My name is Anna Nardelli and I’m a junior Computer Science major at Monmouth University. Since my first year at Monmouth, my professors have inspired me to explore the world of possibilities for a career in computer science. I’ve had many opportunities throughout my time here to apply the skills I’ve learned in my courses to real-world problems.
Last summer, I participated in Monmouth’s Summer Research Program. Me and my team spent the summer developing a Natural Language Processing algorithm, which we applied to Monmouth’s Computer Science department’s syllabi to analyze the effectiveness of our courses in accordance with ABET accreditation guidelines. While working on this project, I gained both technical skills with Python and leadership skills while working with others.
During the Fall 2021 semester, I began working on Dr. Wang’s machine learning research team. Working in Dr. Wang’s office has greatly expanded my experience and I’ve become much more comfortable and confident with my skill set. We recently wrapped up a research project of ours in which we used machine learning to predict a patient’s length of stay in a hospital based on their initial intake data, and we are currently writing a paper which we will eventually submit to be published in an academic journal.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that being a computer science student at Monmouth has provided me. While I was interviewing with companies for a summer internship, every interviewer was interested in these projects and what I had learned from them. This summer I’ll be interning at Northrop Grumman in Baltimore, MD and my experience as a Monmouth researcher is sure to be a benefit as I adjust to my new role!
Steven Cassidy (BSCS 2021) currently works as a Machine Learning Engineer for Prescient Edge, a Defense Contractor in McLean Virginia, which offers Intelligence and Engineering Services to the Department of Defense and other parts of the Intelligence Community. At Prescient Edge, Steven is currently working to develop deep learning models for image recognition on Coast Guard aircraft. These models will help operators analyze and identify objects and entities in images and videos taken by the aircraft. Steven is also researching and using advanced techniques to improve the speed of these models so that they can process images and videos on edge and in real-time. He has employed the various techniques including code vectorization, model quantization, and others, benchmarking these techniques to determine which ones provide the fastest performance. Prior to his graduation, Steven conducted research with Professor Gil Eckert as part of Monmouth University’s School of Science Summer Research Program in which he used drone photography and worked on developing a method of detecting damage following natural disasters. He states, “My research with Professor Eckert inspired me to look for a career where I could use Computer Vision and Machine Learning to develop solutions to solve real world problems and advance human capabilities. As someone with a physical disability, these opportunities helped me gain experience I needed to be successful and show that I will not let disability stop me from achieving my goals in life. Without the opportunities that I received at Monmouth, I would not be where I am today.” While working as a Machine Learning Engineer at Prescient Edge, Steven is also pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at Syracuse University and is expected to graduate in 2023.