Meet the Interns: Edward James

We’ve been enjoying spotlighting our interns in this series, and this week is no different. Today we invite you to get to know Edward James, an Information Science major at University of Maryland-College Park. Graduating in 2023, Edward has great plans for the future. In the meantime, he’s enjoying his internship at Octo. Read more about Edward and what he has to say about his experience here.

What’s a fun fact about you? 

One fun fact about me is that I am a twin. I have a fraternal twin brother who was born 30 seconds before me.

What are some of your not professionally related hobbies? 

In my free time I enjoy playing sports like basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

What are some of your professional interests? 

My professional interests revolve around technology and data science. I am interested in making the world a better place by using technology.

What drew you to an internship at Octo? What did you want to achieve?  

Something that drew me to an internship here was that Octo is at the forefront of developing technology. I knew I could learn quite a bit by working with that technology and the teams at Octo. My goal was to gain some professional experience using the Agile approach to develop software. I also wanted to cultivate professional relationships. The internship has proven to be beneficial in all those areas.

What is your impression of Octo so far? 

Octo seems like a great place to work as there are many resources and opportunities to grow. I like that we are encouraged to be curious and ask questions.

What are you most excited to be working on at Octo? 

I am excited to be working on the Jinsoku project to develop neural search. What specifically excites me about the project is using machine learning to make searching more efficient. I am eager to see how this might be expanded and explore how machine learning and AI can be improve our daily lives.

What excites you about the future of machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI)? 

I am excited about all the different uses machine learning and artificial intelligence can have in improving the world around us. ML/AI can help us make better decisions, from exploring our universe to diagnosing and managing treatment of patients in the medical field. This ties back to my interest in making the world a better place by using technology.

Who is an innovator you admire? 

I admire Leonardo da Vinci because he pioneered things like the parachute and diving suits, but on top of that, he was distinguished artist.

What do you want to be working on in two years? In five? 

In two years, I would like to be working on projects that help improve people’s health and wellness. In five years, I would like to be working on IT projects where I can help manage networks and systems.

Would you enjoy working in a dynamic, supportive environment? Octo is an inclusive workplace for employees at every career stage. We’re hiring technologists and support staff with a passion to learn and empower customers to meet essential missions. Check out careers at Octo now. And stay tuned for our next installment of Meet the Interns.