two-grapes-in-microwave experiment.
Silver medal · JASU physics 2019
Spaghetti bridge engineering record
Built a pasta bridge that held 50 kg (~150× its own weight); the record had not been broken at time of writing the teacher reference.
Gold medal · School Engineering Competition 2020
“Anna is one of the smartest students I have ever taught. Despite the fact that she is the youngest in her class, she is the headman and has the highest achievements… She has a desire to change the world, and I am sure that she will succeed.”
World II
Software & Computer Science
Computer science at Edinburgh — 94% A1 average across all first-year CS courses — and a shipping habit that runs from hackathon weekends to industry chip pipelines.
Experience
Software Engineering Intern — Cirrus Logic
Summer 2026Cirrus Logic designs the audio and mixed-signal chips inside products from companies like Apple, Tesla, OpenAI, Lenovo and Google.
Full-stack software engineering intern working across the entire SDLC from code to test, verification, and release. Built and shipped Java/JavaFX support for a new imaging chip variant (used in industrial equipment like printers) within Cirrus Logic's device configuration software, from spec through release. Architected a Python-based, multi-agent AI system (spec → implementation → verification) orchestrated via MCP for chip configuration infrastructure — cutting delivery time from ~2 months to ~3 hours and engineering costs by an order of magnitude, now one of the company's largest AI implementations and adopted across multiple teams. Also built AI-powered infrastructure enabling the UX team to generate chip diagrams automatically, speeding up the process by 20–30x. Received the company's "You Rock!" Award for going above and beyond to drive impact, and extended internship based on performance and impact.
Java · JavaFX · Python · C · AI agents · MCP · Automation
Technical skills
Python · Java · Haskell · FlutterFlow · SQL · Visual Basic · Git · Model training · TensorFlow · NLP · API integration · Real-time decision systems
Foundations: Andrew Ng's "Neural Network and Deep Learning" — vectorized NNs, deep learning applications, training/test sets, building NNs in TensorFlow with Python.
Projects
AI desktop assistant robot.
Professional desktop GUI tool for configuring audio codec registers; simulates Cirrus Logic CS42L42 Smart Codec configuration with real-time parameter adjustment and register manipulation.
Customer booking and payments management platform.
Financial-literacy + climate-impact game submission.
UAid App
FlutterFlowPlatform connecting Ukrainian families with volunteers during the war.
Submission from the AI Engine hackathon.
CompSoc events registration platform
Full-stackInternal platform built for CompSoc Edinburgh.
JavaScript project.
Current space-themed parallax portfolio (predecessor to this site).
Personal productivity tool.
Security and monitoring tool.
Secure ledger and transaction management system.
Advanced anomaly detection and monitoring system.
Smart AI glasses software for people with face blindness and autism.
Fringe festival accessibility platform for events booking.
All of it lives at github.com/pxannnna — 11 public repos.
Hackathons & CS competitions
NightHack
BuilderFounders Inc, San Francisco · Summer 2026. Built software for Meta glasses helping people with face blindness.
Citadel Terminal 2026
Top 8 / 38Finished top 8 of 38 teams (selected from 1,000+ applicants). Teammates: Danyil Butov, Huyen Pham. Submission V8-D targeted all four bosses in the raffle bosses challenge.
Griffin Scholar (Citadel)
1 of 46 globallyOne of 46 Ukrainian STEM students globally selected by Citadel founder Ken Griffin's Achievement Fund for exceptional academic potential.
AdaHack 2025
2nd place2nd place for a game promoting financial literacy and raising awareness of global warming by illustrating the impact of individual choices on personal finances and the environment.
HackTheBurgh
Events LeadCo-led as Events Lead. Led technical infrastructure and developed a focused coding challenge on the fragility of prediction models (ML modelling and data science). 2,000+ applications, 200+ attendees worldwide. Judged submissions alongside CompSoc and Bending Spoons. Sponsors and prize-givers: Optiver, Huawei, Bending Spoons, G-Research.
OpenEuler Challenge (Huawei-sponsored)
DirectorDirected a 5-day coding competition on AI and operating systems for ~100 participants.
TeachAthon (University of Edinburgh)
Speaker + builderDelivered an opening-ceremony talk on AI in education; subsequently developed an award-winning AI tool for studying.
AI Engine Hackathon
BuilderBuilt the Threshold project.
International Computer Science Olympiad "Bebras"
2× GoldTwo Gold Certificates (2020, 2021).
World III
Robotics & Engineering
An award-winning lab-assistant robot living in Edinburgh's School of Informatics, and a smart acid-monitoring tank prototyped in industry — hardware, embedded code and CAD.
Edinburgh Award-winning · Flagship
AI Desktop Assistant Robot
Award-winning AI desktop assistant robot. Deployed in the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics Robotics Lab, where it now serves as a functional lab assistant. Built with Python, Arduino, and Fusion 360.
Arduino UNO · Servo motors · Ultrasonic sensor · Microphone array · Speaker · Fusion 360 chassis
pxannnna/emma_talking_bot ↗🏆 EESW Student of the Year Award 2023
EESW Prototype — Cambrian Solvents smart tank
Led an award-winning smart-storage prototype as part of the EESW competition: a smart tank for online monitoring of acid conditions for Cambrian Solvents. Orchestrated the entire design and implementation — Arduino software (sensor selection and embedded code), CAD design in SolidWorks, cyber-security considerations, and Python for data handling. The project won the "Best Working Device or Prototype" award at EESW and was nominated for "Best Application of Engineering Technology" and "Best Overall Written Report". Also awarded a Gold CREST Award and named EESW Student of the Year.
pH / acid sensor · Arduino controller · SolidWorks tank body · Data uplink · Cyber-security layer
Engineering skills
- Embedded systems development (Arduino, C)
- Sensor selection and integration
- Hardware–software interfacing
- Rapid prototyping and testing
- CAD design — Fusion 360 and SolidWorks
- Circuit design and system integration
“In a decade of supporting students to achieve places at competitive-for-entry HEIs each year, without hyperbole, Anna truly stands out — not just as an individual who has faced huge challenges and adversity with tenacity and bravery, but as one who has the intellectual potential to succeed at the highest level.”
World IV
Leadership & People
Two countries, one story: from Ukrainian Scouts to the vice-presidency of Scotland's largest tech society — and the stages, hackathons and volunteer networks in between.
CompSoc Edinburgh — Vice-President
2025–present
~3,000
members — the largest society in Scotland
+40%
engagement growth
- Led strategic direction of Scotland's largest tech society (now ~3,000 members — the largest society in Scotland).
- Organised 30+ technical events and workshops attended by 200+ students.
- Oversees 11 Special Interest Groups, including QuantSoc and EdinburghAI, delivering sessions on algorithmic trading and AI applications.
- Grew society engagement by 40% through new software-engineering and applied-AI initiatives.
- Organised Student Tech Meet Ups (STMUs) with speakers from Bending Spoons, Huawei, and PhD students.
- Co-organised the 5-day Huawei OpenEuler hackathon with ~100 participants as one of the organizers.
- Co-led HackTheBurgh — Scotland's biggest hackathon — leading technical infrastructure and designing a coding challenge on the fragility of prediction models (ML/data science). 2,000+ applications, 200+ attendees worldwide.
EdinburghAI — Executive
2025–present
Visit EdinburghAI →- Lead strategy and vision for EdinburghAI, one of CompSoc's flagship Special Interest Groups.
- Organise regular sessions and workshops on AI applications, large language models, and emerging AI technologies.
- Build community of AI enthusiasts and practitioners across the University of Edinburgh.
- Foster collaboration between students, researchers, and industry professionals in the AI space.
ProjectShare — Founder & Lead
2025–present
Visit ProjectShare →- Founded and lead ProjectShare, a community platform connecting students and professionals on collaborative projects.
- Enable cross-disciplinary collaboration and project visibility across the tech community.
- Support students in showcasing and building projects from inception to completion.
- Foster a culture of shared knowledge and collaborative problem-solving.
Stages & rooms — major engagements
Y Combinator Startup School 2026
July 2026 · San FranciscoHand-selected by Y Combinator to attend its flagship founder event — two days of small-group sessions with speakers including Jensen Huang (NVIDIA), Sam Altman (OpenAI), Patrick Collison (Stripe), Jeff Dean (Google DeepMind), Alexandr Wang (Meta) and Chelsea Finn (Physical Intelligence).
Leadership for Future Generations
November 2023Shared the stage with former President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and former First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford.
SEREN Academy Launch evening
October 2023 · Swansea Bay campusKeynote speaker at the welcome event; chosen for motivational impact on other students. Shared the stage with Dr. Matthew Williams (Access Fellow, Oxford University) and esteemed professors from Oxford and Swansea University.
Technocamps
Annual eventCelebrating inspiring women in STEM. Shared the stage with Anne Jessopp (CEO of The Royal Mint) and Emma Hayhurst (CEO of Llusern Scientific).
EESW Student of the Year Award 2023
2023Shared the stage with the Minister of Education for Wales, Jeremy Miles.
Ada Lovelace Day
Keynote on women in STEM.
TeachAthon (University of Edinburgh)
Opening-ceremony talk on AI in education.
Ukrainian Scouts & international representation
- Member of the Ukrainian Scout community since the age of 11.
- Twice represented Ukraine at international Scout conventions — in Denmark and Malta.
- 5+ years in a leadership role within Ukrainian Scouts.
- Charity projects: raised money for sick children, large-scale forest clean-ups, environmental work.
- Launched personal fundraisers for veterans and families that lost fathers in the war.
- Built UAid — a platform connecting Ukrainian families with volunteers during the war.
Full circle
Let's build
something
From refugee to researcher, builder to advocate — a journey through technology, science, and impact.
© 2026 Anna Petrusenko · Griffin Scholar · CompSoc VP · EdinburghAI Exec · International Olympiad Medalist