Summary
Michael Saugstad is a software developer and data scientist with 11 years of experience building accessible, research-driven tools — currently leading development on Project Sidewalk at the University of Washington while working remotely from San Diego. He blends HCI-focused research with practical engineering, shipping crowdsourced data pipelines and front-end tooling to improve sidewalk accessibility. Trained with an MS in Computer Science and a dual BA in Mathematics and Computer Science, he has repeatedly served as lead developer on academic projects and mentored students in Java, Scheme/Racket, and robotics integrations. Michael’s interests in functional programming and open source inform a pragmatic, reproducible approach to research software, and off the clock he’s been known to organize muggle quidditch programs, reflecting his knack for community-driven projects.
11 years of coding experience
4 years of employment as a software developer
Bachelor’s Degree, Mathematics and Computer Science, Bachelor’s Degree, Mathematics and Computer Science at Vassar College
The University of Maryland, College Park
High School, High School at Waukesha North High School
English, French, Spanish