Jake Blackburn
About Me:
Im an aspiring software engineer interested in Machine Learning and Neuroscience. Through years of self-taught programming and studying in school, I've gained knowledge and experience across the range of STEM disciplines. After I graduate from the College of William and Mary with a degree in Computer Science (ML / AI track) and a Biochemistry minor, I hope to do AI research and development, learning what I can from modern neuroscience to deepen my understanding of intelligence in general and inform experimentation with innovative models.
<<< Click the image to toggle theme!I captured this image in November 2023, which depicts the Matts Creek wildfire rolling down the side of a mountain just outside of Glasgow, VA. The image has been edited via my own low level Image Editor project. (See Github Repo)
Projects & Skills
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📌 Pinned Projects
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🎨 Style Transfer
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Transfer Learning approach to Neural Style Transfer building on previous research, (Johnson et al, 2016) to implement stylizing Transformers with PyTorch. Demo deployed with FastAPI, Docker, and Google Cloud.
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🧮 Rust ML
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Rust workspace including examples of machine learning algorithms like Linear Regression, the Perceptron, and multi‑layer Neural Networks, all build on a from-scratch tensor type implementing core Linear Algebra operations.
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🧪 Skyrim Alchemist Monte Carlo
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ESV: Skyrim alchemy simulator / calculator, build w/ Python and deployed w/ Django, Docker, and Railway. Includes a mock market analysis leading to actionable and realistic gameplay insights using a Monte Carlo Simulation **WIP**.
🙃 Other Skills
In my coursework and independent projects I've built things with C/C++ and Java as well as frameworks like React and Next.js and have gained valuable experience with things like Git and several flavors of Linux. Having used so many different technologies, I've learned Adaptability is essential. Furthermore, I've had lots of work experiences across a variety of jobs which has upgraded my Teamwork, Communication, and Discipline.
Click to cycle through images! >>>These were once a generic image of the "Amethyst Flame" iris flower, which is now magestically filtered.
Education
TLDR:
Pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science with concentration in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence (Major GPA: 3.76) with a minor in Biochemistry, graduating in May of 2026.
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📚 Relevant Coursework:
- 🧠 Neural Networks for Machine Learning 🦾
- Rigorously covered machine learning and neural network fundamentals using Python tools like Numpy, Matplotlib, and Tensorflow, Culminating in a substantial contribution to a mutli-modal Mark-Recapture Technique for monitoring Ursus Arctos (Brown Bear) population status, health, and behavior for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Technique utilizes Image Classification, Object Detection and Pose Estimation to automatically identify individual brown bears in massive amounts of footage.
- ⚙️ Software Engineering 👨💻
- Worked in programming teams using SCRUM methodology to systematically improve a Qualtrics survey analysis web + cli tool built with Python and Django, also created and delivered a 35 minute presentation / demo on the Weights and Biases MLops tool.