About

• Recreationally
• Professionally
• Technical Skills

Recreationally

I'm a mathematician, pianist, programmer, backpacker, weightlifter, martial artist, speedcuber, wannabe philosopher...

Professionally

I studied theoretical mathematics in undergrad with a focus on real analysis, graduating with my Bachelor's from the University of Kentucky in 2019.

In 2021 I received my Master's in Finance from UK when I chose to leave a PhD program to pursue a job in trading.

From 2022 to 2024 I made markets in ETFs for a Chicago proprietary trading firm. Trading gave me the hands-on exposure to markets which I was looking for when I left academia. Market making was a blast - I liked the firm, and they treated me well.

In May 2024 I chose to leave trading in order to scratch the entrepreneurship itch and work as an independent developer. Through the beginning of 2025 I built web apps using Django, JavaScript, HTMX, and Bootstrap, with the goal of creating and marketing a SaaS product. This time has provided an awesome learning experience, both technically and personally.

Technical Skills

On GitHub as @alex-b1729.

• Python
  • Statistics / ML: Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, PyTorch, Jupyter Notebooks
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP): Gensim, Natural Language Tool Kit (NLTK), spaCy
  • Web apps: Django, Panel, Flask
  • Database Management: SQLAlchemy, Psycopg
  • Image processing: Pillow
  • LLM: Ollama Python library
• Web
  • Development: JavaScript, HTMX, Bootstrap/CSS, full-stack, Hugo & Jekyll
  • Deployment: Netlify, Render, rsync
  • Analytics: Plausible
• SQL: PostgreSQL, TimescaleDB, MS-SQL, SQLite
• CI/CD: Git, GitHub/Lab, Airflow
• Professional: Excel, VBA, Tableau
• Generative Art: p5.js, Pillow