Babak Kouchmeshky - Director of Data Science
Tell us what do you do at FM:Systems?
I look at the data that is provided to us from different sources (sensors installed in buildings – WiFi routers, badge readers, light sensors). We take the data and use different algorithms to make it bit more understandable. We are making sense of the data and doing some quality control, cleaning it up, and running some logics. My day-to-day is developing new logics for sensors and services that are on the product roadmap.
Tell us a little bit about your educational and professional background.
I received my PhD from Cornell University in 2009. I spent 2 years doing research for his Post Doc. I joined Baker-Hughes (gas company) and developed tools that are used in upstream exploration. After that I joined Rifiniti, an FM:Systems company, as Director of Data Science.
What attracted you to join FM:Systems?
Both companies are leading in a sector which is going to have a big impact in the near future, if not already doing so. I work with very bright colleagues that are using some of the latest technologies in data science and providing valuable insight for clients. My colleagues are always eager to help!
Tell us something people might not know about FM:Systems.
How small the Boston team is—only 8 people in the Boston office! Very eager to learn and moving with trends!
Sum up your FM:Systems career to date in one word.
Fruitful.
What is your proudest moment at FM:Systems?
When we started using the automation platform for client delivery before, we were spending a lot of time doing manual work for client delivery around data. We were spending 80% of our time on client delivery! We had a big push for automation, so we worked day and night for the past year to be where we are now with client delivery. Now we can focus on other projects to make things better for our clients!
What’s something you learned in the past week?
I learned some more about his colleagues and the countries they originate from. I also studied a new tactic in chess!
Tell us three things most people don’t know about you.
- Avid chess player
- I have a small dog named Cookie
- I can walk all the way to work, except in the cold winters!
What gets you out of bed every morning?
New day=new adventures! I always tell myself that I will be better than yesterday!
What is your motto or personal mantra?
I should be better tomorrow than I am today!
If you could switch jobs with anyone in the world, who would it be?
Elon Musk
Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?
Iceland
If you could only drink one beer for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Heineken
What is something you’ve always wanted to try?
To finish a book each week
What is your favorite food?
Beef Kabob
You’re happiest when….
When I’m working on a mathematical problem or walking my dog—this also happens at the same time sometimes!
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
I would probably dedicate my life to research.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
A book on how to play chess that I received when I was 7 years old.
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Mowing my lawn when I used to live in Texas in the summer months
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time?
If I’m somewhere where I have internet access, I would follow a research topic that I enjoy.
What’s your favorite indoor or outdoor activity?
Indoor – watching movies with my wife
Outdoor – walking long distances or hiking
