and [Shirin Sohrabi](https://researcher.watson.ibm.com/researcher/view.php?person=us-ssohrab)
on extending and relaxing assumptions within their existing
[Planning Annotated Reinforcement Learning Framework](https://prl-theworkshop.github.io/prl2021/papers/PRL2021_paper_36.pdf) developed at IBM Research.
In this framework, automated planning is used on a higher-level version of the overall
problem with a surjective function mapping RL states to AP states. The agent is
based on the options framework in Hiearchical Reinforcement Learning where options
are defined as the grounded actions in the planning model.
Together we built [CryptoSolve](https://github.com/cryptosolvers/CryptoSolve), a symbolic cryptographic analysis tool, and made it publically available on GitHub. I wrote the term algebra and rewrite libraries, and contributed to the mode of operation library and some unification algorithms.
**Reinforcement Learning:** Studied the fundamentals of reinforcement learning with [Dr. Stephen Davies](http://stephendavies.org/). We went over the fundamentals such as value functions, policy functions, how we can describe our environment as a markov decision processes, etc.
[**Programming Languages:**](proglang) Back in the Fall of 2018, under the guidance of Ian Finlayson, I worked towards creating a programming language similar to SLOTH (Simple Language of Tiny Heft). [SLOTH Code](https://github.com/brandon-rozek/SLOTH)
Before this study, I worked through a great book called ["Build your own Lisp"](https://www.buildyourownlisp.com/).
[**Competitive Programming:**](progcomp) Studying algorithms and data structures necessary for competitive programming. Attended ACM ICPC in November 2018/2019 with a team of two other students.
**Cluster Analysis:** The study of grouping similar observations without any prior knowledge. I studied this topic by deep diving Wikipedia articles under the guidance of Dr. Melody Denhere during Spring 2018. **[Extensive notes](clusteranalysis)**
[**Excitation of Rb87**](rb87): Worked in a Quantum Research lab alongside fellow student Hannah Killian under the guidance of Dr. Hai Nguyen. I provided software tools and assisted in understanding the mathematics behind the phenomena.
[**Beowulf Cluster:**](lunac) In order to circumvent the frustrations I had with simulation code taking a while, I applied and received funding to build out a Beowulf cluster for the Physics department. Dr. Maia Magrakvilidze was the advisor for this project. [LUNA-C Poster](/files/research/LUNACposter.pdf)
