Graduation!
Reflecting on late-night study sessions, breakthroughs in understanding complex concepts, I felt a profound sense of pride and accomplishment. With my degree in hand, I was exhausted yet exhilarated, ready to take on the world.
Masters from New York University majoring in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Reflecting on late-night study sessions, breakthroughs in understanding complex concepts, I felt a profound sense of pride and accomplishment. With my degree in hand, I was exhausted yet exhilarated, ready to take on the world.
As a Machine Learning Engineer Intern, I explored the usage Perception models in the setting of maritime object detection and tracking. I modified complex model architectures and fine-tuned various algorithms, contributing with a pioneering framework – MarML.
'AI for Chess Puzzle Generation' - that was our thesis in a game development course. The project revolved around an overlooked niche in AI application - creating aesthetically pleasing chess puzzles. DeepMind's 2017 achievements set a high bar in AI's role in chess, yet the domain of puzzle generation remained relatively untapped. We developed an algorithm capable of generating not just any puzzles, but ones that were beautiful and engaging, quantifying chess positions into numerical values to craft these puzzles. This project was not only related to chess, but unveiled the potential of AI in non-quantifiable domains, such as aesthetics.
In Spring 2022, I had the privilege of working with Yann LeCun, the star professor at NYU. His unique teaching style, which blended profound theoretical insights with practical applications, was nothing short of fascinating. He introduced me to the transformers and energy-based models - allowing me to understand the intricacies of the models ; which later turned out to be where the world was headed to anyway.
Would you ever believe a code with 'return 0' will take away the victory when competing against complex algorithms? Fall 2021 was such a point in my academic journey, marked by the Heuristic Problem Solving course - a unique arena where intellect met creativity. Unlike any traditional classroom setting, this course was a challenge, a challenge of innovations. Each problem problem statement, different from the rest. My early interests in problem solving, and analytical thinking allowed me to win 7 out of 10 challenges - each victory meant a prize of a KitKat! Amidst the losses, there's one that taught me to appreciate the simplicity in life: a team that came up with a solution: 'return 0', clinched a top position in a gambling problem, beating all our complex algorithms. This experience was a humorous yet insightful reminder that sometimes, the most effective solution is the simplest one.
August 2021 marked the beginning of an interesting chapter in my life: my move to New York City. The anticipation was not just about attending NYU but also about embracing the unique rhythm of the city. For the first time in my life, I was set to explore on my own. Beyond the academic aspirations, I was equally excited to go on a culinary adventure, exploring the rich tapestry of flavors that NYC had to offer. If I were to say my best learning from my Masters, it's not the courses I took, but the new experiences I had.
For my intern in Summer 2021, I had a lot of options - working on a banking project, working for a ML startup dealing with OCR, working with big data. But out of all of them, I chose to work with a crypto startup. I was fascinated by the idea of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and wanted to learn more about the technology. We were building an MVP for a brilliant idea that involved giving a real value to cryptocurrencies - tapping into the market of rare collectible assets like cars and making them trade-able was a multi-billion dollar idea. I was excited to be a part of the process and developed an MVP for the project - mainly learning and working on React. This MVP allowed the company to raise a round and later launch the product within 3 months!
In the era of covid and lockdowns, I embarked on a new journey: a Master of Science degree in Computer Science at New York University. Learning from home was new to me, and a challenge I embraced with open arms. I was excited to learn from some of the best minds in the field, and to be part of a community that thrived on innovation and collaboration. It was a time of growth and exploration - a time that would shape my future.The curriculum was rigorous, and I was challenged to push my limits.