Dr. Anna Hughes
Dr. Anna Hughes
Machine Learning Engineer
Aug 2024 - present
Global Fishing Watch
Data and ML Lead (Contract)
Jan 2024 - Aug 2024
nū data
Managed the data science and machine learning team
Contributed to curating an extensive database aggregating climate and sustainability knowledge and resources
Designed, mapped, and led the development of an MVP product enhanced with RAG
Research Manager - Machine Learning Scientist (Contract)
Nov 2022 - Jan 2024
Entanglement, Inc.
Managed, designed, and implemented various machine learning (ML) models
Delivered a novel approach to pruning large language models (LLMs) and other neural networks (NNs)
Provided extensive benchmarks on LLM and NN optimization techniques
Conducted experimental research on ML applications of quantum-inspired optimization algorithms
Identified useful data sources and extracted insights from large and unstructured datasets
Developed a Python library designed to re-frame common algorithms such as linear regression, SVM, k-means clustering, and feature selection as quantum optimization problems
Led a team of 10 researchers in developing experimental machine learning algorithms and innovative multidisciplinary applications
Provided regular technical and non-technical reports, summaries, analyses, and presentations communicating results to upper management and stakeholders
Managed hybrid machine learning projects, including combinatorial optimization, convolutional neural networks, time series analysis, and computer vision
Quantum Software Engineer - Technical Content Manager
July 2021 - Oct 2022
Agnostiq
Managed, designed, and implemented quantum and classical ML algorithms in novel innovative contexts
Conducted experimental research in the field of quantum computing-based ML
Contributed to a SaaS distributed workflow management platform and showcased features in real-time workshops
Published tutorials, conceptual guides, and technical-level blog posts demonstrating quantum algorithms and distributed computing workflow management
Supervised undergraduate quantum researchers
Research Fellow
Sept 2014 - May 2021
University of British Columbia
Served as principal investigator on 4 major astronomy projects and collaborator on 3 others
Led an international team of collaborators in my doctoral research
Wrote successful grant proposals for observing time on competitive, oversubscribed telescopes (<50% acceptance rate)
Calibrated, cleaned, and analyzed large astronomical datasets
Performed Fourier Transforms, time-series analysis, and linear regression on radio data on the coldest stars in the universe
The above resulted in 7 peer-reviewed publications and 20+ presentations at international conferences
Teaching Assistant
Sept 2014 - May 2021
University of British Columbia
Taught over 10 courses in astronomy and physics, including lab, lecture, & tutorial environments, held office hours, and marked assignments & exams
As a head TA I led a team of new TAs, reviewed student progress, and created exams
Ph.D., Physics & Astronomy
Sept 2016 - May 2021
University of British Columbia
Conducted research on the radio emission of low-mass stars, originating magnetic processes, and potential consequences for the habitability of surrounding planets.
MSc, Physics & Astronomy
Sept 2014 - Sept 2016
University of British Columbia
Ran FORTRAN simulations of planet formation via pebble accretion.
BSc, Physics
2012-2014
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Undergraduate research on detecting planets in binary star systems.
Liberal Arts Program, Philosophy & Physics Major
[transferred schools - no degree]
Marlboro College
Research Supervisor
I mentored an undergraduate student of astronomy working with me on my long term monitoring of the TRAPPIST-1 star in search of flares. She presented this work at the 2020 American Astronomical Society Meeting.
UBC Women in Science Mentor
I met regularly with undergraduate women in science to help them navigate their academics, find research positions, as well as apply to internships, jobs, and graduate school. We also dedicate time to discuss the unique challenges women face in their scientific careers.
Mentor TA
As a mentor TA, I met regularly with 7-10 new TAs throughout the semester to discuss their experiences with teaching, strengths, and areas of improvement. I observed and evaluated them instructing a lab or tutorial, and met with them to provide feedback.
Organizer for Vancouver PNW Climate Happy Hour
Guest speaker at 10+ public talks and podcasts
Volunteer Scientist at 20+ outreach events
Treasurer at UBC Refugee Relief
Volunteer at BC Wildlife Federation
Community Outreach Secretary at Democrats Abroad Vancouver
“Applied Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization Formulations of Common Machine Learning Algorithms” Talk given at the IFORS September Meeting, September 2023.
“Quantum Supervised Machine Learning Method for Outlier Detection” Talk given at the American Physical Society March Meeting, March 2022.
“The Space Weather of Ultracool Dwarfs (and What it Means for Planets)” Public talk given online for Astronomy on Tap Edinburgh, November 2020.
“M Dwarfs: The Coolest Stars in the Universe” Invited public talk given online at the Astronomy on Tap Lansing, May 2020.
“Unlocking the Origin of Ultracool Dwarf Radio Emission” Invited Seminar at Konkoly Observatory, Budapest Hungary, March 2020.
“On the Shoulders of Giants: Prominent Women in Astronomy” Invited public talk given at the monthly Astronomy on Tap event in Budapest, February 2020.
“The Space Weather of Ultracool Dwarfs” Invited talk given to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Burnaby British Columbia, January 2020.
“Unlocking the Origin of Ultracool Dwarf Radio Emission” Dissertation talk given at American Astronomical Society meeting, Honolulu Hawaii, January 2020.
“The Space Weather of Ultracool Dwarfs (and What it Means for Planets)” Invited talk given at Exoplanet Vision 2050 workshop, Budapest, Hungary, November 2019.
“Constraining the Radio Emission of TRAPPIST-1” Talk given at CASCA 2019 general meeting, Montreal Quebec, June 2019. Won best student oral presentation.
“Space Weather of Ultracool Dwarfs” Invited seminar given to Laboratorio Nacional de Clima Espacial, June 2019.
“The Space Weather of Ultracool Dwarfs” Invited public talk given at the monthly Astronomy on Tap event in Budapest, March 2019.
“Constraining the Radio Emission of TRAPPIST-1” Talk given at American Astronomical Society meeting, Seattle Washington, January 2019.
“Constraining the Radio Emission of TRAPPIST-1” Poster presented Astronomy NWxSW meeting at UBC, Vancouver British Columbia, November 2018.“Constraining the Radio Emission of TRAPPIST-1” Poster presented at Cool Stars 20, Boston Massachusetts, August 2018.
“Variability in Binary System KOI 9967884” Poster presented at Division of Planetary Sciences, Provo Utah, October 2017.
“Planetary Growth through the Accretion of Pebbles” Talk given at Chondrules as Astrophysical Objects, Vancouver British Columbia, May 2017.
“Hydrodynamics Simulations of Pebble Accretion” Talk given at the Northwest Astronomy Meeting at Western Washington University, Bellingham Washington, October 2016.
“Planetesimal Growth through the Accretion of Pebbles” Talk given at the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planet Sciences meeting, Pasadena California, October 2016.
“Hydrodynamics Simulations of Pebble Accretion” Poster given at Extreme Solar Systems III, Waikoloa, Hawaii, November 2015.
“Exoplanets in Binary Star Systems” Poster given at American Astronomical Society meeting, Indianapolis Indiana, June 2013.
Nederlander, A. et al., 2024, An Outbursting Protostar: The Environment of L1251 VLA 6 (The Astrophysical Journal, in revision.)
Hughes, A.G. et al., 2023, A Quantum-Inspired Binary Optimization Algorithm for Representative Selection (ArXiv)
Hughes, A.G. et al., 2021, Unlocking the Origins of Ultracool Dwarf Radio Emission. The Astrophysical Journal, 162(2), 43.
White, J.A. et al., 2020, ALMA & VLA Observations of EX Lupi in its Quiescent State, The Astrophysical Journal, 904, 37.
Hughes, A.G. et al., 2019, Constraining the Radio Emission of TRAPPIST-1. The Astrophysical Journal, 881(1), p.33.
Hughes, A.G., Boley, A.C., 2017, Simulations of Small Solid Accretion onto Planetesimals in the Presence of Gas, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 472, p.3543.
White, J.A. et al., 2019, The MESAS Project: Long wavelength follow-up observations of Sirius A, The Astrophysical Journal, 875(1), p.55.
Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, NumPy, SciPy, OpenCV, scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Pandas, GitHub, AWS, Linux, UNIX, LaTeX, Notion, Confluence, Jira, Microsoft Office, scientific research, statistics, data science, machine learning, AI, computer vision, quantum computing, leadership, mentorship, public speaking, proposal writing, deep learning, data visualization, numerical analysis, mathematical modeling