Tami Dada
Results-driven Computer Engineering graduate student with hands-on experience in machine learning, data analysis, and cyber-physical systems research. Proven success in developing and evaluating predictive models, including an Isolation Forest model for industrial equipment fault detection and an EfficientNet-based computer vision model that reached 95% classification accuracy. Skilled in Python scripting, SQL, and industrial communication protocols (DNP3, Modbus) for data cleaning, statistical analysis, and building end-to-end data pipelines. Experienced in translating model outputs and multi-source datasets into actionable insights through tools like Power BI and Excel. Background in cross-functional collaboration, technical documentation, and reproducible research workflows, with active contributions to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded Cyber-Physical Power Systems (CPPS) testbed using OPAL-RT, SCADA, and SDN for smart grid cybersecurity evaluation. Dedicated to applying strong analytical and engineering skills to solve complex, data-driven problems in energy and critical infrastructure.
Work History
Research Assistant
1 Month- Contributing to the development of a Cyber-Physical Power Systems (CPPS) testbed for evaluating cybersecurity in smart grid environments using OPAL-RT, SCADA, and Software-Defined Networking (SDN).
- Developing Python scripts to automate the configuration of industrial communication protocols, including DNP3 and Modbus, to support scalable integration of power system components.
- Assisting with the integration of real-time power system simulations, SCADA platforms, and communication networks for cyber-physical monitoring and control.
- Supporting the implementation and evaluation of cybersecurity technologies, including Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and Moving Target Defense (MTD) strategies.
- Collaborating with faculty and graduate researchers to test cyberattack scenarios, validate system performance, and analyze secure communication within smart grid environments.
- Contributing to technical documentation, experimental validation, and ongoing research activities for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded cyber-physical systems project.
Machine Learning Engineering Intern
4 Months- Analyzed industrial pump sensor data to identify trends and failure patterns, supporting predictive maintenance strategies and operational decision-making.
- Developed and evaluated Isolation Forest Model, to detect equipment irregularities and improve early fault detection accuracy.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team to build and deploy a web-based analytics platform, translating model outputs into actionable insights for stakeholders.
Research Assistant
7 Months- Developed a computer vision model using EfficientNet and PyTorch to classify putting green ball mark severity, reaching 95% accuracy and improving predictive performance by 20%.
- Integrated UAV imagery and remote sensing data into machine learning pipelines, boosting herbicide targeting precision by 30% using custom ETL pipelines.
- Collaborated on technical documentation and reproducible ML workflows, including code review processes for modular development.
Data Analyst
2 Months- Improved data accessibility by 15% by writing efficient SQL queries for extracting and transforming multi-source education datasets.
- Automated data retrieval and cleanup tasks, reducing manual processing time by 25%.
- Designed interactive Power BI dashboards and Excel reports that enhanced leadership visibility into student performance and engagement trends, leading to a 10% increase in decision-making speed.
Education
M.S. - Computer Engineering
- Expected Graduation-2028
- GPA: 4.00/4.00
Skills
Timeline
Research Assistant
Machine Learning Engineering Intern
Research Assistant
Data Analyst
Texas Tech University
Leadership & Service
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Regional Leadership Conference (RLC) Chair May 2024 – May 2025
- Directed planning and execution of a regional conference for 80+ attendees, coordinating logistics, programming, and speaker recruitment.
- Managed a 5-member committee and exceeded fundraising goals by 20%, securing additional resources for future initiatives.
- Facilitated 5 professional workshops, including leadership development and data-driven decision-making.