Student Profile: Jeremy Hudson Chan
My name is Jeremy Hudson Chan, and I am from Hong Kong. I am a senior at the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences ('23), studying Computer Science with Minors in Mathematics and Finance.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about “data.” I have always enjoyed looking at them and working with them. As computer storage is getting cheaper, data are collected whenever and wherever possible. Instead of just collecting and storing them, how can we use them? Why should we collect and keep data if we cannot make sense of them? To answer my questions, I have decided to specialize in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science as I can learn to find patterns in data and predict the future based on the past. As a senior, I am currently working on an Honors Thesis relating to predicting possible complaints on police actions based on data collected in the Greater Chicago Area. I aim to develop a model that can more accurately identify the risks of such complaints for the betterment of the community.
Outside the classroom, I am passionate about sports, particularly soccer, basketball, and football. I train in Muay Thai and go to the gym regularly. I enjoy trying and am eager to learn new things and new ideas.
What do you do on campus?
In terms of Computer Science related activities, in my junior year, I was a research assistant for Prof. Prud'hommeaux, working on interesting projects in Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics. I learned many valuable techniques as a research assistant. As a senior, I worked as a teaching assistant for Professor Alvarez’s Machine Learning class. It was my first time working in a teaching position, and I really enjoyed it. I will soon be taking up a research assistant position, working for Prof. Mohler on projects related to using machine learning techniques to deal with temporal-spatial, urban, and social network data. I am excited about the learning opportunities and look forward to them. In addition, in the coming semester, I will also be a teaching assistant for Professor Bento’s Topics in Computational Intelligence: Using Machine Learning Concepts class. I am glad I can continue my role as a teaching assistant.
For non-Computer Science engagements, I was part of the Heights Capital, one of the investment clubs at BC, and was a member of BC’s Investment Banking Association. As a freshman, I participated in BC’s Freshman League and greatly enjoyed it. I also regularly attended events hosted by many cultural clubs and the Computer Science Society. These events allowed me to meet upperclassmen whom I learned a lot from. I believe these extra-curricular activities and my fellow BC students with whom I interacted helped mold me into who I am today.
Why Computer Science?
One of the biggest inspirations in my life has been my Dad. He is a researcher and scholar himself. He told me how important it was to be inquisitive and to work hard. He was the one who gave me a book on Python, which gave me a head start with the language that I have mainly been using till now. I have always wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and make my family proud.
The number of things that can be done using different AI and machine learning algorithms motivates me to work hard and learn more. I would like to impact the world positively, and I believe studying and researching in these disciplines will allow me to do so.
Future Career Plans?
I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of Data Science or Machine Learning or to work as a Data Scientist or Machine Learning Engineer in the industry. I’ve previously worked as a software engineer, technology consultant, and research assistant, so I am prepared for these roles.
What advice do you have for someone considering Computer Science?
It might be hard at first, but things will become easier once you are willing to invest more time in learning and understanding the different computer concepts. Learning the fundamentals is crucial for anyone to grasp more advanced computer science concepts. In other words, once the fundamentals are locked down, you can learn new concepts easily. In the end, I am sure that you will find all the effort you put in well-worth your investment.