I am a Researcher in the Web Learning Group, a subgroup of the Text Mining, Search, and Navigation Group, at Microsoft Research in Redmond, WA. My research focuses on machine learning applications for the web.  In particular, I am interested in search and information retrieval, and using third-party information for improved text understanding.  

My previous research concentrated on quantum computation, particularly quantum fault tolerance and quantum error correction. However, my technical interests include the broader fields of data mining, intrusion detection, and classical fault tolerance.

I received my PhD from Columbia University in 2006.  My PhD advisors at Columbia University were Alfred V. Aho and Joseph Traub. I spent one year (2004-05) at MIT in the Media Lab and the Center for Bits and Atoms under Dr. Isaac Chuang.  I also spent several months (Spring 2006) with Dr. Preskill at Caltech.  I received a Masters of Science from Columbia University in 2003 in Computer Science. I interned several years with Dr. DiVincenzo and Dr. Terhal at IBM Research, Yorktown Heights.

Some colleagues I have worked with include Chris Burges, Qiang Wu, Lucy Vanderwende, Alfred Aho, Panos Aliferis, Isaac Chuang, Andrew Cross, David DiVincenzo, Tom Draper, Stephen Edwards, Angelos Keromytis, Sandy Kutin, Igor Markov, Eric Rains, Sal Stolfo, and Barbara Terhal.

I graduated in 2001 from Princeton University and majored in Mathematics, with a certificate (minor) in Applied Math, Computer Science and French. At Princeton, I danced with the Expressions Dance Company and also was a member of the Princeton University Equestrian Team.

I grew up outside of Seattle, WA, and attended Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA from 5th to 12th grade. In Seattle, I love skiing at Crystal Mountain, running Greenlake, golfing at Newcastle, shopping downtown, and checking out the latest and greatest restaurants in Belltown, Madison Park, and Queen Anne. My latest choice for a lovely lunch experience is Lola's. However, you still can't beat the Spaghetti Factory near the waterfront. Great pasta, great price, and you can eat in a trolley!

If visiting New York, I recommend the following: dance classes at Steps on Broadway, yoga at Life in Motion, Central or Riverside Park, strolling through Soho, and finding designer wear for bargains at Century 21 downtown. I am an avid art lover and encourage visitors to hit the galleries in Chelsea (10th Ave and 26th) and the Neue Gallerie (near the Met), in addition to the famous city museums (MOMA, Guggenheim, Whitney, etc.) It's also fun to look at the stuff for auction at Christie's in Rockefeller Plaza. The restaurants in the city are amazing. Check out Butter, Public, Felix, and Calle Ocho. These are in addition to the classics: Nobu, Gramercy Tavern, Gotham Bar and Grill, and Norma's (for the best brunch in the world!).

I love traveling. I have visited many destinations including Morocco, Turkey, Greece, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, England, Scotland, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Costa Rica, and of course Canada and Mexico (to name a few!). My next destinations will hopefully include India, Kenya, Norway, and Ireland.