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Computer engineering student develops AI tool to streamline grading and enhance learning

UC Santa Cruz students and RoboGrade co-founders Siddharth Prothia (right) and Kevon Baha (left).
UC Santa Cruz students and RoboGrade co-founders Siddharth Prothia (right) and Kevon Baha (left).

Second-year Baskin Engineering student Siddharth Prothia (B.S., Computer Science; Electrical Engineering minor) is on a mission to enhance learning with RoboGrade—an AI-powered tool he developed to streamline grading and support for both students and educators.

RoboGrade is a free software application that automatically grades assessments and provides instant feedback. Educators upload rubrics and grading instructions to guide the AI, reducing their workload and improving efficiency. Students receive quick, detailed notes on their assignments to deepen understanding and support learning. 

“The goal is to make coursework feedback more accessible,” Prothia said. “It’s an AI tool that is designed to enhance the learning experience—not replace instructors.” 

Prothia credits his Baskin Engineering coursework and peer discussions for supporting RoboGrade’s development. In CSE 40: Machine Learning Basics: Data Analysis and Empirical Methods, taught by Distinguished Professor and Jack Baskin Chair in Computer Engineering Lise Getoor, Prothia learned how to build predictive models—tools that help computers make decisions based on data. That foundation proved essential for fine-tuning the AI system behind RoboGrade. 

“Fine-tuning means taking an existing large language model and customizing it for a very specific use case,” he said. “I needed an AI model that was customized for education and grading.”

To build RoboGrade, Prothia fine-tuned Google’s Gemini 2.5 model by training it on academic data, helping the AI better understand grading criteria and deliver more relevant information. 

The focus on grading and assignment feedback sets RoboGrade apart from many existing AI education tools, which typically offer features like quiz generation or AI plagiarism detection.

“One of the best parts of this experience has been leveraging my perspective as a student to shape the product,” Prothia said. “I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of feedback, so I’ve been able to build RoboGrade with that experience in mind.”

Prothia first came up with the idea for RoboGrade in summer 2024, inspired by the potential of AI to transform education.

“I was curious about the role of AI in education, especially since it’s transforming so many fields,” Prothia said. “I reached out to professors in my network to learn how AI could affect their daily work, and it quickly became clear that grading takes up a lot of their time.”

After months of researching and coding, he began scaling the product with the help of co-founder and fellow University of California, Santa Cruz student Kevon Baha (B.A., Economics). 

With Baha’s support, RoboGrade has steadily expanded its reach. The app is already approved for use in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and is used by hundreds of educators and a growing number of students. The software integrates with Canvas, a popular learning management system used by schools and universities. 

Accuracy and ethical use of AI are key concerns for Prothia—reflecting Baskin Engineering’s focus on socially responsible innovation. The platform includes disclaimers about the potential limitations of AI, and he programmed the software to withhold answers when unsure—avoiding the risk of providing incorrect information. RoboGrade is also fully compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Prothia emphasized the importance of prioritizing his time while balancing academics and building a startup. “I’ve learned to study efficiently and make the most of my time,” he said. “These skills have been crucial throughout my education at UC Santa Cruz.”

Prothia also encourages other students interested in building a project from scratch to take the first step: “Just go for it. It’s hard work, but the amount of skills you gain by building something yourself is enormous. Believe in your mission—and don’t be afraid of hearing no.”

Prothia plans to continue improving RoboGrade this summer while interning as a software developer at Aveva, an industrial technology company. His long-term vision is to scale the app for use across UC campuses and eventually reach students and educators nationwide. 

“I want to build cool products that help people,” Prothia said. “That is what I see myself doing for the rest of my life.”

Prothia and Baha competed in the Santa Cruz Launchpad event on May 21—an opportunity for UC Santa Cruz students to pitch their startups and compete for $40,000 in cash prizes.

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