Hey I'm Michael 👋
Computer Science and Data Science Student at UCF (Honors)
About Me
Welcome to my Portfolio :)
My name is Michael Rusu, and I am a Machine Learning Engineer and researcher. I am a student at the University of Central Florida, where I've spent the last several years pursuing advanced work in computer science, machine learning, and mathematics. I love building systems that push the boundary between human intuition and machine intelligence, especially in areas where prediction, perception, and control intersect.
I previously interned as a Machine Learning Engineer at Lockheed Martin, where I worked on developing intelligent systems using real-world, high-complexity datasets. My work involved designing and evaluating predictive models, implementing data pipelines, and contributing to ML research. While the details of the projects are confidential :(, the experience strengthened my understanding of applied ML, large-scale engineering workflows, and working within high-stakes research environments.
At UCF, I am deeply involved in the developer and research communities. I serve as a Workshop Coordinator for Knight Hacks, where I design and lead technical workshops that help students build their skills in software engineering, machine learning, and emerging technologies. I am also an undergraduate researcher in the UCF VR/XR Lab, where I am pursuing research at the intersection of extended reality and machine learning. My current work explores how intelligent models can better understand, predict, and adapt to immersive environments.
Outside of my technical interests, I enjoy playing guitar, collecting vinyl records, exploring nature, playing card games, watching anime/reading manga, rock climbing, and pickelball . If you ever want to nerd out with me about anything, I'm always down.
My Core Values
Always Growing, Always Improving
Even though I specialize in machine learning, I believe that true innovation comes from learning everything, not just what fits within one field. The best ML engineers aren’t limited to code, they understand the everything about the data and the world. That’s why I constantly explore beyond algorithms. I experiment with hardware, electronics, and mechanical builds.
Thinking Outside the Box
I love taking things apart, mixing ideas from different fields, and seeing what new thing I can make from it. To me creativity is about connecting the dots no one else sees and building something that makes people go, “Wait, that actually works?
Commitment to Quality
Whether I’m debugging code at midnight or doing a presentation for a hackathon, I hold myself to a high standard. Quality matters because it reflects the amount of care, thought, and discipline behind the work. If something has my name on it, I want it to be something I'm proud of.
Building Together, Creating Impact
This is the core value that surrounds everything I do. I’m genuinely driven by the idea that what I build should matter, not just as a cool technical achievement, but as something that helps people, teaches someone something new, or sparks a new idea in someone else’s mind. I love being part of communities where everyone is learning, experimenting, and growing together.
Experience
My journey in machine learning and AI
Research Assistant
University XR Lab
UCF
Conducting research on machine learning and XR/VR and psychology.
- ▸Conducting research on ML, XR/VR systems, and cognitive psychology.
- ▸Assisting in the design of experimental VR/XR environments for user studies and data preprocessing.
Workshop Coordinator
Knight Hacks
On-site
Leading workshops and coordinating educational events for hackathon participants.
- ▸Organized and led technical workshops for 200+ participants across
- ▸Taught workshops on AI, ML, and software engineering topics
- ▸Coordinated with collaborations with other clubs and sponsors
- ▸Managed event logistics and participant engagement
Machine Learning Intern
Lockheed Martin
Tampa, FL
Built and optimized AI systems for aerospace inspection, improving efficiency and reliability.
- ▸Built and optimized a CAD/AI comparison system with a user-facing interface, improving the previous model by 80% and cut inspection time by 25% (15+ hours saved weekly), integrated seamlessly into legacy distributed manufacturing pipelines
- ▸Engineered and deployed production-ready ML models integrated into aerospace inspection software, ensuring less than 5% error across 100+ validation tests and improving reliability for users
- ▸Partnered with cross-functional teams (10+ engineers, QA, and operations specialists) to establish verification standards and ensure product satisfaction
MIS Intern
SCC Soft Computer
Largo, FL
Managed network infrastructure and security for county-wide healthcare systems.
- ▸Helped manage 200+ server port configurations and optimized network pathways, boosting real-time connectivity and troubleshooting efficiency by 10% for county-wide systems serving 1000+ hospitals and labs
- ▸Implemented security measures for 100+ network ports, reducing vulnerability incidents by 20% and contributing to improved infrastructure integrity
- ▸Maintained hardware inventory and reimaged or repaired 50+ systems, helping minimize downtime across the organization
Project Lead
AI Club ELHS
East Lake High School
Leading ML projects and educating members on AI fundamentals.
- ▸Led team of 15+ members in developing ML applications and research projects
- ▸Mentored students on deep learning, computer vision, and NLP, RL, and robotics
- ▸Presented research findings at school and district
Get In Touch
Let's discuss how we can work together on exciting ML projects
Let's Connect
I'm always open to discussing new projects, creative ideas, or opportunities to be part of your vision. Feel free to reach out through any of the following channels.
Made with 💖 by Michael ✨