Alexander Valtchev
Currently pursuing a BS in Computer Science and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Boston
My Academic interests include database architecture and performance, algorithm design and performance optimization, theoretical computing, parallel programing, number theory, CUDA computing (especially in database performance).
Astrophysics (if computer science did not appeal to me so much I would have probably been in this area - I have studied and followed astrophysics on a theoretical level for as long as I can remember), architecture, playing the clarinet, jazz, social issues, philosophy, psychology, science fiction. Also a big fan of NASA.
Over the course of life, my interests in computers have allowed me to develop substantial skills in the areas of hardware specification and IT management through extracurricular activities, hobbies, and professional engagements, providing a well rounded and thorough understanding when coupled with the computer science major.
My first contact with code, on the other hand, was 11th grade - where I learned True Basic and Visual Basic.
A TimeKeeper that helps you keep track of elapsed time on multiple things without the need to keep the application open or the computer on. I made it so I can keep track of how long I work on certain projects. See File->Help for best "installation" and use.
A program I made one day while browsing telescope eyepieces. It makes it easy to configure zoom based on telescope and eyepiece focal lengths, while keeping track of your maximum effective zoom based on a 60x per inch of aperture rule. Uses integers for input and output for now. StarOptics 1.0.jar
A well made atlas of the universe. Effectively shows a map of most of the known universe at different levels of scope. Just click zoom in and zoom out to explore. The local group (our solar system) is always centered. Below the map, all of the headline features are explained at an introductory level. The site itself also introduces some of the fundamental questions that encircle our universe.
In middle school and early high school I was entranced by Issac Asimov and Ray Bradbury's fiction, and Carl Sagan's non fiction, namely "The Illustrated Man", "The Stars Like Dust", and "A Pale Blue Dot". Around this time I also discovered Madeleine L'Engle's beautiful fiction. Later on I really enjoyed some of Issac Asimov's nonfiction work such as his essays "On Numbers".
Kurt Vonnegut's "A Man Without A Country", Ovid's "Metamorphosis", Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha", and Mikhail Bulgakov's "Heart of a Dog" are absolute favourites. While Neitzsche's "Human, All too Human", Plato, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Henry David Thoreau and Marx are others whom I've read out of philosophical interest. Some of Rene Descartes' works are also fascinating reads.
Running (sprints and distance), Attended the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research 3 times, I *would* be interested in running the Boston Marathon under sponsorship if midterms did not always fall on or near that date.
Soccer: Attended the "Bahrah Trading British Soccer Academy" from 1997 to 2000 and completed with honors. Now I just play for fun any chance I get, to balance time behind the computer with time doing physical activity.
I also enjoy tennis, skiing and sailing.