Hajira Sultana

I’m Hajira Sultana, and I also go by Huda. I’m an AI and cybersecurity engineer, researcher, and builder based in Chicago. I build systems that combine software and hardware. My experience includes creating AI tools, automating workflows, securing software, and building projects with sensors, microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi, and connected devices.
I’m interested in applying AI and security to robotics, assistive technology, and devices that interact with the real world. My broader interests include safe and responsible AI, brain–computer interfaces, open source, and entrepreneurship. I hold a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from Lewis University and a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.
Beyond engineering, I enjoy building products, leading projects, competing in hackathons, speaking, and growing technology communities. I’m open to opportunities in software, AI, cybersecurity, electronics, and robotics, as well as research labs and fellowships where I can work across both software and hardware.

Research

I’m interested in building AI-powered systems that remain safe and reliable when they interact with the physical world. I want to study how robots and connected devices can make dependable decisions when sensor data is noisy, incomplete, or manipulated. This work brings together my experience in AI and cybersecurity with my background in electronics and my growing interest in robotics.

Highlights

Secure Neurobot

A brain-controlled robotics project that turns a small set of brain signals into actions such as OPEN, CLOSE, and STOP. An independent safety system checks every command before the robot is allowed to move.

Real-Time Phishing Detection

A system that detects suspicious emails as they arrive and helps people understand the warning signs. It combines automatic detection with simple safety guidance to protect users from changing phishing attacks.

Read paper ↗

State-Sponsored Cyberattacks

A study of the Salt Typhoon attack on major U.S. telecommunications providers. The research identifies weaknesses in critical infrastructure and proposes ways to strengthen national telecommunications security.

Read paper ↗

Security for AI Agents

Work focused on giving AI systems only the access they need, monitoring the actions they take, and testing what happens when they make mistakes. The goal is to make AI agents safer for real-world use.

AlphaED

An education venture I started at 18 and later sold to an education technology company at 22. It was my first experience turning an idea into a product, building a team, and growing a company.

Edventure Park

Helped grow a student technology community from around 500 to more than 5,000 members while supporting its hardware lab and helping young builders learn electronics through practical prototypes.

Projects

Selected work from hackathons, open-source communities, hardware labs, and independent exploration.

TheAgentStore.co

A discovery platform that brings thousands of AI agents, tools, and skills into one searchable place. Built to help people find and compare useful AI products without searching across the entire internet.

Visit platform ↗

Glow-AI

An AI-powered skin analysis tool that studies an uploaded image, helps users understand their skin type, and provides personalized recommendations.

Gatekeep

A security layer that controls what AI agents can access and do. Built at the Auth0 × Stripe hackathon, where it received second place.

MedLog

A healthcare logistics system that tracks medical devices, records their history, and helps teams decide which returned equipment can be safely cleaned, repaired, and used again.

Launch Your Idea

A platform created to help early founders shape an idea, understand the market, and move from planning toward building and launching a real product.

Open-Source Engineering

Contributions to Pangolin, LiteLLM, floci, DSACMS, and AI developer tools, including improvements to authentication, secure connections, cloud systems, documentation, and developer experience.

View GitHub ↗

Experience

Next Generation Technology

AI System Security Engineer

2025–Present

Build and secure AI automation systems, assess vulnerabilities, control access, and improve the performance and reliability of production systems.

Lewis University

Web Engineer

2023–2025

Built tools that answer questions from university documents, developed a secure AI assistant, and trained more than 200 users on using AI safely and effectively.

Edventure Park

Core Team & Community Manager

2020–2023

Mentored more than 150 early-stage teams, helping founders turn ideas into working products and make better decisions about software design, security, and growth.

AlphaED

CTO & Co-Founder

2020–2022

Led the development of a full-stack education platform from initial design through launch, including user access, system performance, deployment, and product decisions.

Google WebTech EMEA

Process Implementation Specialist

2018–2020

Supported secure web projects for clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa while improving accessibility, browser compatibility, and coordination between technical and business teams.

Speaking & Community

  • Selected Speaker, Grace Hopper Celebration 2026 — Anaheim, California
  • Speaker, ISACA Chicago Convergence 2026 — “The Trust Imperative: Securing What’s Next”
  • Speaker, EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity and Privacy Professionals Conference 2026
  • TEDx Speaker — “Life Is Always in Beta”
  • Selected Fellow, Silicon Valley Fellowship 2026
  • Contributor, Islamic AI Safety, Ethics, and Research — AI ethics and policy
  • Speaker, Atlanta DevOps Conference 2025
  • Roundtable Speaker, MeasureCamp Chicago — cross-cultural collaboration
  • Presented research on the Salt Typhoon cyberattack and the security of critical infrastructure
  • Organizer, Girls Who Code Meetup at the Society of Women Engineers Conference 2025 — New Orleans
  • Organizer, Girls Who Code Meetup at Grace Hopper Celebration 2025 — Chicago
  • President, Girls Who Code College Loop, 2024–2025
  • Executive Committee Member, The EmpowerHER Summit 2025
  • Muslim Professionals Network Chicago Ambassador and community event host
  • Organized and hosted a Women Leaders Lunch in Chicago with Dalia Mogahed
  • Led a high-school startup incubation program with Mars Academy
  • Created and launched a university startup incubation program at Lewis University
  • Mentored student founders through product development, validation, and early-stage growth
  • Completed more than 300 hours of volunteer service across technology, education, and community programs

Awards and Honors

  • Second Place, Auth0 × Stripe Hackathon, 2026
  • Second Place, UIC Capture the Flame CTF, 2026
  • Top 9%, National Cyber League Team Competition, 2026 — ranked 31 of 342 teams
  • Selected Fellow, Silicon Valley Fellowship, 2026
  • Crowd Favorite Award and $2,500 Prize, Br. Joel Damian Business Pitch Competition — GlowAI, 2025
  • Outstanding Performance Award, Lewis University Celebration of Scholarship — Real-Time Phishing Detection, 2025
  • Third Place, Advanced-Level National CTF at the University of Illinois Chicago, 2025
  • Second Place, Forensic Murder Mystery Challenge at Loyola University Chicago, 2025
  • Top Five, Solo OSINT CTF at Loyola University Chicago and WiCyS, 2025
  • Ranked 83 of 602 Nationwide, National Cyber League Individual Competition, Spring 2025
  • National Cyber League Games Scholarship Recipient, selected by the ISACA Foundation and Cyber Skyline, 2025
  • ISACA Chicago Scholarship Recipient, 2025
  • GitNation Foundation Scholar, JSNation US 2025
  • Selected for the Girls Who Code × Akkodis experience with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, 2025

Contact

I am open to engineering and cybersecurity roles, robotics and AI research collaborations, speaking invitations, community partnerships, and founder opportunities.

code.huda@gmail.com

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