Building CAPA — pending patent, targeting arXiv submission

Shawn Li

Engineer. Researcher. Builder.

Junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology. Building at the intersection of AI, biomedicine, and robotics.

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Users

SkinAI + CAPA combined

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Students Reached

Growing Up with Robotics

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Service Hours

Community impact

Selected Work

Projects &
Research

Six projects across ML research, computer vision, nonprofits, and competitive engineering.

CAPA
01
Active — pending patent
Machine LearningTransplant ImmunologyOpen Source

CAPA

Computational Architecture for Predicting Alloimmunity

An open-source ML framework using ESM-2 protein language model embeddings and deep competing-risks survival analysis (DeepHit) to predict GvHD, relapse, and transplant-related mortality in pediatric HSCT. Features a cross-attention interaction network over donor-recipient HLA pairs.

Python · PyTorch · FastAPI · Next.js

Competing-Risks Survival Analysis
02
Preparing for arXiv
BiostatisticsResearch PaperSurvival Analysis

Competing-Risks Survival Analysis

Pediatric HSCT Outcomes Research

Solo-authored research applying competing-risks survival analysis and ML to predict acute GvHD in 187 pediatric bone marrow transplant patients. Severe aGvHD risk plateaus by day 100 (CIF=0.214). LASSO-selected Cox model achieved omnibus significance (p=0.002).

R · Python · lifelines · LASSO Cox

SkinAI
03
Pending patent
AI/MLComputer VisionStartup

SkinAI

Computer Vision Skin Analysis Platform

AI-powered skin analysis platform with thousands of users and a pending patent. Uses computer vision for dermatological screening. Built from the ground up as a solo founder.

Computer Vision · Python · React

Growing Up with Robotics
04
Active
NonprofitSTEM EducationLeadership

Growing Up with Robotics

International 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

International nonprofit I founded. Robotics and STEM education for underserved communities. 7,000+ students reached across multiple countries. Executive Director.

501(c)(3) · 300+ service hours · 7,000+ students

FTC Robotics — Team 14607
05
Chesapeake Championship
Competitive RoboticsEngineeringCaptain

FTC Robotics — Team 14607

Robot Uprising · Team Captain

Team captain for Robot Uprising. Competed at FTC Chesapeake Championship. Led mechanical design and autonomous programming. Drove strategy and systems integration.

Java · CAD · FTC SDK

FBLA FUSE
06
2nd Place NOVA Regional
Mobile AppFull StackCompetition

FBLA FUSE

Chapter Management Mobile App

Chapter management mobile app built for FBLA. 2nd place NOVA Regional in Mobile App Development. Full-stack with React Native and AWS backend.

React Native · AWS · TypeScript

About

The story
behind the work

I'm a junior at TJ (TJHSST) in Northern Virginia. I immigrated from China, taught myself English, and received a cord blood transplant as a child for beta-thalassemia — which is why transplant immunology and GvHD research aren't just academic for me. They're personal.

I've conducted research at Stanford (iGEM), George Mason University (ASSIP), and Children's National Hospital. CAPA is my effort to turn that lived experience into something that might genuinely help the next kid in that situation.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

— Isaiah 40:31

Beyond the Lab

Competitive Cuber

Rubik's cube competitor

Lacrosse

Offensive midfielder

ABRSM Grade 8

Piano · teaches music

Youth Volunteer

Area Youth Ministry DMV

Research

Stanford iGEMImmunocloaking research
George Mason UniversityASSIP program
Children's National HospitalClinical research

Publications & Research

Research &
Writing

Solo-authoredSurvival AnalysisClinical ML

Competing-Risks Survival Analysis for Pediatric HSCT

Applying competing-risks survival analysis and ML to predict acute GvHD in 187 pediatric bone marrow transplant patients. Severe aGvHD risk plateaus by day 100 (CIF=0.214). LASSO-selected Cox model achieved omnibus significance (p=0.002).

View on GitHub ↗
20252026 — in preparation
Open SourceProtein LMDeepHit

CAPA: Computational Architecture for Predicting Alloimmunity

Full framework paper describing the ESM-2 + cross-attention + DeepHit architecture for structure-aware HLA mismatch scoring and competing-risks survival prediction in allogeneic HSCT.

View on GitHub ↗
2026Targeting Bioinformatics / Blood Advances
Synthetic BiologyiGEMStanford

Stanford iGEM — Immunocloaking

Synthetic biology research on immunocloaking strategies. Contributed to experimental design and computational analysis as part of Stanford's iGEM team.

2025Stanford University

Contact

Let's talk
about ideas.

Research collaborations, internship inquiries, or just want to connect — reach out.

Send an email ↗