Griffin Rutherford
Research Engineer @ Coherascent Labs and Pursuer of Well-Roundedness
About
Research and Development Engineer with a background in autonomous agent architecture and an M.S. in Computer Science from Colorado School of Mines. Currently focused on adapting DPLL-style satisfiability methods into continuous vector spaces to reduce hallucination in large language models, while also building educational AI tools with ethical, effective integration. Also an avid outdoor recreationist with a deep interest in the intersection of mental and physical health.
Experience
Research Engineer · Coherascent Labs
Jan 2026 - Present | Remote
• Researching neuro-symbolic and deterministic AI to reduce hallucination and improve reasoning reliability
• Investigating deterministic control layers, continuous DPLL-style reasoning, and optimization-based cognitive models
• Translating research into edtech tools for handwritten reasoning, automated grading, and adaptive remediation
• Building across Python, C++, PyTorch, AI CLI tools, and mobile phone emulation, drawing on hands-on experience with transformer architectures and autonomous agents
Podcaster · Malestrum
Mar 2025 - Present | Golden, Colorado, United States (Hybrid)
• Co-hosting a father-son podcast on healthy masculinity, intergenerational relationships, and long-form conversation
• Exploring Gen-Z vs. Boomer perspectives across AI, jobs, social change, echo chambers, and global uncertainty
• Building a thoughtful creative project around communication, reflection, and the perspective of a 50-year age gap
AI Implementation Engineer · TrueFlow AI LLC
Feb 2025 - Jan 2026 | Golden, Colorado, United States (Hybrid)
• Led all technical architecture for an AI automation startup as a 25% equity partner
• Shipped 100k+ lines of production code spanning frontend, backend, and integrations for a marketing automation platform
• Built custom agentic LLM automations and SQL-based RAG pipelines plugged directly into client workflows
• Stood up Docker-containerized infrastructure with CI/CD, wildcard SSL, and separate prod/staging environments
• Joined sales calls to provide technical depth and shape product direction
Cybersecurity Digital Innovation Internship · Jefferson County
Jun 2024 - Aug 2024 | Golden, Colorado, United States (On-site)
• Created training materials on cybersecurity and generative AI for technical and non-technical county employees
• Partnered with the CIO and CISO to define awareness metrics and deliver engaging, practical content
• Won "Best Booth" at the county Tech Showcase
Software Engineering Internship · CACI International Inc
May 2023 - Aug 2023
• Co-developed the Autocalibration Tool for EdgGuide, a Bluetooth mesh navigation system for blind and visually impaired users in public spaces
• Designed the full UML architecture of a C++ program from scratch using PlantUML, applying SOLID principles throughout
• Built position-solving algorithms (hill climb, gradient descent) to determine absolute XYZ coordinates of Bluetooth beacons from signal distance data
• Reduced installation costs by eliminating the need for manual beacon-to-beacon measurement across large commercial spaces
• Applied multivariable calculus and probability/statistics concepts to the core positioning logic
Resident Advisor · Colorado School of Mines
Jul 2022 - Nov 2022 | Golden, Colorado, United States (Part-time)
• Fostered community for upperclassmen by hosting community-building events and holding one-on-ones with around 50 residents
• Held desk and overnight phone duty throughout the semester
Uber Freight: CS Field Session
May 2022 - Jun 2022 | Full-time
• Worked with an Uber employee on a team of four to create a self-documenting automation engine proof of concept in both Python and C++
CSCI101 Mentor (Teaching Assistant)
Jan 2021 - May 2022 | Part-time
• Worked as both a TA and mentor, holding one-on-ones three times a semester for about 40 mentees
• Graded homework and exams, and held office hours
Trail Guide and Office Clerk · Hyde Memorial State Park
Jun 2021 - Aug 2021 | Full-time
• Guided conversations with park visitors, offered trail recommendations, and handled day-to-day logistics tied to park upkeep
Education
Colorado School of Mines
Bachelor and Master of Science, Computer Science
2020 - 2025
Emphasis on Artificial Intellegence, Data Science, and Machine Learning. Partaking in a program that enables pursuing both degrees simultaneously.
Skills: Communication · Machine Learning · Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Santa Fe Preparatory School
High School Diploma
2015 - 2020
Activities: Cross Country and Track Captain; Musical Theater (Roles in "Curtains" and "In The Heights")
More about me
Life of Adventure
Projects (some with live demos below)
Stochastic Gradient Descent Made Fun
Jan 2026 - Present | Independent passion project
Designing a playful, visual lesson plan that uses Algebra II and AP Calculus ideas to make the math behind machine learning, ChatGPT, and AI intuitive far earlier than students usually encounter it.
Mathematical Simulations
Aug 2025 - Present | Colorado School of Mines
Interactive explorations of fluid dynamics (Navier-Stokes) and probability theory (Gambler's Ruin). Real-time visualizations demonstrating chaos theory, stochastic processes, and computational physics with WebGL acceleration.
Transformer Architecture from Scratch
Feb 2025 - Apr 2025 | Colorado School of Mines
A collaborative implementation of the fundamental structure of LLMs like ChatGPT built entirely from scratch, featuring attention mechanisms, RMSNorm, positional embeddings, and a generation method trained on Gutenberg texts for MATH598B at Colorado School of Mines. My other collaborators are Alex Fruge, Gabriel Del Castillo, and Matthew Stanley.
AlmndBrd: Enhanced Mandelbrot Explorer
Dec 2021 - Feb 2025 | Colorado School of Mines
A WebGL-accelerated Mandelbrot set explorer featuring real-time rendering, 8 color themes, smooth animations, and high-performance GPU computation for infinite fractal exploration.
HIPAA in Security and Privacy Research
Jan 2025 - May 2025 | Colorado School of Mines
A collaborative research paper analyzing the gap between expectations and reality of health data governance in wearable technology companies.
Darknet-53 Breast Cancer Detection Presentation
Jan 2025 - Mar 2025 | Colorado School of Mines
A collaboration with a licensed Dentist/Orthodontist exploring ML-driven applications that significantly improve tumor detection rates in healthcare.
SATPLAN Solver
Oct 2024 - Dec 2024 | Colorado School of Mines
A Lisp implementation encoding complex problems like the Tower of Hanoi into CNF (Conjunctive Normal Form) with thousands of logical propositions, using DPLL-based SAT solving to demonstrate practical applications in AI planning.
HASS465: The Good Life Final Paper
Jan 2024 - Apr 2024 | Colorado School of Mines
A research project synthesizing diverse perspectives on happiness and the good life, integrating insights from various disciplines.
Clue Game
Mar 2022 - May 2022 | Colorado School of Mines
A digital adaptation of the board game Clue using Java, showcasing object-oriented design and SOLID principles.
Organizations
Toastmasters International
Active Member · Mar 2025 - Jun 2025
A global community dedicated to empowering individuals through public speaking, leadership, and effective communication. Recognized worldwide since 1924, I hone my skills in delivering impactful presentations and fostering meaningful connections. As an active member, I engage in dynamic workshops, speech contests, and mentorship opportunities—sharpening my voice while inspiring others to find theirs!
Mines Alpine Club
Vice President and Director of Hiking and Trail Running · Aug 2023 - May 2025
An official club uniting diverse outdoorsy interests like hiking, climbing, skiing, mountaineering, and snowboarding. Recognized by Colorado School of Mines in 2024, I share my passion for rugged trails and thrilling slopes. Also involved in a heavy weightlifting group I met through the club to pursue my hobbiest bodybuilding goals!
Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
Philanthropy Chair, Alumnus · Jan 2022 - May 2024
A tight-knit fraternity fostering academic and social excellence. As Philanthropy Chair, I organized collaborative volunteer initiatives—from blood drives to Habitat for Humanity trips—to support community causes.
Ballroom Dance Club (Swing Dance)
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
Engaged in swing dance lessons and choreography practices, embracing creative movement and vibrant social interaction.
Adventure Mountain Running Club
Founder · May 2021 - May 2022
Established a mountain running group for 13er and 14er trails, celebrating endurance and camaraderie—now merged into the Running Club.
Courses
Skills
Programming & Development
- Python (Programming Language)
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- C++
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
- Software Development
- Software Architecture
- Mobile Application Development
- Web Content Creation
AI & Machine Learning
- AI Engineering
- Machine Learning
- Large Language Models (LLM)
- PyTorch
- MLOps
- Agentic AI Coordination
- AI Agent Development
- Multi-Agent Systems
- Prompt Engineering
- AI Workflow Automation
Technologies & Tools
- Docker
- PostgreSQL
- Node.js
- React Native
- Cloud Computing
- DevOps
- Security Management
Business & Leadership
- Marketing Strategy
- Consulting
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Communication
- Public Speaking
- Presentation Skills
Academic
- Mathematics
- Calculus
- Argumentation
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Research
- Academic Writing
Personal Interests
- Trail Running
- Snowboarding
- Bodybuilding
- Taekwondo
- Nature Photography
- Musical Theatre
- Songwriting
- Social Media Content Creation