CV

Education

• Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Houston, 2021
  • Advisor: Krešimir Josić
  • Dissertation: “The Dynamics of Balanced Neural Networks Under Spike-Timing Dependent Plasticity”
• B.S. in Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2016
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2016

Work experience

• Lead AI/ML Engineer, Project Management Institute; February 2025 – Present
  • Technical leadership for PMI’s Infinity portfolio of AI-powered products.
• AI/ML Engineer II, Project Management Institute; April 2024 – January 2025
  • Technical leadership for PMI’s Infinity portfolio of AI-powered products.
• Data Scientist I, Project Management Institute; July 2021 – March 2024
  • Upgraded cohort Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) model to a probabilistic model that predicts individual CLV using survival functions and historic transaction data. Uncovered similar lifetime patterns across segments.
  • Led a cross-functional team of data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders to equip Career Navigator with three recommendation systems to guide users in their careers.
  • Predicted users’ visit intent and likelihood to convert using web activity. Uncovered insightful behaviors and interests that supported Customer Segmentation.
• Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Houston (Houston, TX); August 2016 – May 2021
  • Developed theory of plasticity in balanced neural networks backed by large-scale simulations of networks of 10,000+ neurons in MATLAB and Python. All code is publicly accessible. Python–packaged customizable, sample network as a pip–installable library for public use (Link to package).
  • Simulated balanced networks under inhibitory plasticity to explain optogenetically–evoked changes in correla- tions of local networks in visual cortex of monkeys.
  • Taught recitation sections of various math undergraduate-level courses of 50+ students each. Led and supervised team of 7 undergraduate students to grade udnergraduate-level math homework and exams.

Publications

Incorporating Computational Challenges into a Multidisciplinary Course on Stochastic Processes

Mark Jayson Cortez, Alan Eric Akil, Krešimir Josić, Alexander J. Stewart. (2023). "Incorporating Computational Challenges into a Multidisciplinary Course on Stochastic Processes." SIAM Review 65 (4), 1152-1170.

Rapid Compensatory Plasticity Revealed by Dynamic Correlated Activity in Monkeys in vivo

Ariana R. Andrei, Alan E. Akil, Natasha Kharas, Robert Rosenbaum, Krešimir Josić & Valentin Dragoi. (2023). "Rapid Compensatory Plasticity Revealed by Dynamic Correlated Activity in Monkeys in vivo." Nature Neuroscience. 26(11), 1960-1969.

Balanced Networks under Spike–Time Dependent Plasticity

Alan Eric Akil, Robert Rosenbaum, Krešimir Josić. (2021). "Balanced Networks under Spike–Time Dependent Plasticity." PLOS Computational Biology. 17(5).

Talks

Balanced Networks under Spike–Time Dependent Plasticity

October 20, 2023

Lecture at 20 Years of Collaboration in Computational Neuroscience, Grossman Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Balanced Networks under Spike–Time Dependent Plasticity

October 29, 2020

Poster at NeuroNex3: The Third Annual NeuroNex Investigator Meeting, remote

Rapid, State-dependent, Compensatory Plasticity Revealed by Functional Connectivity Dynamics in vivo

February 28, 2020

Poster (peer-reviewed) at COSYNE 20, Denver, CO

Balanced Networks under Spike–Time Dependent Plasticity

February 27, 2020

Poster (peer-reviewed) at COSYNE 20, Denver, CO

Synaptic Plasticity in Correlated Balanced Networks

May 23, 2019

Lecture (peer-reviewed) at SIAM NS19, Salt Lake City, UT

Synaptic Plasticity in Correlated Balanced Networks

May 20, 2019

Poster (peer-reviewed) at SIAM DS19, Salt Lake City, UT

Synaptic Plasticity in Correlated Balanced Networks

February 28, 2019

Poster (peer-reviewed) at COSYNE 19, Lisbon, Portugal

Synaptic Plasticity in Correlated Balanced Networks

February 01, 2019

Poster at Gulf Coast Consortium for Theoretical & Computational Neuroscience, Houston, TX

Service and leadership

• Secretary of UH American Mathematical Society Graduate Chapter; August 2020 - May 2021
• President of UH American Mathematical Society Graduate Chapter; August 2019 - August 2020
• Treasurer of UH American Mathematical Society Graduate Chapter; August 2017 - August 2019
• Member of American Mathematical Society (AMS) and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
• Graduate Tuition Fellowship; August 2016 – May 2021