Experience

Collaborated with three other developers on the creation, design, and implementation of Umbra, an open-source, real time collaborative code execution platform with support for multiple programming languages.

Leveraged conflict-free replicated data type (CRDT) frameworks in creating a backend collaboration service to handle conflict resolution in collaborative text editing.

Acheived low-latency state synchronization for real-time collaboration via WebSocket.

Designed a user-friendly React/TypeScript UI that translates user actions into CRDT data for use by our collaboration microservice.

Architected a RESTful API for the application's code library feature, using PostgreSQL and AWS RDS.

Extensively researched the security concerns involved in executing arbitrary user code, and integrated with Piston, an open-source, dedicated code execution engine, for secure code evaluation.

Containerized application code with Docker and established an automated pipeline with GitHub Actions, reducing a ~20 step deployment process to a single task.

Authored the Umbra case study, available at umbra-collab.net.

Provided individualized written feedback on students' mathematical proofs as part of a rigorous online curriculum, with topics including algebra, number theory, combinatorics, probability, and geometry.

Evaluated student mastery of programming fundamentals by grading over 200 challenge problem submissions in Python, addressing bugs, syntax, object oriented design, and code comprehensibility.

Performed professionally as a soloist, as a member of long-term duo partnerships, and in chamber music ensembles of 3-7 musicians.

Fulfilled contracts as an orchestral keyboardist, and realized continuo parts from figured bass in Baroque ensembles.

Served as a rehearsal pianist for numerous opera productions, and assisted professional opera singers in learning roles.

Worked as a staff pianist at the Peabody Institute, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Bard College Conservatory, and Vassar College.

Earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, completing honors coursework on topics including linear algebra, modern algebra, vector calculus, cryptography, differential equations, and real analysis.

Worked for the mathematics department as a grader for multiple undergraduate courses.

Earned dual Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano.

While pursuing these degrees, I fulfilled a full tuition-granting Teaching Assistantship in Music Theory: tutored conservatory students individually, graded weekly harmonic and formal analysis assignments, and occasionally taught classes on tonal harmony and post-tonal theory.

Because I was curious about programming, I cross-registered for Computer Science courses at Johns Hopkins University as electives: Introduction to Programming in Java and Intermediate Programming in C/C++.

Earned 22 credits towards a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, specializing in Collaborative Piano, while working part-time as a staff pianist.

I ultimately decided not to complete the degree, opting instead to continue working in-field and simultaneously pursue a budding interest in software.

Completed a multi-year, mastery-based curriculum in software engineering emphasizing the fundamentals of programming, networking, and databases.

My growth path as a musician taught me that to reach your potential, it's important to start with a solid technical foundation. Launch School stood out to me for its commitment to building knowledge from first principles.