Alex Stark

Current

• Principal Technical Staff at Walt Disney Imagineering R&D

Past

• Campus Staff at International Students, Inc.
• Senior scientist at BOPS, Inc
• Research Fellow / Research Associate at National Institute of Statistical Sciences

• Junior Research Fellow at Christ's College, Cambridge University
• Research Associate at Dept of Pharmacology, Cambridge University

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Education

• University of Cambridge
• University of Cambridge

Recommended

2 people have recommended Alex

Connections

64 connections

Industry

Computer Software

Websites

• My Website

Alex Stark’s Summary

(Note: my Linked-in profile contains mostly historical and biographical information. For more details on current interests, please use the link to my website.)

Authorized to work in US or EU.

A PhD engineer with proven ability to innovate, design, solve
problems, and collaborate. Extensive experience in digital
signal, image and video processing, and robotics, and in using a wide range of
computer languages, methods and systems.

* Invented a new approach to image tone mapping.
* Delivered software solutions to customers, working as part of a development team.
* Designed and developed library of optimized routines in assembly code, Matlab and C languages. Created fast video compression routines, filters, and adaptive filters. Improved performance by 20 to 50%.
* Acquired and applied expertise in image and signal processing, in numerical computing methods, in statistical modeling, and in software development.
* Collaborated on multi-disciplinary teams, consulted with customers, created and implemented practical solutions, and delivered documentation and training.

I prefer to work on real products rather than research. This was why I returned to industry in 2000.

I have abundant experience in written and oral communication, consulting with customers, and in collaborating, and with interdisciplinary projects.

Alex Stark’s Specialties:

Software development, mathematical analysis, data analysis, signal processing, video processing, audio processing.

Robotics.

DSP, DVD, MPEG, HDR imaging, statistical modelling, Bayesian methods.

Numerical methods, computational methods, statistical computing, linear algebra, matrix methods. C, Java, Matlab, Perl, Tck/Tk, Latex, scripting.

Alex Stark’s Experience

• Principal Technical Staff

  Walt Disney Imagineering R&D

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; DIS; Entertainment industry)

  September 2007 — Present (1 year 11 months)

  Working on future generations of character robots.

• Campus Staff

  International Students, Inc.

  (Religious Institutions industry)

  December 2003 — April 2007 (3 years 5 months)

  Worked with university, church and community institutions to serve the needs of international students. Ministry with international students and scholars, mobilizing churches, building support relationships, developing partnerships.
  
  Broad cross-cultural and interpersonal experience.

• Senior scientist

  BOPS, Inc

  (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Computer Hardware industry)

  May 2000 — July 2002 (2 years 3 months)

  BOPS designed and licensed microprocessor cores for multimedia and communications applications.
  
  Reported to Chief Microarchitect, then to the CTO, and then to the CEO.
  
  * Company expert/consultant, especially in image and signal (spatial and time series) processing, numerical computing, matrix methods, and algorithms.
  * Designed and implemented a library of signal, image, video and communications functions.
  * Worked in team developing shipped software product.
  * Programmed fast "FFT" transform routines, and other routines, in assembly code (using three types of parallelism); redesigned and optimized all parts of the code. Improved performance by 20-50%; used in certification.
  * Delivered technology presentations and training to customers and employees.

• Research Fellow / Research Associate

  National Institute of Statistical Sciences

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Research industry)

  January 1998 — December 1999 (2 years)

  Researched evolutionary trees of HIV cDNA samples with a specific interest in the relationships between mutations at multiple sites
  
  Collaborated with other researchers for data preparation, software implementation, and processing of results. Invented methods for fast processing of evolutionary tree data structures for analysis of output from statistical sampling software.

• Junior Research Fellow

  Christ's College, Cambridge University

  (Educational Institution; 51-200 employees; Research industry)

  October 1996 — December 1997 (1 year 3 months)

  (Also January 2000 - April 2000)
  
  Invented a new approach to image contrast enhancement (tone mapping / image dynamic range compression).
  
  Continued research into applications of signal processing to pharmacology. Researched linear algebra and new methods in matrix computations.
  
  * Bayesian Restoration of Ion Channel Records using Hidden Markov Models, R. Rosales, J.A. Stark, W.J. Fitzgerald and S.B. Hladky. Biophysical J. 2001, 80:1088-1103.
  * Adjustments for the Display of Quantized Ion Channel Dwell Times in Histograms with Logarithmic Bins, J.A. Stark and S.B. Hladky. Biophysical J. 2000, 78:662-667.

• Research Associate

  Dept of Pharmacology, Cambridge University

  (Educational Institution; 51-200 employees; Research industry)

  October 1995 — September 1996 (1 year)

  Collaborated with pharmacologists to research methods for analyzing biological signal data, in particular using Bayesian and hierarchical models such as hidden Markov models.
  .
  Focused particularly on high-efficiency algorithms and high-efficiency implementations. Outcome: New techniques were developed for processing large quantities of signal data.
  
  * Bayesian Methods in Signal and Image Processing, W.J. Fitzgerald, S.J. Godsill, A.C. Kokaram and J.A. Stark. Bayesian Statistics 6, eds. J.M. Bernardo et al. 1999, Oxford University Press, pp. 239-254.

Alex Stark’s Education

• University of Cambridge

  PhD , Computer / Electrical Engineering , 1992 — 1996

  Research interests: computational methods and linear algebra for searching model spaces, with particular interest in signal and image models.
  
  * Statistical Model Selection Techniques for Data Analysis, J.A. Stark. PhD Thesis 1995, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.
  * Matrix Gyrations and Model Selection, J.A. Stark and W.J. Fitzgerald. In Proc. American Stat. Assoc. 1996, 134-139.
  * An Alternative Algorithm for Histogram Equalization, J.A. Stark and W.J. Fitzgerald. Graphical Models and Image Processing 1996, 56(2):180-185.
  * Electroencephalogram and Evoked Potential Analysis: A Model-Based Approach, J.A. Stark, W.J. Fitzgerald and P.J.W. Rayner. Int. Anesthesiology Clinics 1993, 31:121-141.

  Activities and Societies:

  Cambridge Chorale, Cycling

• University of Cambridge

  BA / MA , Electrical Engineering , 1989 — 1992

  1st class honours, distinction, university ("Baker") prize.
  
  Undergraduate project published as:
  
  * Model-based Adaptive Histogram Equalization, J.A. Stark and W.J. Fitzgerald. Signal Processing 1994, 39:193-200.
  * Enhancement and Restoration of Ancient Manuscripts, A.C. Kokaram, J.A. Stark and W.J. Fitzgerald. SPIE Proc. 1993, 1771:574-581.

  Activities and Societies:

  College Choir

Additional Information

Alex Stark’s Websites:

• My Website

Alex Stark’s Interests:

Music, cello playing, singing, solo vocal performance

Alex Stark’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch