Joel Skaria

Experience

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  Asian Choice

  May 2008 - May 2015

  • Streamlined store operations for increased efficiency, enhancing competitiveness in a growing market.• Partnered with management on financial tasks, including: • Streamlined expense report management and filing, improving financial accuracy and efficiency. • Assisted with tax preparation, contributing to financial compliance and planning.• Contributed to HR functions: • Offered valuable insights for informed employment decisions and salary setting. • Supported with administrative tasks as needed, ensuring smooth operations. Show less • Leveraged data analysis of buying trends to optimize profit margins, ensuring financial health and competitiveness.• Proactively researched and sourced new products to improve sales and cater to diverse customer preferences.• Negotiated with multinational distributors to secure timely and cost-effective shipments, maintaining efficient supply chains.• Implemented lean inventory practices to minimize obsolete and excess stock, reducing waste and optimizing storage space.• Balanced efficient stock levels with customer needs, ensuring product availability and minimizing stockouts.• Responded effectively to customer complaints regarding inventory issues, fostering trust and positive customer experiences. Show less

  • Management Advisor

    May 2010 - May 2015

  • Maximizing Inventory & Sales

    May 2008 - May 2015
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  Augusta University

  Sept 2014 - Dec 2015

  Diverse Research Expertise | Post-Baccalaureate

  • Sub-investigator under distinguished researchers Dr. Terry, Dr. Patton, Dr. Arienzo, and Dr. Hegde, gaining diverse experience in multidisciplinary research.• Spanning psychopharmacology & computational neuroscience: • Administered pharmacological treatments to rodents and measured behavioral responses, demonstrating proficiency in animal handling and experimental techniques. • Analyzed fMRI data from acquisition to reporting using complex multivariate methods, showcasing strong computational skills in neuroscience research.• Additional Expertise: • Acquired and analyzed eye-tracking data in humans, highlighting versatility in research methods. Show less

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  Early Autism Project, Inc.

  Aug 2015 - Dec 2015

  Empowering Children with Autism | Behavioral Therapist

  • Developed individualized, data-driven treatment plans for children on the Autism Spectrum, tailoring interventions to their unique needs and goals.• Delivered effective ABA therapy both in-clinic and in-home settings, fostering positive change in communication, social interaction, and daily living skills.

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  Utah State University

  Jan 2016 - Jul 2020

  • Recipient of the Educational Neuroscience Research Fellowship, demonstrating academic excellence and research potential.• Co-advised by renowned researchers Dr. Ronald B. Gillam and Dr. Kerry E. Jordan, gaining diverse expertise in cognitive and computational neuroscience.• Inaugural student in USU's Neuroscience program, pioneering a path for future generations.• Completed rigorous PhD coursework in a compressed 3.5 years, showcasing efficiency and dedication.• Research Focus: • Systematizing resting states in fNIRS: Developed innovative methods to capture and analyze brain activity during rest. • Mindfulness meditation as cognitive training: Investigated the impact of mindfulness on cognitive and behavioral measures. • Neurobehavioral differences in language comprehension: Explored variations in brain activity and behavior related to language understanding in typical and clinical populations.• Collaborative Spirit: • Explored gamified learning: Collaborated on research examining the impact of game design features on mathematical learning.• Active Leader: Served as the Neuroscience Graduate Student Representative for 2018-2019, advocating for and supporting fellow students.• Worked extensively with ARIMA models, AR models, Granger Causality, Support Vector Machines, Computer Vision (RNNs and Transformers), Frequentist Statistics, and Bayesian Statistics. Show less • Empowered diverse learners in Introduction to Psychology (PSY 1010), fostering understanding for 20-500 students across varied class sizes.• Led engaging in-person and online lab sections for Cognitive Psychology (PSY 4430), guiding students through hands-on experiments and applying key concepts.• Cultivated critical thinking and communication through interactive lectures, thought-provoking discussions, and clear explanations of complex psychological phenomena.• Honed assessment skills by diligently designing, grading, and providing constructive feedback on all assignments and lab reports. Show less

  • PhD Candidate

    Jan 2016 - Jul 2020

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Jan 2016 - Jul 2020
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  Salt Lake Community College

  Jan 2019 - Jul 2020

  Adjunct Professor of Psychology

  • Sparked curiosity and critical thinking in Introduction to Psychology for diverse student populations.• Crafted engaging lectures and facilitated dynamic discussions to promote active learning and knowledge retention.• Developed tailored learning resources and assessments aligned with course objectives, providing clear feedback for improvement.• Championed student success by creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

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  Weber State University

  May 2019 - Jun 2021

  • Delivered impactful instruction in core courses like Biopsychology, Statistics in Psychology, and Research Methods, fostering a vibrant learning environment for 300+ students per semester.• Empowered student success by creating engaging lecture materials, discussions, and assessments, maximizing learning and retention.• Championed inclusivity as a mentor for students from marginalized backgrounds, providing guidance and support for navigating higher education.• Developed expertise in course development, assessment design, and effective teaching methodologies. Show less • Captivated diverse audiences in Introduction to Psychology and Biopsychology, fostering deep understanding in 50+ students per semester.• Cultivated critical thinking and analytical skills through interactive lectures, thought-provoking discussions, and self-designed instructional materials.• Championed student success: • Designed assessments aligned with learning objectives, providing clear feedback for improvement. • Mentored students from marginalized backgrounds, guiding them through academic challenges and fostering a sense of belonging.• Developed expertise in: • Curriculum design tailored to diverse learners • Effective assessment creation for knowledge retention • Building inclusive and supportive learning environments Show less

  • Lecturer of Psychology and Neuroscience

    Jul 2020 - Jun 2021

  • Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience

    May 2019 - Jul 2020
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  Utah Department of Health and Human Services

  Sept 2021 - Sept 2023

  • Led biostatistics and infectious disease modeling efforts for Utah's COVID-19 response.• Secured $17.5 million grant to strengthen data infrastructure and infectious disease modeling capabilities.• Analyzed data, built models, conducted studies, and provided evidence-based recommendations for public health interventions.• Advanced data analysis and visualization using Python, R, SQL, and advanced techniques.• Developed and employed convolutional neural networks and transformers models to improve data quality for handwritten samples.• Developed and employed recurrent neural networks and transformers models to improve data quality from our electronic health records.• Developed ensemble models (with both bagging and boosting) to improve our situational awareness of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.• Leveraged large language models for text processing and quality control processes. Show less • Led biostatistics and infectious disease modeling efforts for Utah's exemplary COVID-19 response (among the nation's best). • Secured $17.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen data infrastructure.• Experience:• COVID-19 Surveillance: Analyzed data, provided insights to decision-makers.• Disease Response: Built models, conducted studies, provided evidence-based recommendations.• Utah Infectious Disease Dynamics Group: Collaborated with leading institutions, advanced R expertise.• Equity Council: Led data & analytics for health equity initiatives.• Skills: • Advanced Modeling (Regression, Bayesian, Survival) • Data Visualization (R, R Shiny, Python) • Data Management & Quality Assurance • Collaboration & Communication Show less

  • Division-Level Biostatistician | Infectious Disease Modeler

    Apr 2023 - Sept 2023

  • Biostatistician | Infectious Disease Modeler | Analytic Epidemiologist

    Sept 2021 - Apr 2023
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  Amplio

  Oct 2023 - Feb 2024

  Team Lead - Research, AI & Data | Applied Scientist & MLE

  • Led a cross-functional team to develop AI-powered solutions for closing the achievement gap for special needs students.• Worked extensively with large language models, machine learning models, and advanced statistical models• Created and championed proof-of-concepts for adaptive learning systems, recommendation systems, and advanced student progress monitoring dashboards.• Developed models for recommendation systems using collaborative filtering, content-based filtering, hybrid-filtering, and knowledge-based filtering.• Oversaw data labeling efforts and created workflows to improve imbalanced data sets.• Collaborated with product, engineering, and design teams to integrate solutions into Amplio's AI-assisted platform. Show less