Tara Adams
Machine Learning Studies Empower 
to Solve Problems Close to Home
Product Manager, Paytronix Systems, Inc.
MS in Computer Science (MET, expected 2019); BS in Electrical Engineering (ENG’15)
What compelled you to return to school and pursue a graduate education? What is your long-term objective?
Right after graduating with my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, I started working as a technology consultant at my current company, a software-as-a-service platform. That is really what got me to start thinking about furthering my education in computer science, as I learned more about its applications in the real world and how further studies could positively impact my career.
What ultimately pushed me to pursue the degree was becoming involved in a hackathon team. I attended a health care-themed hackathon hosted by MIT to get more involved with the STEM community in the Boston area. Being on that team and seeing what other teams at the hackathon were working on really inspired me, and showed me how software development and computer science could be front and center in making an impact in industries like health care. My long-term objective is to continue working in the technology industry, and continue with roles that put me at the crossroads of people and technology.
Why did you choose MET for your graduate studies? What set MET apart from other programs you were considering?
I knew that I definitely wanted to be able to attend classes on campus, so I started looking for local programs. As a BU College of Engineering alum, the MET program was a top choice for me, especially since a handful of my coworkers graduated from the same program. What really set the program apart from other options was that I was able to actually take a couple of classes to get my feet wet before taking the step to fully commit and apply for the program. I was able to dive right into the material I was interested in learning.
Can you share some details about the current project you are working on with AI and disabled individuals? How did this project get started, and what do you hope the outcome will achieve?
The project I am currently working on involves leveraging deep learning techniques to determine if a person is trying to get out of bed, or is at risk of falling out of bed. The goal of this application would be to set up an alert system for a patient’s caregiver to help monitor the patient while the caregiver is not in the same room. I started this project while taking the Machine Learning (MET CS 767) course, which I took last semester with Professor Eric Braude. The idea for the project came from experience in my personal life with my family.
A little over eight years ago, my younger brother sustained a traumatic brain injury which left him requiring constant skilled care at home, including assistance getting in and out of bed. After doing a little more research on the subject, I learned that America has an increasing population of people who are living at home with one or more chronic conditions. It is very common for family members to become a patient’s primary caregiver in the home. Furthermore, I’ve learned that falls caused by everyday tasks, such as getting in and out of bed, are a leading cause of injury in older Americans. Because of this, I believe that it is crucial to use technology to transform home health care. Ultimately, I hope to build something that will help my family solve a problem that we encounter on a regular basis. And it would be amazing if this turns into a solution that can help other families with similar experiences.
Is there a particular faculty member from your courses who has enhanced your experience at MET? Who and why?
This is a tough question—there is definitely more than one! One of the main reasons I have enjoyed and have been so impressed with the MET CS program so far is the practicality of the classes. The professors have a good mix of both academic and industry experience, making it a very well-rounded program. I’d say that Professor Braude really enhanced my experience with the program in his Machine Learning course by incorporating plenty of examples of how machine learning techniques are being used in industry today into our class discussions. I also thoroughly enjoyed being able to focus on a project of my own in the course, and the way that Professor Braude organized the deliverables really set me up for success. His instruction took me from a place where “machine learning” and “AI” felt like trendy industry terms I only heard thrown around in meetings to actual skills and techniques that I’ve been able to employ in my work and projects.
Another professor who stands out is Andrew Sheehan. I’ve taken both Web Application Development (MET CS 601) and Server-Side Web Development (MET CS 602) with Professor Sheehan and came away from both classes with tangible skills that I’ve been able to put to use in other classes, as well as in my career. Professor Sheehan really made a point to include standard industry practices and the latest web development frameworks and techniques in the coursework.
How do you apply concepts you are learning in your courses at MET in your current job?
Since starting at Paytronix Systems in 2015, I have moved from the technology consulting team to the product team. My responsibilities include working closely with our engineering team to design and develop the next generation of our merchant platform, as well as positioning the product within the market. To be able to excel in my role as a product manager, I need to have a solid understanding of our data infrastructure and our constantly evolving systems. To that end, I am constantly drawing on the knowledge and experience that I’ve gained from my graduate studies to do my job. I’ve come a long way—from having a very basic knowledge of database systems to carrying out very complex and detailed meetings on how specific areas of our system function with the head of our engineering department!