
Jonathan Thota
a Data Scientist building intelligent systems powered by data, machine learning, and agentic ai.
a Technical generalist turning complex data into intelligent systems that drive measurable business impact.
Experience
I worked as a Data Science Intern at CodeClause, where I focused on building real-time systems and machine learning models for computer vision applications. The role gave me hands-on experience taking projects from problem definition through deployment, with an emphasis on clean pipelines and reproducible results.
One of my main projects was a real-time color detection system built with Python and OpenCV for live video streams. I designed the pipeline to process frames efficiently, extract color regions of interest, and return structured outputs - useful for applications ranging from quality control to interactive tools. This project reinforced the importance of balancing accuracy with latency when working in real time.
I also built an end-to-end machine learning pipeline for brain tumor classification using MRI datasets. The work covered the full stack: preprocessing and augmentation of medical images, feature extraction, model training and evaluation, and clear documentation of methodology and results. Handling medical imaging data required careful attention to normalization, class balance, and validation strategy.
In addition, I implemented a CNN-based age and gender detection model using pretrained architectures, fine-tuning and adapting the network for our use case. Throughout the internship I collaborated remotely with the team via GitHub - maintaining clear documentation, version control, and participating in code reviews which strengthened my ability to work in distributed, async environments.
I worked with Desi Flavors Katy and Birdside HTX, two food truck businesses, to streamline analytics and operations for their hospitality operations. The goal was to turn scattered data into clear, actionable insights and to improve day-to-day workflows in the kitchen and on the floor.
I collected and consolidated data from POS systems, operations logs, and customer-facing sources into a single view. From there I built interactive business dashboards so that managers could track trends, KPIs, and operational performance without digging through raw spreadsheets. Having a single source of truth made it easier to spot issues and opportunities and to align the team around the same numbers.
A major deliverable was designing and implementing a Kitchen Display System (KDS) that visualized order ticket breakdowns in real time. The system reduced kitchen errors by over 70% and improved order accuracy and flow by giving the back-of-house a clear, consistent view of what needed to be made and in what order. I also worked on optimizing kitchen and front-end operations - reducing ambiguity, saving time, and improving coordination between staff so that service could run more smoothly during busy periods.
As a freelance full-stack developer, I design and build custom responsive websites for a variety of clients using modern web technologies. Each project is an opportunity to translate business goals into clear, fast, and maintainable digital experiences - from branding and marketing sites to e-commerce and service-oriented platforms.
Notable projects include texignwalltextures.com, a site for wall textures and interior surfacing products where customers can browse and explore options; desiflavorskaty.com, the online presence for Desi Flavors Katy - an authentic Indian street food truck (100% halal) in Katy, Texas, with online ordering, full menu, catering and event booking, and location details; and codotagency.framer.website, the website for Codot Agency, a creative digital agency offering UI/UX design, SEO optimization, and data-driven social media marketing, with case studies, services, and team sections. Each site is built with a focus on modern, mobile-friendly UI/UX, performance, and alignment with the client’s brand and audience.
My process centers on close collaboration: gathering requirements, proposing structure and design, and iterating based on feedback so that the final product is both technically solid and aligned with the client’s vision. I aim to deliver production-ready sites that are easy to update and scale as their needs evolve.
I worked as an Audio Technician at Good Shepherd Community Church, where I was responsible for setting up, managing, and mixing audio for weekly Sunday services and special events. The role combined technical execution with a focus on making sure the congregation and online audience could hear clearly and feel engaged.
I installed and configured microphones, instruments, the audio console, and the PA system for each service and event - adjusting placements and gain staging so that vocals, instruments, and spoken word were balanced and intelligible. I served as the primary mix engineer, balancing levels for both the live room and any recordings or streams, and adapting to different room acoustics and event formats.
After each service or event I was responsible for dismantling, organizing, and storing all equipment so that the next team could set up quickly and consistently. The role reinforced the importance of reliability, preparation, and clear communication when supporting live production in a volunteer context.
I volunteered as an Event Co-ordinator at Malla Reddy University, helping to set up and run tech events, hackathons, and cultural fests. I supported organization and logistics, assisted both speakers and participants, and helped ensure smooth execution throughout the events.
The role involved coordinating with faculty and student teams, managing registrations and on-the-day flow, and being the point of contact for attendees and speakers so that sessions and activities could run on time and with minimal friction. It gave me hands-on experience in event planning and cross-functional coordination in an academic setting.
Along the Way
I've been building and shipping things for a while. The earlier stuff feels rough in retrospect, but each project taught me something new about users, about keeping systems running, and about what it takes to make something people actually use.
It started with DataRep, an all-in-one data analysis tool - you upload your data, it builds charts and surfaces insights, and there's a chat agent that knows your dataset so you can ask "why did revenue drop in March?" in plain English and get an answer. I'm building it for people who need to decide from data without living in Excel. This one pushed me to think hard about how non-technical users actually explore and trust data.
Next came Swiftguard, on-demand security guards - Uber for booking vetted guards when and where you need them, for events or sites, no long-term contracts. The problem was clear from talking to event organizers and facility managers; making the product simple enough that they'd actually use it instead of calling an agency was the real challenge.
Then I worked on FoodOS, a single platform for restaurants to track operations, inventory, and sales in one place instead of juggling POS, spreadsheets, and three other apps. For the first time I was building for owners and managers who are stretched thin every day — that forced me to prioritize one dashboard that actually has everything and is fast to use.
After that, I built SmartShop, a smart inventory assistant for restaurants. You scan receipts with OCR, it tracks what you bought and where; when you type "milk" it looks at your past receipts and tells you which store had it cheapest so you're not guessing. Turning receipt history into a simple "where should I buy this?" answer - the idea was obvious once I saw how much time and money gets wasted on the same purchases at the wrong places.
Keeping at it pays off. Every build moved me forward, even when it didn't feel that way in the moment.
Education
2024 - Surviving
2020 - 2024
GitHub Contributions
Building in Public
I document what I build on my YouTube Channel
Writings & Blogs
I write on Medium about data, building products, and the stack I use.
Books I've Read
*and many more, these just stuck with me
About Me
I work with code, the data behind it and the processes that make it into a system. I'm working toward data science. That means more time with the numbers and getting better at spotting what matters in the noise.
I play football. Soccer, if you're in the US. Good for remembering that teamwork and timing matter more than ego. I'm also that person who took Naruto too seriously. Never give up, train hard, all of it. Still working on the ramen diet.












Hackathons are my kind of chaos. Tight deadline, no room to overthink. I've done live sound too-one fader wrong and the whole room feels it. Both taught me to stay calm and adjust fast.
I'd rather ship something and learn from it than polish forever. Believe it! I get curious how things work and what the data's actually saying. Sometimes that means a better feature or a clearer insight. Sometimes it means I'm still debugging at 2am. Worth it though!
Currently Shipping
You've reached the end! Or have you? Before you vanish into the digital void, here's what I'm shipping right now - and a quick look at what I'm learning along the way.
Shipping early beats polishing forever.