Meet the Diverse Talents of the DeepLabCut AI Residency 2023

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Ray's Background and Goals
3. Anna's Background and Goals
4. Conrad's Background and Goals
5. Sana's Background and Goals
6. Conrad's Open Science Advocacy
7. The Benefits of the AI Residency Program
8. The Learning Experience at the Residency
9. Networking Opportunities and Personal Growth
10. Future Plans and Contribution to Open Source

Ray's Journey as an AI Resident

Ray, a Filipino student studying in Japan, has been chosen as one of the DLCAI residents for the year 2023. In this article, we will explore Ray's background, goals, and aspirations as an AI resident. Let's Delve into his story and understand what motivates him to be a part of this prestigious program.

Ray's Background and Goals

Ray hails from the beautiful country of the Philippines, an island nation in Southeast Asia. Growing up in a small agricultural town by the ocean, Ray developed a deep love for the study of animal behavior, particularly in the field of computer vision. He pursued a Bachelor's and Master's degree in computer science, with a focus on applying computer vision methods to analyze animal behavior.

Over the years, Ray has been involved in various animal research projects, such as fish and monkey tracking and behavior analysis. He even obtained an advanced diving license to Collect underwater data on reef fishes. Currently, Ray is working on a non-invasive tracking method for non-static camera setups in Dubai, which poses a significant challenge yet excites him immensely as it involves close collaboration with Japanese mechanics.

Ray's main motivation for applying to the AI residency program is to learn and gain more self-confidence in publishing code online and actively contributing to the open-source community. He aspires to be a next-generation leader with three primary objectives.

Firstly, Ray aims to inspire and remind people that the world is a system of interconnected entities. He believes that striving for the growth of humankind must go HAND in hand with the development of everything around us, from plants to animals.

Secondly, Ray wants to bring the perspective of local community issues to the global scene. By collaborating on Universally effective tools, he aims to tackle challenges that affect communities worldwide.

Lastly, Ray wishes to drive focus towards non-invasive methods of animal behavior research. His dream is to develop a groundbreaking tool that revolutionizes the science community, allowing for new and interesting discoveries that were previously unattainable. With recent innovations in tracking and brain modeling, Ray even envisions the possibility of developing a reliable brain model that outperforms live animal testing.

Ray's passion, ambition, and dedication make him a valuable addition to the AI residency program. Let us now explore the journeys of other residents, Anna, Conrad, and Sana, to get a complete picture of the diverse talents this program attracts.

Anna's Journey as an AI Resident

Anna, a resident from Spain, is excited to be a part of the DLC AI residency program for the year 2023. Let's dive into Anna's background, her fascination with deep learning, and her goals as an AI resident.

Anna's Background and Goals

Hailing from Spain, Anna is currently a Second-year PhD student at the University of Valencia. Her research focuses on the physics in Alzheimer's disease and the integration of social information into hippocampus memory engram.

Anna's Journey with deep learning began during her master's thesis, where she worked in a lab with limited funding. She discovered the power of the Black Cat, an open-source platform, and became obsessed with it. Determined to set it up in her lab, Anna managed to obtain access and introduced it to her colleagues, who were previously using expensive software.

However, Anna acknowledges that there is still much for her to learn in the field of deep learning. One of her primary goals as an AI resident is to gain the confidence to share her code and contribute to the open-source community. She often doubts if her code is useful or important enough to share, and she hopes that the residency program will help her overcome this uncertainty.

Anna is also passionate about improving accessibility to good quality tools for neuroscience research, regardless of funding limitations. She believes that everybody should have access to effective tools to drive great discoveries in the field. Through the AI residency program, Anna aims to refine her skills, contribute to the open-source community, and empower fellow researchers with the necessary tools.

Anna's enthusiasm and dedication to improving accessibility and sharing knowledge make her an invaluable asset to the AI residency program. Now, let's shift our focus to Conrad and get to know his journey and aspirations as an AI resident.

Conrad's Journey as an AI Resident

Conrad, a PhD student from Poland, has been selected as a VLCA resident for the year. In this section, we will explore Conrad's background, his advocacy for open science, and his unique perspective as a psychology and neuroscience enthusiast.

Conrad's Background and Goals

Conrad's passion for computers and knowledge has been Shaped by his upbringing in a small village in eastern Poland. Despite feeling limited in opportunities compared to kids from larger cities, Conrad persevered in learning about computers, thanks to the vast information available on the internet. This experience has instilled in him a deep appreciation for open access and open-source principles.

Conrad has actively contributed to an open science project called Lensky Open Lab, where they conduct workshops and summer schools to teach people how to use open-source tools like Bonsai, Arduino, and deepwebcad. His involvement in the Deepwebcad community has given him hands-on experience in helping solve user problems and developing solutions for effective analysis, particularly in pose estimation.

With a background in psychology and neuroscience, Conrad recognizes the challenges that average neuroscientists face when it comes to analyzing behavior data. He wants to leverage his knowledge in data science and his understanding of the struggles faced by researchers to help develop tools that aid in data analysis. Conrad believes that working closely with data analysts and scientists will enable him to bridge the gap between these fields and facilitate better research outcomes.

The AI residency program presents an excellent opportunity for Conrad to collaborate with like-minded individuals and gain further insights into machine learning theory. During his residency, Conrad was exposed to a multitude of tools and practices that he can Apply to his research on monkey behavior. From learning testing techniques to coding in an object-oriented manner, Conrad's skills have been sharpened, and his confidence in contributing to the open-source community has been bolstered.

Apart from the academic growth, Conrad praises the friendly and engaging environment of the residency. It provided ample networking opportunities, enabling him to connect and build relationships with individuals dedicated to open science. The overall experience has left Conrad with great friendships and a Sense of excitement for what the future holds.

Conrad plans to utilize the skills he acquired during the residency to contribute to the open-source community, finalize his PhD studies, and help fellow researchers in his university and other labs. His determination and commitment to making knowledge accessible make him a valuable addition to the AI residency program.

Sana's Journey as an AI Resident

Sana, a second-year PhD student from the University of Valencia in Spain, shares her journey and aspirations as an AI resident. Join us as we explore her background, her fascination with the block cat, and her ambitions to contribute to the open-source community.

Sana's Background and Goals

Sana's academic journey brought her to the field of physics in Alzheimer's disease and the integration of social information into hippocampus memory engram. During her Master's thesis, Sana was introduced to the black cat, an essential tool that became instrumental in her research.

The limited funding in her lab prompted Sana to explore open-source alternatives like the black cat, which turned out to be a game-changer. Inspired by her experience, Sana passionately shared the value of the black cat with her colleagues, replacing expensive software with this open-source platform.

While Sana has gained considerable knowledge about the black cat, she acknowledges that there is still much to learn, especially in terms of code sharing and contributing to the open-source community. Doubts about the usefulness and importance of her code hold her back, and she hopes that the AI residency will provide her with the confidence to contribute more actively.

Sana firmly believes in equal access to high-quality tools for neuroscience research, regardless of funding limitations. She sees the AI residency program as an opportunity to not only enhance her skills but also empower others by sharing knowledge and contributing to the open-source community.

With the support and guidance provided during the residency, Sana plans to Create a substantial library for her research work and make it freely available to the open-source community. She aims to leverage the skills and knowledge acquired through the program to bring her PhD studies to completion and inspire her peers to embrace open-source tools.

Sana's determination to bridge the gap between funding limitations and neuroscience research, combined with her commitment to sharing knowledge, makes her a valuable asset to the AI residency program. Now that we have explored the individual journeys of Ray, Anna, Conrad, and Sana, let's delve deeper into the benefits of the AI residency program and the experiences the residents have had.

The Benefits of the AI Residency Program

The AI residency program offers numerous benefits to its participants. In this section, we explore the advantages and opportunities that come with being an AI resident.

1. Immersive Learning Experience

The AI residency program provides residents with an immersive learning experience in cutting-edge AI technologies. From working on real-world projects to collaborating with experts in the field, residents have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills while tackling challenging problems.

2. Access to State-of-the-Art Resources

AI residents have access to state-of-the-art resources, including high-performance computing clusters and advanced software tools. This access enables them to explore and implement innovative solutions, pushing the boundaries of AI research and development.

3. Collaboration and Networking

The residency program fosters a collaborative environment, allowing residents to work closely with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. This collaboration not only enhances their problem-solving abilities but also opens doors to valuable networking opportunities within the AI community.

4. Personal Growth and Development

As residents work on challenging projects and collaborate with experts, they experience tremendous personal growth. They learn to navigate complex problem domains, enhance their coding skills, and develop a deeper understanding of AI principles. This growth equips them with the tools to excel in their future careers.

Highlights

• Ray, an AI resident from the Philippines, aims to develop non-invasive methods for animal behavior research.
• Anna's fascination with the black cat and her passion for open-source tools drive her as an AI resident.
• Conrad combines his knowledge of psychology and neuroscience with data science skills to develop tools for data analysis.
• Sana focuses on bridging the gap between funding limitations and neuroscience research through open-source contributions.
• The AI residency program offers immersive learning experiences, access to state-of-the-art resources, collaboration, and personal growth opportunities.

FAQ

Q: What are the primary goals of Ray as an AI resident? A: Ray aims to inspire interconnectedness, bring local community issues to the global scene, and drive non-invasive methods of animal behavior research.

Q: What drives Anna's interest as an AI resident? A: Anna is passionate about the black cat and aims to contribute to the open-source community while improving accessibility to quality tools in neuroscience research.

Q: How does Conrad leverage his psychology and neuroscience background as an AI resident? A: Conrad uses his understanding of behavior analysis to develop tools that aid in data analysis and help bridge the gap between neuroscience and data science.

Q: What is Sana's main objective as an AI resident? A: Sana strives to make neuroscience research accessible despite funding limitations by sharing her knowledge and contributing to the open-source community.

Q: What benefits do AI residents gain from the program? A: AI residents experience an immersive learning environment, gain access to state-of-the-art resources, collaborate with experts, and undergo personal growth and development.