Name: Neila Bennamane
Pronouns:
Institution: Florida International University
Department: Computer Science
Biography:
I have a profound appreciation for the mathematical foundations that underlie data science and machine learning. The intricate world of mathematics, especially when applied to domains such as finance, real estate, and policy-making, never ceases to amaze me. It’s truly fascinating to witness how mathematical concepts can be harnessed in such versatile ways.
My passion for this field has driven me to explore the fascinating world of handling complex data sets, including legal text, scientific data, and medical information. This exploration involves diving into the realm of stochastic processes, which encompasses various mathematical models such as Markov chains, Poisson processes, and Monte Carlo simulations. I aspire to leverage these mathematical constructs in the development of reinforcement learning, deep learning, and neural network solutions which I believe hold the potential to tackle real-world optimization challenges in dynamic systems.
As part of my academic journey, I’m currently enrolled in an accelerated master’s program. Looking ahead, I am keen on pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science. My research ambitions are strongly driven by a desire to bridge the accessibility gap by contributing to technological advancements that facilitate the equitable distribution of resources and provide critical aid to those in need.
Academic Status: Masters Student
Year in program: 2nd
Research Area/Department: Applied Mathematics; Data Science; Machine Learning/AI; Mathematics
Other, specify:
Major/Specialty: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Mathematics.
Degrees Earned or in Progress: Bachelors of Science in Mathematical Science, 2022 (Earned) Masters of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, 2024 (In Progress)
What courses or academic preparation have you completed to prepare for a summer internship experience?
Differential and Integral Calculus Ordinary Differential Equations Linear Algebra Introduction to Real Analysis Discrete Mathematics Mathematical Statistics Scientific Computation (LaTeX, MATLAB) Data Structures (C++) Theory of Algorithms Systems Programming (C) Java Programming Engineering Analysis and Computation (C) Computer Architecture (MIPS, Verilog) Introduction to Machine Learning (Python) Graduate Data Mining (Python) Numerical Analysis (Python) Graduate Data Analysis (R), Graduate Natural Language Processing, Graduate Data Science, Graduate Machine Learning, Graduate Analysis of Algorithms
Have you published any research or worked on research/technical projects? No
Where has your research been published or where have you conducted research/technical projects?
Please describe your research/academic interests:
My current plan of study remains focused on applied mathematics, computer science, data science and machine learning. I find these fields fascinating and ever growing, problems are typically partially solved and lead to more questions, they are dynamic puzzles that demand flexibility and interdisciplinary practices from its players. I have yet to find a purer form of joy then when a piece of the puzzle is solved or its existence becomes known.
When it comes to national security there’s an interesting motivation involved to protect ourselves and all that we’ve accomplished while maintaining international accessibility and ethics. This multidisciplinary field centers around the idea of security but is bound by the limits of technology and ethics. Its approach is a puzzle in itself, the decisions to be made can lead to the success or failure of the field.
I would like to dive deep into the art and science of artificial intelligence, I firmly believe it is the tool that will speed up the rate of better technology and find faster solutions. This exploration leads me into the captivating realm of mathematical modeling, where I encounter a multitude of techniques, including differential equations, statistical models, and simulation methods. My fervent aspiration is to employ these mathematical constructs to devise innovative solutions to address pressing environmental challenges.
Computational and Data Science Areas:
National Security; Data Analytics and Visualization; Machine Learning and AI
Research Synergy:
I find that the DOE has several opportunities and unique resources to foster a collaborative learning environment such as myself. I find myself drawn to a few of their current projects and can imagine myself working along side the brilliant scientists that lead the project to success. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has two particular projects that have fascinated me:
Vidya’s automation of simulations aligns with my fascination for AI’s potential to enhance scientific processes, while the cybersecurity project’s focus on advanced data analytics and machine learning reflects my interest in cyber defense.
Likewise, the “”Deterrence in Cyberspace”” project addresses one of the most critical challenges of our time—cybersecurity. The escalating sophistication of cyber threats poses a significant risk to national security and critical infrastructure. The project’s emphasis on advanced data analytics, machine learning, and modeling and simulation to detect and counter influence operations and cyber threats resonates deeply with my research interests in cybersecurity.
Motivation:
I would love to be a part of a team working on important problems that need to be solved to enable accessibility and distribution of resources to facilitate efficiency and prosperity. I believe that working with a group of people organized into working parts of large machine will give experience beyond what traditional education may be able to give. I come from a country that is considered to be rich in resources but the people are poor, often unable to get an education and if they do there are few prospects for finding an opportunity or a job. It’s a bizarre situation to be in because there’s little ability to fix these problems, so most people try to leave but are unable to do so, they do the best they can with the hand they have been dealt but there’s a void in feelings towards accomplishments in the last few decades. Every time I visit, I feel blessed and guilty; blessed because I live in a part of the world that has opportunity, infrastructure that doesn’t shut off electricity or water abruptly which allows me to continue to pursue education with the intention and belief in the ability to work towards my personal goals; rights to be as I am without shame for being a woman or darker skinned; guilty because I idealize certain principles and think myself righteous without considering that these principles are do not have the ability to be a part of all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy, there are times when I do feel disadvantaged because of the problems that come with immigration and the poverty commonly associated with immigrating while knowing that I have family members that are in far worse situations, guilty because I feel that I am no more worthy of living in an opportune location than any other person that is living in an inopportune location that could have been given the opportunity to satisfy the very human need of contributing to society and being part of something great. I wish to one day contribute to a solution that can help citizens of countries which lack in the technology to provide the resources that will lead to greater life satisfaction. This program will introduce me to the world of problem solving in creative ways that align with my passions. There have been times when I have felt that I could have done more to help achieve my goals, nothing can be done about the past, so opportunities like this are a true blessing; I feel a if I am insightful, helpful with a good foundation of knowledge to build upon and like most students, eager to learn and looking for opportunities to improve their skills, learn new skills and contribute to their field. I am eternally grateful to SHI for being able to fund my participation at the SIAM conference where I got a chance to present my research and have truly been able to gain insight unlike any other, as well as being able to meet many other people that I respect and admire. I was also able to participate in the SRP program last summer and had the opportunity to work along side brilliant minds that taught and mentored me. I only hope that I can continue to participate in similar programs that will allow me to fine tune my skills and achieve my goals.
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