Professional Experience
School of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Augusta University
December 2022 - Present
Graduate Research Assistant
- Conducted research to support the work of my advising faculty member
- Wrote technical reports or papers to document research findings
- Supervised undergraduate research assistants
- Performed literature reviews to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in various field of study
- Provided guidance and mentorship to other graduate students
- Developed and maintained research software, including designing user interfaces, implementing data storage and management systems, and optimizing performance
- Managed research data, including cleaning and preprocessing data, conducted statistical analyses, and visualized results
- Collaborated with other researchers and institutions on interdisciplinary projects, including sharing data and code, participating in joint research efforts, and contributing to joint publications
School of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Augusta University
July 2022 - December 2022
Undergraduate Research Assistant
- Conducted research to support the work of my advising faculty member
- Learned new technologies and programming languages as needed to support my research
- Assisted in the supervision of other undergraduate research assistants
- Collaborated with other researchers on interdisciplinary projects
- Wrote technical reports or papers to document research findings
- Tested and debugged software to ensure its correctness and efficiency
GenCyber Camp
June 2022
GenCyber Camp Counselor
- Provided guidance and support to campers as they participated in activities and workshops designed to introduce them to computer and cyber sciences
- Led and facilitated small group discussions and activities related to computer and cyber sciences
- Mentored campers and provided support as they worked on individual and group projects
- Collaborated with other counselors and camp staff to plan and implement activities and workshops
- Enforced camp rules and regulations to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for all campers
- Provided instruction and support to campers as they learned new technologies and programming languages
- Assisted with the organization and management of camp logistics, including housing, meals, and transportation
- Participated in training sessions and professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in computer and cyber sciences
Academic Success Center at Augusta University
January 2022 - May 2022
Course Learning Assistant
- Provided one-on-one or small group tutoring sessions to help students understand course material and complete assignments
- Assessed students' understanding of course concepts and provided guidance on areas where they needed additional support
- Collaborated with instructors and other teaching assistants to develop and implement tutoring plans and strategies
- Monitored students' progress and provided feedback to instructors on their performance
- Participated in training sessions and professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date with the latest teaching methods and technologies
- Attended lectures and took notes to provide students with additional study materials
- Provided support to students outside of class, including holding office hours and responding to emails and other forms of communication
- Provided guidance to students on academic resources and support services available on campus.
- Provided relevant advice and guidance to encourage incoming computer science freshman to achieve maximal performance during the challenging first year computer science course
- Cooperated with fellow senior computer science students to better organize resources for freshman to utilize during their beginner CS projects
Walmart
July 2020 - August 2020
Retail Cashier
- Processed customer transactions accurately and efficiently, including accepting payment and providing change
- Greeted customers and provided assistance as needed, including answering questions and providing information about products and services
- Maintained a clean and organized checkout area, including stocking supplies and disposing of trash
- Verified the age of customers purchasing age-restricted products, such as alcohol and tobacco
- Assisted customers with returns and exchanges, following company policies and procedures
- Operated a cash register and other equipment, including scanning and bagging items and processing coupons and discounts
- Maintained inventory levels by restocking shelves and identifying items that need to be ordered
- Followed all safety and security procedures, including monitoring for potential theft and fraud.
Bert Adams Scout Reservation
May 2019 - July 2019
Assistant Aquatics Manager
- Managed the daily operations of the camp's swimming pool, including supervising staff, enforcing safety rules, and maintaining cleanliness and order
- Responded to and resolved problems and conflicts that arose at the pool, including enforcing rules and regulations and addressing concerns from staff and campers
- Followed Youth Protection Training guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of campers and staff at the pool
- Trained and supervised pool staff, including providing instruction on safety procedures, teaching techniques, and first aid
- Scheduled and coordinated classes and activities at the pool, including organizing instructors and equipment, setting up schedules, and communicating with campers and staff
- Conducted regular safety inspections of the pool and its equipment, identifying and addressing any potential hazards or issues
- Maintained accurate records and logs for the pool, including attendance, safety checks, and incident reports
- Communicated with other camp staff and leadership to coordinate pool activities and ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the camp.
Bert Adams Scout Reservation
May 2018 - July 2018
Aquatics Instructor/Lifeguard
- Acted as a lifeguard at the camp's swimming pool and lake, ensuring the safety of campers and staff by monitoring for potential hazards, performing rescues, and providing first aid as needed
- Taught classes and workshops on Small Boat Sailing and Swimming, including providing instruction on safety, technique, and skills development
- Conducted swim tests to assess campers' abilities and ensure they are eligible to participate in aquatic activities
- Taught swimming lessons to campers who were unable to pass the swim test or were new to swimming, providing individualized instruction and support
- Collaborated with other instructors and staff to develop and implement lesson plans and activities that are engaging, educational, and fun
- Maintained accurate records and logs for the aquatic program, including attendance, safety checks, and incident reports
- Communicated with other camp staff and leadership to coordinate aquatic activities and ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the camp
Bert Adams Scout Reservation
May 2017 - July 2017
First Year Camp Counselor
- Taught scouts the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scout Motto, and helped them understand the meaning and importance of these principles.
- Helped scouts learn and demonstrate Scoutcraft skills, such as camping, cooking, and first aid.
- Led scouts through the requirements for Scout rank advancement, including the Scout badge, Tenderfoot rank, Second Class rank, and First Class rank.
- Provided guidance and support to scouts as they worked on their Scout rank advancement requirements, including helping them plan and execute service projects and plan and participate in outdoor activities.
- Led scouts in Scout activities and games, and helped them learn leadership skills through practical experience.
- Served as a positive role model and mentor for scouts, helping them develop self-confidence and leadership skills.
- Assisted with the planning and execution of camp programs and activities, including organizing and leading campfires, hikes, and other outdoor activities.
- Ensured the safety and well-being of scouts at all times, and enforced the rules and policies of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Worked with other counselors and the camp staff to provide a positive and enjoyable camping experience for scouts.
Projects
NSA IoT Device Forensics Research
August 2022 - Present
Undergraduate and Graduate Research
Researched the detection of anomalous packets generated by IoT devices using
machine learning
- Conducted research to support the work of my research professor and graduate student
- Set up IoT devices and a private wireless network to run research on
- Attended weekly meetings with my research professor and a remote graduate student
- Captured a baseline dataset of packets from the uninfected IoT devices using WireShark to train the Machine Learning program
- Set up a openHabian system to control the IoT devices on our network and ensure the detection of any anomalous packets
- Learned new technologies and programming languages as needed to support my research.
Cyber-Physical Systems Final Project
March 2023 - Present
PyBorgs - Robotic Car Following System
A system for PyBorgs, a group of robots, to follow a lead car using the Raspberry Pi camera and OpenCV for lead car detection and a PID controller to regulate follow car speed via the onboard dual motor control board
- Developed the concept and scope for the PyBorgs - Robotic Car Following System as a solo project in Cyber-Physical Systems
- Conducted extensive research and gathered scholarly sources from Q1 journals for the project proposal
- Implemented OpenCV for visual processing and observation of the lead robot's direction and speed of travel
- Designed a PID controller to regulate power sent to the following robot's motors using the ThunderBorg library
- Created and delivered a comprehensive final presentation showcasing the project's accomplishments
- Authored a six-page paper detailing the project's methodology, results, and potential impact, suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal
Machine Learning Final Project
March 2023 - Present
Spotting the Impostor: Utilizing Sequential Neural Nets with Keras to Detect AI-Generated Images from ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com
Our PhD group's final project aims to develop and compare individual sequential neural network models using Keras in TensorFlow to accurately distinguish AI-generated images from real human faces obtained from ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com.
- Conducted a literature review on relevant machine learning techniques and previous work on detecting AI-generated images.
- Collected and preprocessed the image data from ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com for use in training and testing the models.
- Worked with the group to develop and implement a plan for training and evaluating the sequential neural network models using Keras in TensorFlow.
- Contributed to the experimentation and tuning of hyperparameters, such as learning rate, batch size, and number of epochs, to optimize the performance of the models.
- Helped analyze the results and compare the performance of the different models based on metrics such as accuracy, precision, and recall.
- Prepared a final report and presentation summarizing the group's findings and conclusions, as well as your own contributions to the project.
Reaching Recovery Project
March 2023
Project Submission for 2023 Emory x Georgia Tech IHI Case Competition
Worked with MD Candidates from the Medical College of Georgia and undergraduate students from Augusta University to create an application that provides support and resources to those suffering from a substance abuse disorder
- Led the interdisciplinary team comprising a PhD in CS student at Augusta University, an undergraduate BSMD student, and an MD candidate at the Medical College of Georgia
- Attended all team meetings and effectively collaborated with diverse team members
- Developed the underlying framework of microservices for the Reaching Recovery application
- Assisted in creating front-end designs for the project proposal
- Took comprehensive notes during meetings to ensure clear communication and documentation
- Corresponded with competition leaders to address inquiries and ensure compliance with competition guidelines
- Contributed to the creation of the application that supports individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders by providing resources and support
Search Center Project
March 2023
Project Submission for Augusta University's 2023 Innovate Non-Profit Competition
Worked with MD Candidates from the Medical College of Georgia to create data analytics tools to be utilized by nonprofits
- Conducted research to identify the needs of nonprofits and the current state of seasonality and readability for search terms.
- Developed algorithms to generate seasonality and readability metrics for search terms.
- Created microservices composed of various data sources to provide comprehensive insights for nonprofits.
- Generated models for the proposed microservices, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
- Tested the models and refined them to achieve optimal performance.
- Created and presented a slide show for the Innovate contest, highlighting the features and benefits of the project.
- Documented the project details, including the technical specifications, procedures, and results, to facilitate future enhancements or modifications.
- Collaborated with the project team to ensure that the project met the objectives and the needs of the nonprofits.
- Communicated effectively with stakeholders, including nonprofits, project team members, and contest judges, to build rapport and ensure mutual understanding.
- Adhered to project deadlines and milestones, ensuring timely delivery of quality results.
ViceRoy Vault Application Research
March 2022 - Present
Undergraduate and Graduate Research
Researched the detection of vault applications on the SlideMe and Aptoide
Android app stores using machine learning
- Built a web-scraper for two third-party Android app stores to aid in the identification of vault like mechanisms utilizing Machine Learning
- Created and maintained a framework for organization and storage of app data and Android APKs for further analysis and decompilation
- Utilized experience with BS4, HTML and JavaScript in order to identify relevant data and scrape it accordingly
- Used Python, MongoDB, C#, Batch, Java in creation and ongoing maintenance, fulfilled the overseeing professor’s stated goals
MicroEdge MIST Project
August 2021 - May 2022
Senior Design and Senior Capstone Project
- Utilized teamwork skills to effectively collaborate, accomplish and exceed our set goals
- Communicated with our sponsor company, Anavation, to fulfill the Paradise ELF Data Framework vision utilizing edge devices
- Developed diagrams relating to framework layout and design of the project that guided our development
- Presented updates weekly to effectively communicate our progress to our project sponsor and supervising professor
- Utilized Python for initial prototype development, then proceeded to rewrite using Golang for optimal edge device performance
Genomic Sequencing Project
January 2021 - Present
Joint Research with MCG Students
- Collaborated with researchers in medical disciplines to create an algorithm to identify common mutations that occur in DNA
- Initially tested with a Python implementation where further optimizations to algorithm run time were discovered
- Successfully automated a task that generally takes 4 to 6 months down to 8 hours even while running in a relatively constricting environment.
- Currently working on further optimization while other researchers collate material for publication
Activities
Undergraduate and Graduate Student Government
January 2022 - May 2022
GSGA-SGA Liaison
During my tenure as the GSGA-SGA liaison at Augusta University, I attended
meetings for both the graduate and undergraduate student governments and worked to ensure that
relevant information was shared between the two organizations. As the first person to hold this
position, I had the unique opportunity of assisting in several initiatives to bring the two student
governments together to benefit both undergraduate and graduate students. Through this experience, I
gained valuable insight into the workings of student government and the challenges and opportunities
that come with representing the interests of multiple groups of students. I also learned the
importance of effective communication and collaboration in achieving shared goals. Overall, my time
as a GSGA-SGA liaison was a valuable and rewarding experience that helped me develop my leadership
and communication skills.
Delta Chi
September 2019 - December 2022
Scholastics and Philathropy Chair
As a member of Delta Chi at Augusta University, I have had the opportunity to
develop strong character and lifelong friendships with my fellow students. In addition, the
fraternity has provided me with a supportive community that has helped me in my pursuit of a sound
education. During my time in Delta Chi, I held the positions of Philanthropy and Scholastics Chair,
where I was responsible for organizing and implementing a range of activities and initiatives to
benefit the fraternity and its members. As Philanthropy Chair, I helped raise over $5,400 for the
Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research, which was a rewarding and meaningful experience. As
Scholastics Chair, I worked to support the academic success of my fellow brothers by providing them
with access to excellent study resources and tutoring at Augusta University's Academic Success
Center. Through my involvement in Delta Chi and my work as Philanthropy and Scholastics Chair, I
have gained valuable leadership and organizational skills and made a positive impact on my
community.
JagByte
August 2019 - May 2020
Student Member
As a member of JagByte, a living learning community for Computer Science and
Cyber Security majors, I was able to connect with other students who shared my interests and majors.
The program exposed me to the various opportunities for studying and working in the field of cyber
security at AU. The events and activities allowed me to learn more about the latest developments in
cyber security and to connect with experts in the field. Through my participation in the JagByte
program, I gained valuable knowledge, skills, and experience that can help me succeed in my studies
and future career in cyber security.
Boy Scouts of America
April 2012 - August 2020
Eagle Scout
As a member of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), I have had the opportunity to
participate in a wide range of activities and experiences that have helped me develop valuable
leadership skills and learn important lessons for life. Through my involvement in the BSA program, I
have had the chance to attend camps, participate in service projects, and take part in outdoor
adventures. I have also had the opportunity to work on earning merit badges and other awards,
including the rank of Eagle Scout. Obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout has been a challenging and
rewarding experience that has taught me the importance of perseverance, determination, and hard
work. The BSA program has provided me with a strong foundation of skills and values that I will
carry with me throughout my life.