Former Student: Alexandra Nanu

Alexandra took the course in 2022-2023.  She now works at Palantir Technologies as a Forward Deployed Software Engineer.  

What was your background before starting the MPhil?

I had a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Bucharest and I had also completed two software engineering internships. Thus I had gained a real insight into the potential of machine learning to empower decision making.  This inspired me to apply for the course.

What did you get out of the course?

First, top notch machine learning technical skills (both theoretical and practical). The course exposed us to most facets of machine learning, from probabilistic algorithms, Gibbs sampling, Gaussian processes to large language models, graph neural networks, adversarial learning, vision transformers, AI safety and many more.

I developed the habit of reading related research publications and worked on my own ideas during the research project.  I also learned the importance of clarity and precision when presenting my research. Conveying findings effectively can be challenging. By carefully crafting a structured narrative that is coherent, concise and cadent, your audience will quickly assimilate your material.  The MPhil has equipped me not only with the ability to identify gaps in the current literature and build upon them, but also to present my results in an effective way.

What were the highlights?

One of the highlights for me was the Research Review in June when we presented interim results to our peers and professors. We had prepared posters and our classmates enthusiastically gathered around, eager to discover more about each other’s research. The atmosphere resembled that of a proper research conference and further ignited our interest in academia. However, the most notable aspect of the course was undoubtedly the people. The MLMI cohort evolved into an extremely bright and talented collective, keen to find solutions together and to actively contribute to the machine learning community.

What have you gone on to do afterwards and what are your longer-term plans?

I joined Palantir Technologies as a Forward Deployed Software Engineer and I plan to continue working in leading edge AI environments. I aspire to help bring intelligence to the core of the decision-making processes and to empower the human in the loop.