About me

Hi, I’m Quilee Simeon, a research engineer trained at MIT working at the intersection of machine learning, neuroscience, and scientific computing. I’m currently a PhD candidate in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, where I combine large-scale data processing, representation learning, and computational modeling to study biological neural circuits.

🧠 Research Focus

My work centers on multimodal neural data modeling, particularly using C. elegans as a platform for understanding how biological neural systems process information. I integrate data across calcium dynamics, connectomics, and transcriptomics using machine learning frameworks including transformer architectures and self-supervised learning.

Key Research Areas:

• Multimodal neural data integration and modeling
• Self-supervised learning for neural systems
• Transformer architectures for time-series neural activity
• Graph-based learning approaches for connectome data
• Neural efficiency and interpretability

💼 Professional Experience

Numenta, Inc. — Machine Learning Research Intern (June 2025 – September 2025)

• Developed distillation methods for transferring sparsity patterns from large to small models
• Designed sparse weight and activation mechanisms for efficient inference
• Contributed to external collaboration on LLM inference optimization

MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences — Graduate Researcher (2022 – Present)

• Built large-scale data pipelines for multimodal C. elegans neural datasets
• Modeled neural population dynamics using graph-based architectures
• Integrated transcriptomic and anatomical data for neuron identity prediction

🛠️ Technical Expertise

Machine Learning & AI: Transformer models, contrastive learning, spectral normalization, diffusion models, reinforcement learning, neural network interpretability

Scientific Computing: Python, PyTorch, Julia, high-performance cluster computing (SLURM-based systems)

Data Engineering: Neural data preprocessing, signal aggregation, connectome-based modeling

Software Tools: NumPy, PyTorch Geometric, OpenAI API, Hugging Face Datasets, Matplotlib, Marimo/Pluto notebooks

🎯 Current Direction

I’m transitioning toward applied ML and AI systems roles that blend algorithmic research with scientific applications. I’m particularly interested in:

• Building generalizable models that bridge biological and artificial intelligence
• Working in collaborative environments that value both research depth and practical engineering
• Expanding expertise in reinforcement learning, generative modeling, and distributed systems

I’m open to Research Engineer, Applied Scientist, or ML Systems positions.

🏅 Leadership & Community

• President, IEEE-HKN (Eta Kappa Nu) Honor Society — MIT Chapter
• Secretary, Fraternity Leadership Role
• Mentor and advocate for open science, data transparency, and interdisciplinary education
• Strong commitment to supporting underrepresented minorities in STEM

🌍 Background

I grew up in St. Lucia and completed my B.Sc. in Computation and Cognition (minor in Statistics & Data Science) and a M.Sc. in Brain and Cognition Sciences at MIT, where I’m also curently a PhD candidate. Outside of research, I enjoy reading fiction, hiking, and traveling to understand different cultures.

“I’m driven by the idea that understanding intelligence — biological or artificial — means learning how information transforms meaningfully through systems.”