Ryan Divan

I am a second-year undergraduate in Mathematics at Princeton University, pursuing minors in Computer Science and Philosophy. I have a strong interest in numerical analysis, machine learning, and optimization. Right now, I'm building EVAL Gaming and pursuing independent research in cryo-EM and numerical analysis under Professor Marc Gilles.

Email  /  GitHub  /  LinkedIn

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Research and Ventures

A selection of my longer-term research projects and entrepreneurial ventures.

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EVAL Gaming: Connecting Esports Athletes to Scholarships


Keller Center eLab Accelerator, 2025
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With Sekou Roland and Ibraheem Amin, I founded a data analytics-driven venture to bring standardized evaluation metrics to high school esports,. I have led development Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Valorant status using developer and community APIs. Our clients include the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Garden State Esports, and we have been awarded grants by the Keller Center and Princeton Student Ventures.
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Kachi: Understanding Your Skincare Spend


Mendocino Food Consulting, 2025

Alongside Dr. Bryan Quoc Le at Mendocino Food Consulting , I developed Kachi, an app that used a proprietary scoring algorithm based on bioactivity and publications to rank consumers’ skincare products across three main categories: efficacy, value, and markup. I brought the app from a spreadsheet to a web app, incorporating RAG for more effective scanning and analysis, and we ultimately exited to a client.
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Project Leo, by Lunarflame Studios


Lunarflame Studios, 2024
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With the team at Lunarflame Studios, I developed Project Leo, a sci-fi platformer game centered around the journey of Soren, the protagonist. I worked on several key features for platforming, animations, and mathematical functions that contributed to the optimization and smoothness of the game.
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Combating Malaria: A Drug Discovery Approach Using Thiazole Derivatives Against PfPKG Enzymes


Hari Bezwada, Michelle Cheon, Ryan Divan , Hannah Escritor, Michelle Kagramian, Isha Korgaonkar, Maya MacAdams, Udgita Pamidigantam, Richard Pilny, Eleanor Race, Angadh Singh, Nathan Zhang, LeeAnn Nguyen, Dr. Fina Liotta
David Miyamoto Scholars Conference at Drew University, 2023
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This study involved the synthesis of six thiazole-derived amides to inhibit the PfPKG pathway, a key part of the malarial Plasmodium parasite life cycle. I led the key efforts of in silico analysis, simulating drug docking in UCSF Chimera and AutoDock Vina. Our research was conducted at the New Jersey Governor’s School in the Sciences and supported by organizations including Novartis and the Overdeck Foundation.



Other Projects

These include coursework, side projects and unpublished research work.

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Randomly Pivoted Cholesky: Investigation and Applications


Princeton MAT321: Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing
2025-12-13
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I implemented the RPCholesky algorithm based on the paper by Chen et al. (2022), exploring its applications in kernel learning, image classification, and potential applications to Hankel matrices in the FlashSTU paper by Liu et al. (2025).
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Effect of Fiberware and PLA Compostables on Compost Maturity via Greenhouse Gas Emissions


Princeton FRS115: The Science of Composting
2024-12-12
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With classmate Daniela Cruz, I collected and analyzed compost samples from Princeton’s S.C.R.A.P.P.Y. composter to determine how input composition affected the maturity of resultant compost. We employed laboratory methods and exploratory data analysis, showcasing our conclusions in a poster presentation for the Princeton Geosciences Department.
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Rocket League Articles @ Dignitas


Team Dignitas Rocket League
2022-05-23
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During a tenure at Dignitas as a senior staff writer, I produced 20+ Rocket League articles featuring educational content and interviews with professional players. I reported on events in the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) and analyzed in-game mechanics; I’m particularly proud of my hitbox analysis article .

Coursework



Mathematics
  • MAT478: Topics in Combinatorics: The Probabilistic Method
  • MAT321: Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing
  • MAT380: Probability and Stochastic Systems
  • MAT345: Algebra I
  • MAT217: Honors Linear Algebra
  • MAT215: Real Analysis
  • Point Set Topology (Johns Hopkins University CTY, 2022)
Applied Math and Computer Science
  • COS511: Theoretical Machine Learning
  • COS226: Data Structures and Algorithms
  • COS126: Introduction to Computer Science
  • PHY210: Experimental Physics Seminar
  • ECO310: Mathematical Microeconomics
  • FRS113: The Science of Composting
  • Cellular Automata (NJ Governor's School in the Sciences, 2023)
Other Selected Courses
  • LAT338: The Satyrica of Petronius
  • SLA330: Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky
  • WRI191: Seeing is Believing
  • ATL495: Epistolary Writing
  • EGR395: Venture Capital and the Finance of Innovation
  • EGR380/381: eLab Startup Incubator
  • Global Bioethics and Human Rights (St. Peter's University, 2023)

Design and source code from Leonid Keselman's Jekyll fork of Jon Barron's website