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Matthew M

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Stanford University

Expertise

machine learning, neural networks, image classification, text generation, generative modeling

Bio

My research develops novel generative modeling techniques and algorithms in order to improve sample quality, synthesis speed, and training efficiency. A significant part of my work involves improving variational inference approaches, where I often draw inspiration from diverse mathematical areas such as Markov processes. I've spearheaded several research projects aimed at improving diffusion models for image synthesis. Beyond this, the realm of text-to-image synthesis and its recent advancements hold great excitement for me. When I step away from my academic pursuits, I turn to physical activity to maintain a healthy balance. I enjoy running, playing soccer, and engaging in semi-regular gym workouts. My interest in sports also extends into the professional side, where I follow the latest developments in the NFL, NBA, and international soccer. I also love to read books from a variety of genres, which allows me to explore different perspectives.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Text Generation Using Machine Learning

In this project, we'll explore how to generate text using machine learning. We'll start by picking a text dataset, such as freely available books or articles. The first step will be to clean and preprocess the data, a crucial part of any machine learning project. Next, we'll implement different machine learning methods, ranging from simple models like n-grams to more advanced approaches using neural networks. This will give us a chance to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Finally, we'll evaluate our models, critiquing the quality of the text generated. Through this project, we'll gain practical experience with machine learning and develop a better understanding of the challenges involved in text generation.

Coding skills

Python

Teaching experience

My teaching experience is broad and varied. It started with tutoring high school students in Toronto through the charity, St. Christopher House. From there, I moved into higher education, working as a teaching assistant at the University of Toronto and Stanford University. In these roles, I led classroom-based tutorial sessions and provided individual mentorship. I also taught the 'Introduction to Machine Learning' course at the University of Toronto, where I was responsible for preparing lectures, addressing student queries, and developing exam questions. Throughout these experiences, my focus has always been on helping students understand and apply concepts, rather than simply providing answers

Credentials

Work experience

Google (2022 - 2022)
Student Researcher
Google (2018 - 2018)
Research Intern

Education

University of Toronto, St. George Campus
BASc Bachelor of Applied Science (2017)
Math & Computer Science
University of Toronto, St. George Campus
MS Master of Science (2019)
Computer Science
Stanford University
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Machine learning

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