Max Raffel

Computer Science & Game Development
@ USC - Class of 2028

Learn more about...

Who

A student at USC who wants to push the limits of what is possible. I love to produce Research that shatters all expectations and force you to take a step back and think. I live for ideas that genuinely excite me, and sharing that excitement with others.

I have the privilege of working under the mentorship of Miryam Mi-Ying Huang, a current postdoc at CMU. My primary research interests are in AI security, as well as quantum cryptography. I am interested in exploring potential Summer 2027 research opportunities in Theoretical Computer Science.

Cool stuff I work on

Crease

Lead Engineer · USC AGP

2026-Present

Crease

A game about folding and flying paper airplanes as you navigate a girl's evolving relationship with her father. Includes a custom paper folding simulation engine, handwritten text system, flight physics, and more.

  • Game Dev
  • C#
  • Unity
  • Leadership
Attribute-based Watermarking

Researcher

2026

Attribute-based Watermarking

Watermarking scheme for LLMs utilizing PRC and CPRF for attribute-based key issuing and detection control. Currently in preprint with full code and experiment details.

  • Research
  • AI
  • Cryptography
  • Python
  • PyTorch
  • Hugging Face
Scope

President

2024-Present

Scope

From hackathons to beach bonfires, late-night debugging to pumpkin painting, Scope is dedicated to fostering a tight-knit community of students who love Computer Science, and want to learn and build together.

  • Software
  • Go
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • Leadership
Socra

Founding Engineer

2026

Socra

Re-imagining the future of education in a post-AI world by transforming any assignment into a Socratic dialogue. Actual classroom use by 100s of students.

  • Software
  • AI
  • Education
  • Full Stack
  • React
  • Typescript
Advoctopus

G4C Student Challenge Finalist

2026

Advoctopus

Play as Octavious, the Octopus defends his reef from human pollution with a mix of elbow grease, and dressing up as a human to engage in grassroots activism.

  • Game Dev
  • C#
  • Unity
Hi-Key

Crowd Favorite · OpenAlpha x SCKeebies Game Jam

2025

Hi-Key

A typing roguelike where you upgrade your keyboard, requiring fast typing and strategic planning to reveal the story, key by key.

  • Game Dev
  • C#
  • Unity
Kowalski Analysis

LaHacks 2026

2026

Kowalski Analysis

Stops AI coding agents from writing spaghetti code by providing them with original heuristics and guidance that they could never fit into their context window alone.

  • Software
  • Python
  • Agentic AI
  • AI
Camp Kesem

Operations Coord · Kesem USC

2025-Present

Camp Kesem

Handled logistics and programming for a week-long summer camp for 70+ children whose families are affected by cancer.

  • Volunteer
  • Leadership
Open Your Browser

Programming Lead · OpenAlpha

2025

Open Your Browser

Navigate a chaotic desktop and defeat a gauntlet of minigames to save your art school application, in an 2000s internet quirky adventure.

  • Game Dev
  • C#
  • Unity
  • Leadership
Smooth Talking Pickpocket

Programming MVP · OpenAlpha

2024

Smooth Talking Pickpocket

A narrative-driven pickpocketing adventure where players must make conversation while stealing from a cast of memorable characters.

  • Game Dev
  • C#
  • Unity
Move, Move, Melon!!

QA Lead/Engineer · USC AGP

2025-2026

Move, Move, Melon!!

A cartoony 3D on-rails runner where you play Melon, a very determined hamster in her quest to roll the biggest scoop of ice cream ever. Play now on App Store, Google Play, and Steam.

  • Game Dev
  • C#
  • Unity
  • QA

Contact Max

Questions, opportunities, or just want to say hi?
Shoot me a message — I'll get back to you jiffy quick!