Malha Hinrichs - Creative Technologist

About

I’m an educator and creative technologist exploring how digital tools can nurture real human connection—working amphibiously on- and offline.

Work Experience

Software Engineer • Product Manager, Core Experience

Cambly

Aug 2016 - Oct 2022

Joined as a foundational engineering hire, owning the frontend React codebase for Cambly's global live video platform for instant ESL tutoring.

Designed Cambly's proprietary ESL curriculum and online classroom, growing content from zero to a full-time in-house Learning Team
Cambly Kids (24/7 online ESL classroom for children) was built and launched in 2018: my work involved writing code, leading product design and curriculum development, and handling early legal work
Taught after-hours coding lessons for non-technical co-workers

Software Engineer

idibon

Sep 2015 - Apr 2016

NLP machine learning models as a platform/service

Stopped watching HBO's Silicon Valley because I started living it.
Company shuttered in April 2016 after an attempted acquisition failed

Research Fellow

UF Brain, Language, and Bilingualism Lab

Sep 2013 - Apr 2015

Neurolinguistic research in cognitive control and bilingualism, with a focus on code-switching and non-native acquisition of native-like syntax

Engineering Intern

IBM | Seasonal - Summer

May 2014 - Aug 2014

Built custom NLP pipeline and Bayesian classifier for Cybersecurity executives

Education

Interdisciplinary Studies (Computational Linguistics)

The University of Florida

Phi Beta Kappa; Minor in Physics

Courses

Mathematics for Intelligent Systems (COT5615)
Cognitive Neurolinguistics (LIN6796)
Philosophy of Mind (PHI4320)
Biological Physics (PHZ4710)

Volunteer

Early Childhood & Grades Substitute

Waldorf School of Tampa Bay

Instructor • Java, Python, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence

iDTech Camps, Columbia University (NYC), Georgia Tech (ATL)

Jul 2015 - Jul 2025

Educator

Paden Elementary, Alameda CA

First Grade Reading Tutor

Sheridan Elementary, San Francisco CA

Language Assistant

UF English Language Institute

Youth English Tutor

AuPair Istanbul

Projects

Mangrove Social Network

Mar 2025 - Present

a decentralized digital community focused on connection, care, and creative exchange

Weather in the World

Jan 2017 - Present

interactive web app where I play with data storytelling for comparing global climates

Languages

English (Native) , German (Proficient) , Spanish (Conversational) , Turkish (Conversational) , French (Fluent) , Arabic (Basic)

Skills

Software Engineering

Frontend Development
React Router
Redux
Full-Stack Development
System Architecture
Codebase Ownership
API Integration
Open-Source Technologies
Cursor
Supabase
MongoDB
AWS
Vercel

Frameworks & Languages

Java
JavaScript
Python
React
HTML
CSS
Ruby
R
MATLAB
Next.js
Flask
Vite
Ruby on Rails
Material UI
TailwindCSS

Product Management

Product Strategy
Product Vision
Roadmapping
User Research
Market Analysis
Go-to-Market Strategy
Agile Methodologies
SaaS
Mobile Applications
B2B Growth
A/B Testing
Data-Driven Decision Making

Curriculum Development

Instructional Design
Educational Content
ESL Curriculum
Technical Instruction
Instructional Scaffolding

Data & Analytics

Data Processing
Data Analysis
Metrics Pipelines
Behavioral Studies
EEG Experiments
SQL
Data Visualization
Analytics Dashboards
R
SQL
MATLAB

Leadership & Management

Cross-functional Leadership
Stakeholder Management
Team Building
Project Management
Communication
Process Optimization
Scaling Operations
Bootstrapping

Machine Learning, NLP, and AI

Sentiment Analysis
Classification Tasks
Data Exploration
K-Means Clustering
RAG
Prompt Engineering
Bayesian Learning

Interests

Handwork

Network theory

Systems thinking

Universal Humanism