Sam McDermott

Background

About Sam McDermott

I'm a senior researcher and Python programmer skilled in model building, machine learning, data analysis, and parameter estimation. Recently, I have been especially motivated by the exciting and surprising new techniques of machine learning and data science, and bringing those to bear on correspondingly new data sets in astrophysics and cosmology. My skillset includes techniques ranging from high-dimensional parameter sampling (nested sampling and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo) to core machine learning modalities (Bayesian neural networks and simulation-based inference) to the cutting edge of machine learning research (creating new deep neural network architectures and optimizers). Throughout my career, I've maintained large and diverse networks of collaborators, both within my institutions and outside of them, and I'm excited to meet new people working on interesting and important problems where I can bring my quantitative and qualitative skills to bear!