Hello! I (Jacob Hebbel) study Computer Science and Information Technology and Web Science (ITWS) at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with a concentration in Machine Learning. I've developed strong proficiency in Backend Web Development, with completed projects on the Node, Flask, and Golang tech stacks. I'm motivated by bringing powerful AI and ML applications to the real world by deploying over the internet.

As a Mentor for RPI's Open Source Community RCOS, I've shipped several applications on my GitHub. Recently I built the entire backend for BeekeepR, a mobile information app for beekeepers. This semester, I'll be leading Daria: a data analytics platform that may be receiving funding.

Outside of academics I spend my time as founder/president of the RSPA. RSPA is RPI's very own piano club, a collective of no less than 30 performing artists representing talented backgrounds in diverse genres of music. We put on multiple recitals every semester and are launching a piano tutoring service for the RPI community. As a performer, I study classical music from the likes of Liszt, Beethoven, and Chopin and enjoy performing their virtuoso works.

My AI/ML coursework has covered a wide variety of offline learning strategies including tree-based methods, Neural Networks and common derivatives, and Recommender Systems built from Graph Neural Networks. I've applied this knowledge to train several models in Language Translation, Image Captioning, and a chatbot for a proprietary financial system (Bloomberg Machines) which won a hackathon prize.

I've taken several courses in web development and web design, covering core concepts such as Human-Computer Interaction, APIs, Web Protocols, and Web Security. This semester I'm taking Web Science, which covers common design patterns, server architectures, infrastructure as code, and the integration of agentic AI into web-based systems. I have lead the development of a Calendar App and the RCPC Website, where I managed small teams and nurtured proficiency in MERN and AMP tech stacks. Last semester I built the BeekeepR backend, which included a modular design using the router-controller-service design pattern, a JWT-based authentication system complete with token tracking, and a CI/CD test suite that ensures program correctness.

My primary motivation for studying Computer Science is developing impactful systems. I've specialized in Web Science and Machine Learning due to each being revolutionary technologies, and when synergized properly they can bring powerful solutions to millions of people. I love building cool, challenging things that tackle problems such as scaling, security, and efficiency. I have a deep thirst for knowledge and learning, and am more concerned with absorbing course concepts and applying them than just getting a good grade.