CS Related Work History
This is a list of my work history relevant to research and development in computer science.
Qatar University
Research Intern | Summer 2012 | Doha, Qatar
- Worked on databases with anonymized
relations.
- Explored join operations on such
relations.
As third party clouds become more prevalant and powerful
there is a definite advantage to using them over developing in house
systems. However, some data cannot be stored or processed on third party
systems without some way of obscuring the data. This project, run by
Professors Chris Clifton (Purdue University) and Qutaibah Malluhi (Qatar
University) creates buckets instead of traditional one-to-one
relationships. Some secret knowledge, which is not passed to the third
party system, is necessary to match items on one side of the relation to
the other, but the bucket system allows some processing and filtering to
be done without that knowledge. This was an excellent opportunity for me
to explore a different aspect of CS research as well as to explore a
different culture for a few months.
Google
Techstop Online Intern | Summer 2010 | New York City, NY
- Developed and maintained tools for internal use.
Google is undoubtably one of, if not the, world leaders
in data management and processing, as well as software in general.
There are a lot of smart people working on a lot of neat projects. Of
course, in order for things to run smoothly and optimize progress the
employees need a support network full of robust and efficient tools.
This was an opportunity to make what felt like a behind-the-scenes
impact while experiencing one of the best work cultures that
exists.
NCR
Professional Services Intern | Summers 2007-2009 | Dayton, OH
- Tested ATM software and fixes in preparation for release.
- Developed and implemented testing plans and documents for new devices.
Gasper Developer Intern | Summer 2006 | Dayton, OH
- Fixed defects in software which tracks the status of ATMs in a network.
NCR may not have quite the brand recognition it enjoyed
in it's heyday, but it is still a Fortune 500 company. Look closely and
you will see the logo on many a cash register, self checkout machine,
and ATM. Even ATMs manufactured by other companies often run NCR
software because of the quality of the product. A large part of this is
the robust testing strategy, where I spent a few internships. Another
part is the continual implementation of new products designed to fill
needs that haven't yet been addressed, including the Gasper monitoring
software. As NCR isn't focussed as primarily on software as some of the
other places I have been this was an interesting way for me to view how
software can be used as a product in a broader environment.
Purdue University
EPICS Teaching Assistant | Academic Years 2008-2013 | West Lafayette, IN
- Acted as a resource for students working on projects geared to community service.
- Guided students through all phases of project based learning
- Graded student work and documentation.
The elevator pitch for EPICS is easy. Non-profits in the
community need work done they can't afford to pay professionals to do,
and students need work experience without leaving school or competing
against people with years of experience. So the program puts them
together. Of course, it isn't quite that simple. Students are rarely
prepared for being tossed into this situation, and as a TA I had the
responsibility of guiding them through the process while still giving
them the leeway necessary to learn and grow on their own. I also helped
pioneer a new process for software projects. It was a rewarding
experience to inspire a passion to make a difference.
Ohio State University
CS Undergraduate Teaching Assistant | Academic Years 2006-2008 | Columbus, OH
- Acted as a resource for students working on introductory computer programming.
- Graded student homework and labs.
Ohio State has an excellent introductory software
engineering series of classes, even if it is hard to appreciate until
after the series is complete. The classes really lay the foundation for
the rigor and logic that make success easier both later in the degree
and in other environments. For a few years I was one of the cogs in the
machine that developed students' skills.