I am a Senior Data Science Expert at illimity Bank, a Google Developer Expert (GDE), and a 2x Kaggle Grandmaster in competitions and notebooks (previously ranked #7 worldwide for competitions). With over 20 years of experience, I specialize in solving complex challenges in banking, finance, and insurance through Machine Learning and AI.
- Large Language Models (LLMs): Recently, I've been focused on fine-tuning Google's Gemma 2 and Gemma 3 models, including techniques like Generative Reward Post-Optimization (GRPO).
- Tabular Data & Deep Learning: Continuing my work on making deep learning more accessible and effective for tabular datasets, often linked to my research and books.
- Authoring: I have authored or co-authored over 15 books on data science and AI, including the "For Dummies" series for Wiley and a book on tabular machine learning for Manning.
- Community & Mentorship: I am a Google Developer Expert (GDE) in AI, Cloud, and Kaggle. I have been a mentor for the KaggleX BIPOC Mentorship Program and frequently speak at international conferences and meetups.
I've written extensively to bridge the gap between complex AI concepts and practical application.
| Book | Publisher | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence For Dummies | Wiley | A comprehensive guide to AI for all levels. |
| Machine Learning For Dummies | Wiley | An introduction to core concepts and algorithms. |
| The Kaggle Book | Packt | A comprehensive guide to mastering data science competitions. |
| Machine Learning on Tabular Data | Manning | Practical techniques for working with tabular datasets. |
I maintain several repositories focused on cutting-edge ML and AI research:
- gemma_from_scratch: Educational implementation of the Gemma 3 architecture.
- kaggledays-2019-gbdt: Workshop materials for GBDT optimization from Kaggle Days Paris.
- Gemma-2-2B-IT-GRPO: Fine-tuning Gemma 2 using Generative Reward Post-Optimization.
- deep-learning-for-tabular-data: A 2025 guide comparing Keras 3 (PyTorch backend) and XGBoost.