Hi, it’s Paris 😄 — but you probably (definitely) already knew that! You may formerly/presently and affectionately know me as Boogie-Oogie-Woogie or Billy Badass (or if you’re really mean, Little Red Caboose). Fear not, this fully grown woman is still in touch with that energetic, giggly, counter-climbing, barefoot-running-around-in-the-mud child who once wrangled both bull-frog and stray-cat on a hot summer’s day. Today is just the day she truly grows up. The baby of the family is finally losing her training wheels!
Commercial trucks serviced by Traxen Inc. utilize an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) called IQCruise to help maintain fuel-efficient speeds across diverse routes, but drivers often override it by pressing the throttle or brake. The problem? The raw sensor data doesn't explain why.
We built an end-to-end data pipeline that processes CAN bus signals from 11 trucks across 2 seasons, detecting over 10,000 override events, and deployed machine learning techniques to automatically classify the root cause of each override into distinct driving scenarios, like hill compensation, aggressive passing, or high-speed closing. For the first time, engineers and fleet operators will have a data-driven answer as to why drivers override the system.
I'm currently actively pursuing full-time roles as a Data Scientist (amongst other related titles)! Yes, the economy is… what it is… so I'm keeping my options open and seeing what fits! I’m happy to share I’m currently in the recruitment process with the National Security Agency (NSA), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and IBM, and I'm excited to see where the journey leads (hopefully not unemployment).
What I know for certain is that less than 3% of data scientists are women of color, and I intend to be one of them, opening doors for those who come after me. As for those curious about a PhD, the answer is maybe. Everyone and their mom is apparently convinced I am destined to become a professor... they might not be wrong, but they also might not be right. We'll see where the wind blows in a few years. If I do pursue one, it would be in Machine Learning. Keep your eyes peeled. 👀
- Get better at snowboarding! Evan has been patiently teaching me for two seasons and I can officially announce I can make it down a green without falling! 🏂
- Go backpacking for the first time! 🥾
- Contribute to some open source projects and give my knowledge back to the community for free! 💻
- Adopt ANOTHER orange cat (demon) to keep Finn company 🐈
- Pay off my student loans 🤢
- Pursue a PhD in Machine Learning... maybe 🎓
In ten years, I hope to be settled somewhere with mountains, snow, and water. Ultimately, I want a life that feels grounded, intentional, and is full of the people and things I love most.
I hope to become embedded in whatever community I end up in, living a life of service, and giving back in any and every way I can. If I have enough acreage, I’ll buy a heifer and name it Daisy (thank you Momma and my late Grandpa Hoogendoorn for the inspiration). 🐄 Maybe a couple of chickens too. 🐓
Leave Paris a note, a memory, a piece of advice, or a wish for the future. She'll be able to look back on these. 💙