Favourite Personalities

Richard Feynman was an influential American theoretical physicist, best known for his work in quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, and particle physics. Born on May 11, 1918, in New York City, Feynman made significant contributions to the development of the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics, and the physics of superfluidity in supercooled liquid helium. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, along with Julian Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga, for his contributions to quantum electrodynamics.

Feynman had a distinguished academic background. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1939, where he developed a reputation for his exceptional problem-solving skills and deep understanding of physics. He then pursued his graduate studies at Princeton University, earning his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physics in 1942. His doctoral thesis, titled "The Principle of Least Action in Quantum Mechanics," was supervised by John Archibald Wheeler. During his time at Princeton, Feynman developed key ideas that would later lead to his groundbreaking work in quantum electrodynamics and the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics.

Feynman was also renowned for his ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to the public and to students. His series of lectures at Caltech, later compiled into "The Feynman Lectures on Physics," remains a fundamental resource for physics students. Known for his curiosity, wit, and unconventional approach to both teaching and research, Feynman was also a prominent member of the Rogers Commission, which investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Feynman was a charismatic and multifaceted individual. He had a passion for playing the bongo drums, drawing, and safe-cracking. His autobiographical books, such as "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" and "What Do You Care What Other People Think?", provide a glimpse into his adventurous and inquisitive personality. Richard Feynman passed away on February 15, 1988, leaving a lasting legacy in both the scientific community and popular culture.

Adib Hasan is an accomplished machine learning researcher and quant with a strong foundation in computer science and mathematics, having graduated with a double major from MIT. After completing his secondary education at Zilla School in Mymensingh and his higher secondary at Ananda Mohan College, he went directly to MIT.

His achievements in mathematics are impressive: he participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) for four consecutive years, winning a bronze medal three times from classes 10 to 12, and receiving an honorable mention in his first year. His exceptional mathematical skills were complemented by his coding abilities, which he demonstrated by creating a small program during his secondary school years.

In twelfth grade, he collaborated with a professor from the University of California, Irvine, on graph theory, resulting in joint research publications. These accomplishments, along with a recommendation letter from the Bangladesh Math Olympiad coach and his IMO medals, significantly contributed to his acceptance into MIT.

Currently pursuing his Master of Engineering at MIT, he focuses on pretraining large weather models and developing cutting-edge distillation techniques for large language models (LLMs). He has also co-authored the "Handbook of Combinatorics," a valuable resource for those interested in informatics and mathematical olympiads.

He has gained extensive experience in both industry and academia, working as a backend and machine learning engineer at prestigious companies such as Facebook, Kensho Technologies, and Multiplyr. His volunteer work with the National Data Analytics Task Force in Bangladesh showcased his ability to apply Bayesian hierarchical models to critical real-world problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His academic achievements and ongoing research have established him as a leading voice in the intersection of machine learning, AI, and quantitative research, highlighting his exceptional versatility and potential as a researcher and engineer in these fields.

Noor Muhammad Mahi Shafiullah is an accomplished machine learning and robotics researcher currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Computer Science at NYU Courant, under the mentorship of Prof. Lerrel Pinto. His research focuses on integrating machine learning and robotics to develop home robots capable of performing everyday tasks by learning from humans and autonomously. His innovative work in this field has earned him the prestigious 2023 Apple Scholars in AI/ML Ph.D. fellowship.

His academic journey is marked by a strong foundation in mathematics and computer science. He graduated with a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics from MIT, where his talents were nurtured and developed. During his time at MIT, Noor consistently demonstrated exceptional abilities in both mathematics and programming.

As a secondary school student, His passion for mathematics was evident through his participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) for four consecutive years, where he won two bronze medals and one silver medal. In addition to his achievements in mathematics, he also competed in the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) twice, showcasing his prowess in coding and problem-solving.

His early interest in computer science led him to gain significant experience as a backend software engineer at Quora, Kensho Technologies, and as a Quantitative Developer at The D.E. Shaw Group. His expertise in automated investment strategies was further honed during his time as an Automated Investment (Intelligence) Strategist at Alpine DeFi.

His diverse accomplishments and his dedication to advancing the fields of machine learning, robotics, and software engineering highlight his remarkable versatility and promise as a researcher and engineer.