Derek Deming ☕️
Derek Deming

Applied Scientist & Senior ML Engineer

About Me

I am an experienced researcher and engineer specializing in machine learning, computational science, and security applications. With a background in computational chemistry and biophysics, I blend a deep understanding of scientific principles with cutting-edge technology to tackle complex challenges. I have worked extensively in AI, cloud infrastructure, and secure machine learning, driving impactful projects across sectors such as the financial industry, cybersecurity, and bioinformatics.

I am particularly passionate about applying machine learning to real-world problems, from developing scalable AI infrastructure to optimizing neural networks for deployment in resource-constrained environments. I have also contributed to open-source projects, focusing on the integration of reinforcement learning and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) in small and large language model applications. I enjoy building secure and efficient solutions for threat detection in cybersecurity, with notable experience deploying large-scale inference models for enterprise security.

Throughout my career, I have been driven by a commitment to bridging the gap between research and practical implementation, making advanced AI and data science capabilities accessible to industry professionals.

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Interests
  • Graph Based ML
  • Context Compression for Inference Efficiency
  • Mechanistic Interpretability
  • MLOps / ML Infra
  • Computer Vision
Education
  • PhD in Computational Chemical Physics (dropped out)

    University of California Irvine

  • Master in Comp. Chemistry

    Washington State University

  • BSc in Biology and Chemistry

    Concordia University Irvine

📚 My Research

I work at the intersection of software engineering and research. As an ML engineer at Microsoft Security Research, I blend engineering and research to enhance our security solutions. This website and blog reflect my personal views and should not be taken as representative of Microsoft. Here, I share insights on ML/AI, interpretability, and a wide range of other topics.

My goal is to uncover how advancements in AI/ML shape industries, drive innovation, and transform society, while ensuring their safe and responsible deployment.

Please reach out to collaborate 😃

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