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Pavlo KhmarukI am an engineer.

About me

I’m Pavlo, a fourth-year Creative Media and Game Technologies student at Hanze, focused on the technical side of game development. I enjoy turning ideas into interactive experiences and exploring what technology can make possible. My interests also extend to software and machine learning, with a creative background that shapes how I approach technical work.

  • Game development

    Technical at heart

    My focus is the technical side of game development: shaping the systems and architecture that bring a game to life. I also understand the design side and enjoy working across disciplines to connect the technical choices with the experience we want to create.

    Made to be played

    I want to make interactive, fun experiences and help push game technology forward—both in what players can do and in how we build games.

  • Software engineering

    Turning complexity into structure

    I’m drawn to the challenge of turning complex ideas into clear, well-structured software. System architecture is a central part of how I approach that work.

    Build, verify, refine

    I adapt my process to the task. Complex systems begin with architecture and planning; simpler work can move into implementation sooner. I work with AI agents through a feedback loop, directing the implementation and checking whether the result meets its requirements.

  • ML & research

    Beyond using AI

    I’m interested in what machine learning can make possible, and in improving the technology itself. Practical applications draw me most, but I also want to understand the foundations beneath them.

    Learning through experiments

    I’m independently exploring neural-network architecture and how networks learn. Experimentation leads my learning, with theory helping me understand the problems I encounter.

  • Leadership, design & 3D

    Shared responsibility

    I value open discussion and room for different ideas, alongside clear expectations for quality and deadlines. When leading a team, I share responsibility and respect each discipline’s expertise.

    A creative foundation

    My background in visual design and 3D shapes how I approach technical work. I can contribute to the creative side when needed, while keeping technology and systems as my main direction.

Selected projects

  1. An orange fish with legs moving through a blue underwater environment.

    Serious Fishness

    Explore an underwater world as a fish with legs in a short game about tackling water pollution.

  2. Desktopy title lettering surrounded by plants on a dark background.

    Desktopy

    Grow and customise plants that live on your desktop in a relaxed tycoon game with minigames and progression.

  3. Rolling Through Fire title artwork showing a wheelchair user in a burning corridor; promotional illustration, not gameplay.

    Rolling Through Fire

    A university VR project about navigating a building fire in a wheelchair, created to draw attention to campus accessibility.

View all projects

Background

  1. 2012

    1. Education

      Lyceum Leader No. 171 — Kyiv

      2012 — 2023

      Secondary education in Kyiv, with an IT and mathematics focus.

      2012 — 2023

      Secondary education in Kyiv, with an IT and mathematics focus.

      Role

      • School student

      Focus

      • Studied in an IT- and mathematics-focused class from eighth grade.
      • Continued Ukrainian schooling during a period of overlapping school attendance in Vienna.

      Outcomes

      • Graduated from the Ukrainian school in 2023.

  2. 2019

    1. Experience

      Freelance 3D work

      2019 — 2022 · Approximate years

      3D models, textures and renders for clients, including models for 3D printing.

      2019 — 2022 · Approximate years

      3D models, textures and renders for clients, including models for 3D printing.

      Role

      • 3D artist

      Contributions

      • Created 3D models, textures and renders for client commissions.
      • Handled client communication alongside creating the work.

      Outcomes

      • Completed commissions through freelance platforms and later received some direct client enquiries.

  3. 2022

    1. Education

      Gymnasium Sacre Coeur Wien

      2022 — 2023

      Secondary school studies in Vienna alongside my Ukrainian schooling.

      2022 — 2023

      Secondary school studies in Vienna alongside my Ukrainian schooling.

      Role

      • School student

      Focus

      • Attended Gymnasium Sacre Coeur Wien from 2022 to 2023 while also continuing Ukrainian schooling.

      Outcomes

      • Moved on to university in 2023 without completing the Austrian school-leaving qualification.

  4. 2023

    1. Education

      Hanze — Creative Media & Game Technologies

      2023 — 2027 · Expected graduation

      Bachelor of Science in progress, focused on programming and game design.

      2023 — 2027 · Expected graduation

      Bachelor of Science in progress, focused on programming and game design.

      Role

      • Fourth-year student

      Focus

      • Studied programming and game design through focus tracks.
      • Took electives covering marketing and monetization, and an elective related to leadership.

      Outcomes

      • Working toward a Bachelor of Science, with graduation expected in 2027.

  5. 2025

    1. Education

      Akita International University

      2025

      An exchange in Japan exploring finance, marketing and Japanese.

      2025

      An exchange in Japan exploring finance, marketing and Japanese.

      Role

      • Exchange student

      Focus

      • Studied Japanese, marketing and finance during the exchange.
      • Finance studies included three courses covering behavioral finance, analytical/statistical finance and accounting.

      Outcomes

      • Studied at Akita International University during my third year at Hanze.

  6. 2026

    1. Experience

      IdecisionGames — Software development internship

      2026 · 5 months · Began around February

      A five-month full-stack internship contributing to an AI-powered web development platform.

      2026 · 5 months · Began around February

      A five-month full-stack internship contributing to an AI-powered web development platform.

      Role

      • Full-stack development

      Contributions

      • Contributed to frontend and backend development alongside other engineers.
      • Helped build the AI pipeline used to produce software.

      Outcomes

      • Completed a five-month internship, progressing from an initial learning period to team project work.

Let’s talk.