Kevin Armengol

Designed and managed large-scale annotation campaigns for RLHF, conducted user feedback analysis, developed rigorous evaluation guidelines/workflows, trained human annotators, and ensured diverse, high-quality training data. Resulted in significant improvements on internal benchmarks of accuracy, relevance, response detail, and citation precision and recall.

Consulted on generative AI projects, including personalized AI tutors, research and grant writing assistants, and interactive fashion-recommendation chatbots. Built custom GPT-powered assistants using FastAPI and WebSocket integrations to enhance user experience and deliver real-time, personalized recommendations.

Developed retrieval-augmented AI pipelines and data curation workflows in Python for biomedical applications. Managed operations, user support, stakeholder alignment, and successfully secured $150k grant funding. Collaborated closely with developers to ensure system reliability, performance, and quality assurance.

Researched how early exposure and behavioral training shape mouse brain organization and network dynamics. Utilized advanced imaging and statistical methods to study cortical activity in awake animals.

Teaching Assistant:
- Mammalian Physiology lab (BSCI440)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology lab (BSCI202)

Managed lab operations, databases, regulatory compliance, and facilitated research through neurosurgery, histology, and behavioral assays. Ensured lab efficiency by maintaining equipment, supplies, and documentation.

Researched genetic, molecular and behavioral mechanisms of cold nociception in Drosophila. Developed novel behavioral assays, applied advanced imaging and statistical techniques.

Teaching Assistant:
- Genetics lab (BIOL311)

Ensured accurate and real-time documentation of electronic patient charts and medical records in a fast-paced emergency room environment.

Led RLHF data curation and multi-dimensional response evaluation for enterprise LLM systems, improving accuracy, relevance, detail, and citation precision/recall across internal benchmarks; trained and calibrated judges over 28K+ labels (median Kendall’s tau-b ≈ 0.7).

Built AI-driven backend chat application and deployed real-time FastAPI/WebSocket services on AWS; consulted on generative-AI pilots for personalized tutoring and agentic research assistants.

Served as operations lead for the FITBIR/BRICS NIH data platform, improving submission workflows, building Python QA reporting and LLM-assisted ETL pipelines, and securing a $150K federal NOSI grant.

Provided data wrangling, visualization, statistical analysis, and lightweight ETL/analysis notebooks in Python and R to support ad-hoc client reporting and exploration.

Researched auditory cortex organization and network dynamics, developed two-photon imaging data pipelines for the BRAIN Initiative, and optimized nano-fabricated stimulation devices for DoD MURI programs.

Investigated molecular and behavioral bases of cold nociception, developed experimental assays, and applied imaging and statistical methods to sensory neuroscience research.

Conducted experiments on visual perception and bioenergetic state relationships, contributing to lab studies and data collection for perception research.

Activities and societies: Graduate Research Assistant (Kanold Lab); Graduate Teaching Assistant for physiology and anatomy labs; presented at conferences.

Completed a Master of Science in Neuroscience & Cognitive Science with research on auditory cortex organization and imaging/data pipeline development for the BRAIN Initiative.

AWARDS:
- Computation and Mathematics in Biological Networks (COMBINE) Research Traineeship NSF
(DGE-1632976)

AWARDS:
- Best Master's Thesis, School of Systems Biology
- 4-VA Scale Grant, 4-VAConsortium

Activities and societies: Graduate Research Assistant (Cox Lab); Graduate Teaching Assistant for Genetics lab; presented research at conferences.

Earned a Master of Science in Systems Biology with research contributing to molecular and behavioral studies of cold nociception and development of experimental assays.

Activities and societies: Research Assistant (Proffitt Lab); worked as an Emergency Room Medical Scribe during studies.

Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science with coursework and research experience in perception and bioenergetics.