Thomas J. Watson Fellowship

I believe in any field there are versions of the aphorism that stepping away from your work allows you to gain new perspectives that often lead to breakthroughs. I am using the privileged opportunity of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to experience such unstructured time between my academic and professional life.

Before graduating college, I have engaged with my work in a very applied way, either by practicing my instruments, researching and studying in formal institutions, or having internships.

But I also realize the importance of space as I zoom out of my life and into the world.

The technical challenge of my interest in developing software that can accurately capture and enhance multifaceted communities without oversimplifying them is significant, and the Watson Fellowship is thus far giving me extensive context and experience that would be nigh impossible without travel and unstructured time to engage and reflect.

Currently, I have traveled to:

• Tanzania to give workshops in machine learning and music
• Poland to watch the Chopin Competition
• Germany and the Netherlands to follow artists trying to build community in their niches
• Tunisia and Morocco to play in concerts with local musicians and with 88 International
• South Korea to collaborate on music information retrieval research with Sogang University