Hi, I'm Justin.

I'm an Honors Computer Science student.

I'm particularly interested in computer science theory and the limits of computation, especially in the scalability and societal impact of machine learning. Feel free to explore my work and learn more about me below.

CV / Resume

↓

My Journey

My name is Justin Smeya. I'm a student driven by a desire to better myself and others through my past, present, and future experiences. At Lone Star College, I'm pursuing an Honors Associate of Science in Computer Science under a full scholarship, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I intend to graduate with distinction in leadership and international studies.

Over the past two years, I conducted undergraduate research through the Honors College, completing projects that analyzed frameworks ranging from computer simulations in philosophy to artificial intelligence in music. I continued to pursue research, presentations, and interdisciplinary inquiry to deepen my understanding of computing and to consider diverse perspectives, since research thrives on diversity. Presenting my work at local, regional, and even national undergraduate research conferences refined my analytical and communication skills by allowing me to engage with peers from vastly different backgrounds.

In addition to academics, I've worked part-time as a PC Technician on campus, diagnosing and resolving hardware and software issues for students and faculty. This role has grounded my learning in practicality and reinforced my ability to understand computer science within real-world interactions. Through my research and employment, I've begun to realize that I'm part of the greater mission to make computer science serve humanity in accessible and responsible ways. Furthering this premise, community lies at the heart of my engagement with computer science.

Within Lone Star, I've served as President of the AI & Computer Science Club and Vice President of the Machine Learning and Data Science Club. In these roles, I've organized and helped plan discussions on emerging technologies, ethical considerations, and industry trends, and I connect students with research and internship opportunities. My goal has been to create spaces beyond coursework where students from a wide range of academic, professional, age, and cultural backgrounds can meaningfully engage with computer science.

Through initiatives such as guest speaker connections, club events, and group travel opportunities, I have worked to introduce more students to a comfortable, energetic, and supportive atmosphere in computer science. These efforts have enabled me to foster a more engaged campus community, both in person and online. Through my leadership experiences, I've come to recognize and appreciate the value of community in terms of diversity, intellectual rigor, and inclusion.

With all things considered, my decision to transfer is driven by an academic ceiling at my current institution. Lone Star has provided a strong foundation in CS, but does not offer any upper-level coursework or extensive research programs beyond the Honors College framework that are necessary for the areas I aim to explore. My combined interests in machine learning, computational theory, and AI ethics require deeper technical training and access to much more profound research programs.

Most notably, I'm interested in mitigating the social risks and questions of inequality posed by the design of machine-learning processes. I hope to contribute to and learn from similar research environments, becoming part of a community that actively engages with both the technical and societal dimensions of computing. At my next institution, I plan to develop the technical depth to pursue these questions at a higher level, particularly through coursework over computational foundations, machine learning, and computer ethics. My main goal is to finish strong and transition into an environment that supports advanced coursework, extensive research opportunities, and a broader computing community, furthering the mission of making computer science ultimately serve humanity.

⌨ Computers

🧠 CS Theory

My research on Nick Bostrom's Simulation Hypothesis and The Matrix drew me toward the theoretical limits of computation. I'm particularly interested in the foundations of deep learning to further understand the behavior and optimization of neural networks. I aim to deepen my technical understanding of theoretical computer science through coursework and research at my next institution.

🤖 AI Ethics

Through various research projects, I've come to value attention to AI ethics. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning, it's imperative to mitigate the risks and societal biases these technologies pose. I believe it's humanity's job to make computer science both accessible and responsible.

🌐 Web Development

Through my programming coursework, I discovered a growing interest in Web Development. This personal portfolio website is a project of mine to develop my skills in web design, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. In the future, I'd like to create more websites, get more familiar with web libraries, and develop a multiplayer web-based game.

🔌 Hardware

I find it important to be well-versed in hardware architecture, since it's the foundation on which software operates. Many years back, I built my own gaming computer and gained an appreciation for computer hardware. My role as a campus PC Technician furthered this interest, and I am still learning a lot about physical systems.

I still tinker with and maintain my PC to this day :D

🕵️‍♂️ Cybersecurity

Over the years, I've become increasingly curious as to how systems can be broken and exploited. Through ethical experimentation, I've learned the basics of reconnaissance, network security, social engineering, and data security. These experiences have reinforced my appreciation for ethical responsibility in security and the importance of building systems that can withstand real-world adversary pressures.

👾 Game Development

My experience playing video games led me to start creating them using game engines like Unity. I've completed and discontinued many projects, but all of them have been instructive, nonetheless. Through my game development journey, I've come to appreciate the process of creation just as much as the finished product.

Every now and then I like to revisit old projects or start something new.

🎮 Video Games

My CS journey started with video games at a very young age. These games first served as a source of joy and escape from reality. Over time, however, my engagement shifted from playing games to uncovering how their worlds functioned, kickstarting my CS career through curiosity.

I still enjoy playing video games here and there :)

🎜 Music

🥁 Drums

I've had four years of formal percussion instruction throughout high school, where I was involved with marching, concert, and jazz band ensembles and was regularly requested to perform with the choir and orchestra.

Over time, I've also gained nearly 6 years of experience as a drumset player.

As of right now, I am actively refining my technique, timing, and control behind the kit whilst learning new styles and improving my versatility. Although I've stepped out of a formal percussion environment, I am still trying to grow my expertise every day.

🎸 Bass

For about a year and a half now, I've been learning the bass guitar. To me, it's the instrument that best represents the blurred line between rhythm and harmony.

Right now, I'm learning to refine my technique and musicality while getting accustomed to multiple styles. I often enjoy recording bass covers because it's important to apply the skills I practice.

As I continue learning bass, I'd like to branch out into acoustic and electric guitar.

🎧 Composition & Production

Over the past few years, I've written and composed around 20+ original works, including marimba solos, drumline cadences, video game scores, and original contemporary songs.

I've utilized a range of production applications, mainly MuseScore, BandLab, and FL Studio. With these tools, I've gained basic skills in music production, mixing, and audio mastering.

I enjoy learning new things in the world of production, and I aspire to develop my workflow further as I keep creating music.

🏍 Motorcycles

🔥 Riding

About a year ago, I got my motorcycle license and started riding. This has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Although it can break the bank from time to time, this hobby is a great way to spend my free time. The feeling of zipping through a city or cruising down an open road is truly indescribable.

I started on a Suzuki GSX-250R (1) and later upgraded to a Kawasaki Ninja 400 (2). I would soon like to upgrade to a Kawasaki ZX-6R or a bike of similar power.

🔧 Mechanical Interest

Over time, I've had more opportunities to learn about how motorcycles actually work.

Every so often, my current bike needs something replaced or upgraded. With each repair, I better understand how the system functions and build experience I can apply in the future.

Aside from building computers, this has become a great way to develop mechanical skills, and I look forward to continuing to learn through future maintenance.

Desktop Only