Knapp is passionate about encouraging other students to pursue their interest in machine learning. I chose this field because it offers a wide variety of career opportunities without being tied to a specific industry.
“Machine learning can be applied to any field. I work in medical imaging right now, which is great, but machine learning is a general-purpose technology that can be applied to information, so you can work on it in any field,” Knapp said. “There are many possibilities, including biology, medical imaging, materials design, and chip manufacturing.”
Knapp acknowledges that there are downsides to the rise of AI and machine learning capabilities, especially when used by bad actors, but he also sees the tremendous benefits these technologies can bring to advancing science and improving our health.
“Last year, a group won a Nobel Prize for their amazing work in protein folding, which is used in drug discovery and medical imaging,” Knapp said. “Technologies like machine learning can have a positive impact if used correctly. A lot of good can come from it.”
In addition to his academic and research activities, Knapp was active in various intramural sports during his time at the University of California.
“I think it’s important for people to have some kind of activity that completely takes them away from what they’re doing, whether it’s school or work,” Knapp says. “Staying active is important to keep your mind ready for everything else. And I certainly met a lot of new people on the sports teams and are now great friends.”
Knapp plans to graduate in 2027 with a degree in electrical engineering and a minor in computer science. He plans to pursue a PhD to continue his research in AI and machine learning for medical image processing.
