A BRIEF CHAT WITH Alumnus Max Akhterov

Our alumni take a part of UCI and the School of Physical Sciences with them when they graduate and leave campus. They take the memory of this place, and they share it, in their conversations, their work, their art — everything. This telling and retelling of the story of their time here is what creates and fuels the idea of UCI in the imaginations of people the world over, and so this month, on the one-year anniversary of our Brilliant Future campaign, we’re letting a couple of our alumni tell you a part of their — and, thus, UCI’s — tale. 

PS: Please tell us your name and job title.

MA: Max Akhterov, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Apple 

PS: What was your major and degree while at UCI?  

MA: Physics, Ph.D. 
 

PS: What’re you doing now? Tell us about your job or career.  

MA: I’m passionate about designing new sensing platforms for consumer-centered diagnostics. Currently, I’m developing algorithms for health sensors on the Apple Watch.
 

PS: What was your favorite UCI course or who was your favorite professor?  

MA: Course: “Communication Skills” taught by Professors Eli Simon and Bri McWhorter  

Professor: Philip Collins, my Ph.D. adviser
 

PS: Anything else you'd like to share — fun facts, hobbies, etc?

MA: I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors that helped me navigate academic and corporate worlds. Whenever possible, I try to give back and help graduating students figure out their next career step.