J Neal Richter
Data Scientist & Coder
Updated November, 2011
JAMES NEAL RICHTER Salt Lake City, UT 84117 (406)-579-2887 EMail: nrichter@gmail.com
CAREER OBJECTIVES
To research, design, and create Artificial Intelligence software products in
industry or academia. I currently specialize in Machine Learning, Data Mining
and Search Engines. Particularly how search engines, advertising platforms and
recommender systems can actively learn from each interaction using ML and DM
methods.
EDUCATION
Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership, 2010
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management
Courses: Management of Technical Professionals, Business Strategy,
Strategic Marketing, Finance
PhD in Computer Science, 2010
Montana State University - Bozeman, MT
Specialization: Optimization
Minor subject area: Mathematics
Dissertation: Crossover and Mutation in Theory of Evolutionary Algorithms
Outstanding PhD Student Researcher Award, 2010
MS in Computer Science, 2003
Utah State University - Logan, UT
Specialization: Artificial Intelligence
Thesis: Fuzzy Evolutionary Cellular Automata
BS in Computer Science, 1998
Montana State University - Bozeman, MT
Minor subject areas: Math and Computer Engineering
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND SUMMARY
I have fifteen years of full-time work experience as a software engineer, and five
as a manager of other engineers and scientists. For the past twelve I have been working
actively on AI related software and how it can be applied to solve problems.
Currently I work for the Rubicon Project as the Chief Scientist. I oversee
Rubicon's core serving algorithms and the optimization platform.
Rubicon uses data to make internet advertizing perform better for publishers via
optimization of targeting, relevance and yield.
At Others Online, I was in charge of implementing a data mining system for a new
kind of web analytics and computational advertising system. We launched a new product
enabling web publishers to better understand their audience of users at the topic
level. The system actively learns a a user interest model in order to enable better
advertisement targeting as well as auto-recommend relevant content and peer users to
the current user. Topic models can drive both keyword targeting as well as optimize
display advert targeting via the use of a topic classification/summarization scheme.
I also designed and built the central data warehousing framework for analytics using
both SQL and MapReduce systems.
At RightNow Technologies, I focused on improving the performance of the Customer Portal
(the Knowledgebase) within their CRM software suite. Doing so involved the use of
reinforcement learning, machine learning, data mining, text clustering, natural language
processing, and information retrieval techniques with a singular focus on developing a
software system that is able to utilize every interaction with the portal as a part of a
learning algorithm to enable subsequent users from benefiting from previous users
activities. In addition I implemented a data warehousing and analytics framework for
RNT's Sales-force Automation package. The system is currently handling in excess of
300M user sessions per month on a cumulative index size in the tens of billions of
documents. I also implemented the group's first use of text clustering to bootstrap the
main reinforcement learning algorithm. I also built version one of a system to recognize
and classify the emotional level, positive to negative, of textual input to the system.
While at RightNow, I also supervised the rebuilding of the open source HtDig search
engine to replace major sub-components with a Lucene based IR engine. Once Solr was
announced I initiated a prototype project to transition to Solr as the ase IR system
while layering on a “learning to rank” system on the top.
I have worked in various development environments including Linux and
Windows utilizing Java, C/C++, PHP, C#, JSP, AJAX, Javascript, and SQL/MySQL
within servers, the browser, and rich-client apps. Data mining software in C/C++,
perl, Java, Hadoop, Hive and various specialized packages.
INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES
Technical Advisor to MediaForge Inc, SLC UT.
Member of OpenRTB committee.
WORK EXPERIENCE
the Rubicon Project http://www.rubiconproject.com
1925 S. Bundy Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Nov 2011 - Present (Tele-commuting from SLC, UT)
Job Description: Chief Scientist
Set agenda for algorithmic delivery and optimization in Product.
Oversee direct and indirect reports in Engineering to execute the agenda.
Operational responsibility for optimization algos.
Assist sales and other business units with talking about Rubicon's technology
in the marketplace.
the Rubicon Project http://www.rubiconproject.com
1925 S. Bundy Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90025
May 2009 - Nov 2011 (Tele-commuting from Bozeman, MT)
Job Description: Director of Science and Research
Lead a team of engineers and scientists responsible for core ad-server,
optimization algorithms and data infastructure. Use of computational
advertising, reinforcement learning, machine learning, data mining, text
clustering, natural language processing, and information retrieval techniques.
Focused on improving all aspects of advertizing optimization,lift, relevance,
targeting and analytics.
(Acquired OthersOnline)
Others Online http://www.othersonline.com
2101 Ninth Ave, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98121
Sept 2007 - May 2009 (Tele-commuting from Bozeman, MT)
Job Description: The Science Guy
Use of computational advertising, reinforcement learning, machine learning,
data mining, text clustering, natural language processing, and information
retrieval techniques with a singular focus on developing software able to
utilize user interactions as part of a learning algorithm to enable subsequent
users to benefit from previous users' activities.
RightNow Technologies, Inc http://www.rightnow.com
77 Discovery Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718
RightNow Labs http://labs.rightnow.com
Nov, 1999 - Sept 2007
RightNow is a leading CRM software provider delivering hosted software-as-a-service
solutions. I worked for 'RightNow Research Labs' (http://labs.rightnow.com).
We conducted applied research and development into how the suite of AI techniques
could be used to enhance the CRM system. Via these techniues we built software
allowing customers to better find information, provide predictive and intelligent
analytics and most importantly how to actively learn from every user interaction.
January 2007 - Sept 2007
Research Team Project Manager & Sr. Machine Learning Researcher
Manage daily functioning of research team
Work with management to define project goals and scope
Develop detailed designs and requirements (with Research Director)
Develop and Execute resulting project plans.
Continuation of duties below.
Nov, 1999 - Dec 2006
Sr. Researcher, Machine Learning Lead
Research, design and implement AI techniques to enhance products
Supervise and mentor one junior engineer
Open Source license compliance & auditing for 100 person software development team
Implement Knowledge networks, text clustering and classification,
Create Data Mining and Forecasting Tools
Implement Natural Language Understanding, Information Retrieval
Development & Deployment of site-search engine feature
Recruit new development employees
3 Patents, 5+ pending
Driversoft - Salt Lake City, Utah
February 16, 1999 - October 1, 1999
Duties:
Software Engineering contract with Iomega,
Linux software for Zip and Jaz drives
Hopkins Imaging Systems
1812 Flower Avenue
Duarte, CA 91010
Tel. (626) 305-8833
September 16, 1998 - February 15, 1999
Duties:
Software Design & Documentation of new Digital Medical X-Ray system.
NT device drivers, Visual Basic programming of GUI. Network Administration
Software Integrators
53 Evergreen Dive
Suite A
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 586-8866
April 1, 1996 - September 15, 1998
Supervisor: Joe McCarthy, President
Duties/Projects:
Application software, Device Driver and BIOS programming for VGA graphics cards
Assist in hardware design team of the new Gemini series graphics cards
Windows NT and Linux device drivers
Internet WWW site and internal network administration
SKILLS
Technologies
C/C++, HTML, PHP, CGI, Perl, Java and JavaScript Programming
Apache, Tomcat and other servlet containers
AJAX, Yahoo YUI, JQuery etc.
SQL, MySQL
Hadoop, Hive, MapReduce
Memcached, memcacheq, memcachedb
Amazon EC2 & S3 + RightScale
HTTP Protocol implementations
Maple, Mathematica
Data warehouse and analytics infrastructures
CPU technologies & parallel processing models
Network Programming (sockets & TCP/IP)
Knowledge of Unix (Linux, BSD, SRV4) Architecture
Knowledge of C/C++, Pascal, FORTRAN, LISP, and various assembly languages
Software encryption techniques
Apache, Solr, Lucene and Mahout lurker
Member of HtDig Board of Directors (open source search engine)
Member of CLucene development group (open source search engine)
Algorithms and CS/Math Areas
Strong foundation in Artificial Intelligence concepts and methods
Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks
Genetic Algorithms and Adaptive Genetic Algorithms
Machine Leaning and Data Mining
Text Clustering and Classification
Tagging and Social Software Systems
Information Retrieval & Search Engines (SQL, HtDig, Lucene, Solr)
Natural Language Processing
Ant System and Reinforcement Learning
Artificial Life and Cellular Automata
Intelligent Agents and User Interfaces
Experience with Qualitative and Quantitative methods for Non-Linear Dynamics
Strong math background
Taught Undergrad AI class at MSU Fall 2006.
Management and Product Development
Managing engineers and scientists with MS and PhDs
Cutting edge feature development and prototyping
Software specifications and implementation scheduling
Product Management roadmaping and strategy
Software release and deployment planning
Cross-functional committee work for internal delivery of software
Hardware
Experience with Device Driver programming in Unix & Linux and Win32
Assembly Language motorola & intel
Experience programming PCI devices and SCSI at a low level
Experience with micro-controller programming and application design
Familiarity with GNU tools and their use in embedded applications
Knowledge of video hardware & low-level software technologies
PATENTS
Temporal updates of relevancy rating of retrieved information in an information search system.
USPTO #6,434,550 Issue date: Aug 13, 2002
Method for routing electronic correspondence based on the level and type of emotion contained therein.
USPTO #7,289,949 Issue date: Oct 30, 2007
Method for clustering automation and classification techniques.
Patent No. 7,478,103. Issue date: January 13, 2009
Automated adaptive classification system for knowledge networks
Patent No. 7,730,072. Issue date: June 1, 2010
4+ Others Pending
PUBLICATIONS
Alden H. Wright, Tomáš Gedeon, J. Neal Richter, "On the Movement of Vertex Fixed Points in the Simple GA",
Foundations of Genetic Algorithms 2011, Schwarzenberg, Austria.
B. Wall, N. Richter, R. Angryk, "Generating Concept Hierarchies from User Queries",
T.Y. Lin, A. Wasilewska, F. Petry, Y. Xie (Eds.), Data Mining: Foundations and Practice,
Series: Studies in Computational Intelligence, Springer-Verlag. 2009. ISBN 978-3-540-78487-6.
J. Neal Richter, Alden Wright and John Paxton. "Ignoble Trails - where crossover is provably
harmful", PPSN X 2009. 10th International Conference on Parallel Problem Solving From Nature.
Stephen D. Durbin, Doug Warner, J. Neal Richter, and Zuzana Gedeon "Organic Knowledge Management
for Web-based Customer Service", In Knowledge Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and
Applications, M. E. Jennex, Ed., IGI Global, 2008, pp. 1971-1986.
J. Neal Richter, Anthony Arnone "Refactoring the HtDig Search Engine"
WWW 2007, Banff, Alberta, Canada May 2007
Alden Wright, J. Neal Richter "Strong Recombination, Weak Selection, and Mutation"
GECCO 2006, Seattle, WA July 2006
Bob Wall, Neal Richter, Rafal A. Angryk, "Generation of Concept Hierarchies
from User Queries in IR Systems", Workshop on the Foundations of Semantic Oriented
Data and Web Mining, The Fifth IEEE International Conference on Data Mining
Houston, Texas, November 2005
J. Neal Richter, John Paxton. "Adaptive Evolutionary Algorithms on Unitation,
Royal Road and Longpath Functions." To Appear, IASTED Computation Intelligence
Conference, July, 2005 Calgary, Alberta
J. Neal Richter, Alden Wright, John Paxton. "Exploration of Population Fixed Points Versus
Mutation Rates for Functions of Unitation", Workshop on Evolutionary Computation Theory,
GECCO-2004 June 26-30, 2004 Seattle, Washington
Stephen D. Durbin, Doug Warner, J. Neal Richter, and Zuzana Gedeon "Organic Knowledge
Management for Web-based Customer Service", in Organizational Data Mining: Leveraging
Enterprise Data Resources for Optimal Performance, H. R. Nemati and C. D. Barko, Eds.,
Idea Group Inc., 2004, pp. 92-108.
Stephen D. Durbin, J. Neal Richter, and Doug Warner, "A system for affective rating of
texts", in Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on Operational Text Classification, 9th ACM
SIGKDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining Washington, DC. 2003.
Stephen D. Durbin, Doug Warner, J. Neal Richter, and Zuzana Gedeon, "Information
Self-Service with a Knowledge Base That Learns," AI Magazine, 23(4): Winter 2002, 41-50
J Neal Richter and David Peak, "Fuzzy Evolutionary Cellular Automata," Intelligent
Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks,Proceedings of International
Conference on Artificial Neural Networks In Engineering (ANNIE 2002) : Smart
Engineering System Design: Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Evolutionary Programming,
Artificial Life and Data Mining, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, vol. 12, pp. 185-191,
November 10-13, 2002.
Neal Richter, Zuzana Gedeon, Stephen Durbin, Doug Warner, and Bikramjit Banerjee,
"Fuzzy Adaptive Clustering and Classification for Browsable Document Directories,"
Intelligent Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks,Proceedings of
International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks In Engineering (ANNIE 2002) :
Smart Engineering System Design: Neural Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Evolutionary
Programming, Artificial Life and Data Mining, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, vol. 12,
pp. 185-191, November 10-13, 2002.
Stephen D. Durbin, Doug Warner, J. Neal Richter, Zuzana Gedeon: RightNow eService
Center: Internet Customer Service Using a Self-Learning Knowledge Base. AAAI/IAAI
2002, pp 815-821.
Doug Warner, J. Neal Richter, Stephen D. Durbin, Bikramjit Banerjee: Mining user
session data to facilitate user interaction with a customer service knowledge base
in RightNow Web. KDD 2001, pp 467-472.
REFERENCES
Mike Myer
CTO RightNow Technologies
RightNow Technologies
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 522-1450
Doug Warner
RightNow Technologies
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 522-1479
Dr. John Paxton
Professor, Computer Science
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-4780
Dr. Gary Harkin
Emeritus Professor, Computer Science
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-4780
Employment references on request