Background Information

My name is Daniel Cukier, and I hold a PhD in Computer Science from the University of São Paulo.
My doctoral research focused on modeling and understanding software startup ecosystems using formal qualitative methods, resulting in a published framework for ecosystem maturity.

This experience strengthened my ability to analyze complex systems, build conceptual models, and work with evolving structures — skills that have been valuable throughout my engineering career.

Recently, my work has centered on the JAM protocol. I am one of the core developers of Jamixir, an independent Elixir implementation of JAM. This includes interpreting the Graypaper, translating formal definitions into executable semantics, implementing PVM behavior, and experimenting with early node architecture ideas.

I have worked in the software industry for more than twenty years as a developer, founder, and technology leader. I founded a music analytics startup that processed billions of data points to help artists understand their audience and receive fair compensation. The company operated for six years and was eventually acquired in Brazil. Although not a large exit, it provided deep experience in building real systems, handling large-scale data, and navigating both technical and organizational complexity.

I also served as CTO of Elo7 (later acquired by Etsy) and CTO of Pravaler, and I have been active in developer communities and engineering education, including contributing to WEB3DEV, the largest Web3 developer community in Latin America.

Motivations for Applying

I am applying to the Polkadot Fellowship because I want to contribute to the long-term evolution of the protocol, especially during its transition into JAM.
Over the last year, I have spent significant time studying JAM and implementing its components. This has made me want to participate more formally in the work around specification clarity and protocol understanding.

My motivations include:

• Deepening my protocol expertise by collaborating with others who are exploring related problems.
• Contributing to decentralization by helping develop and validate alternative implementations.
• Improving specification clarity, both through implementation feedback and direct contributions.
• Supporting developer onboarding and education, helping newcomers understand JAM’s execution model and core concepts.
• Participating in a community that values humility, rigor, and long-term commitment.

I see the Fellowship as the right structure to continue contributing meaningfully in these areas.

Areas of Interest in the Polkadot Ecosystem

My technical areas of interest include:

• JAM architecture and formal semantics
• Node and runtime responsibilities under JAM
• Cross-implementation alignment and specification clarity
• Live network operational challenges

I am also strongly interested in developer experience and onboarding. Throughout my career, I have worked to make complex concepts accessible, and I would like to help produce clearer explanations, runnable examples, and educational materials for developers entering the Polkadot ecosystem.

Contributions to Polkadot / Protocol Work

My contributions so far are primarily related to JAM:

• I am developing Jamixir, an Elixir implementation of the JAM protocol.
• I have 15 accepted commits to the official JAM Graypaper, improving clarity, correcting inconsistencies, and refining definitions:
  https://github.com/gavofyork/graypaper/commits?author=danicuki
• I have taken part in discussions around semantics, determinism, architecture boundaries, and specification interpretation.
• I have created diagrams, explanations, and conceptual demos to help others understand JAM’s structure and goals.
• I helped organize JAM meetups and community calls, including the JAM Experience gathering in Lisbon (May 2025).

These contributions reflect both practical implementation work and a sustained engagement with the protocol’s underlying ideas. As JAM evolves, I plan to continue contributing to validation, specification refinement, and developer accessibility.

GitHub Profile

https://github.com/danicuki

Polkadot Address (with verified on-chain identity)

127XreSJZW91qLc91hwepYZ9pBfuNveqDERv9KDrm2oQf4Lu