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Spotify: Nel Abdiel | http://nel.world
n a c o l o n (at) g m a i l (dot) c o m
Adjunct Faculty - Lecturer
Sept 2022 - Present
Nelson's SIPA Profile
Teaching graduate policy students Data Science techniques and the Ethics of developing socially impactful products. Responsible for curriculum development, lab creation, and supervision of 5 Graduate Teaching Assistants.
Responsible AI Lead
Dec 2023 - Present
Lead AI Policy and Governance for the largest civilian agency, driving the development and implementation of comprehensive AI policy, governance, and guidance. Oversee the multidisciplinary AI Policy Workstream, which establishes standards for safe and responsible AI use across the VA. Manage the safety and rights impact review process for AI applications, ensuring robust oversight and alignment with the agency’s mission to protect Veterans and uphold public trust.
Artificial Intelligence Lead - Responsible AI Official
June 2023 - Dec 2023
Chaired the AI Governance and Advisory Board, guiding AI development and responsible use at the FDA. Advised on AI policies for HHS and the White House, and served as an AI expert for initiatives like the White House Cancer Moonshot.
AI & Cybersecurity Lead - Digital Service Expert
Nov 2021 - June 2023
Worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs on AI strategies and practices, ensuring alignment with White House ethical principles. Developed AI-driven cybersecurity products at the Department of Defense, promoted responsible AI development.
AI Lead - Entrepreneur in Residence
Jan 2019 - Oct 2021
Nelson's PIF Profile
Led development and deployment of AI-driven solutions, including a Claims Attributes API that reduced VA benefit claims wait times and saved $10 million annually. Crafted AI and Cybersecurity research funding evaluations for ITS-JPO at DOT.
Data & Applied Scientist II - Intellectual Property Protection & Solutions
Feb 2018 - Jan 2019
Developed advanced algorithms for time series anomaly and ML-driven intrusion detection, enhancing the security of Microsoft products and cloud services. Led collaborative efforts to address emerging cyber threats.
Lead Data Scientist
June 2016 - Jan 2018
Led a cross-functional team through the development and deployment of Soteria's proprietary NLP/NLU phishing detection solution.
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Ph.D., Mathematics
Thesis: Localized Skein Algebras as Frobenius Extensions. DOI: 10.17077/etd.lxsp43cp
M.Sc Mathematics
University of Texas, Austin, TX
M.Sc., Artificial Intelligence
University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
M.St., Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Society
Expected June 2025
Dissertation: A Value-Based Approach to AI Evaluations
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
M.A. Mathamatics
Dissertation: Discrete Subgroups of SL(2, R)
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, San Juan, PR
B.Sc., Mathematics
Preprint. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2412.17197
Under Review. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2407.19535
w/Charles Frohman, Algebraic and Geometric Topology, Volume 17, Issue 6, October 2017. DOI: 10.2140/agt.2017.17.3341
w/Charles Frohman, Journal of Knot Theory and its Ramification Volume 25, Issue 04, April 2016. DOI: 10.1142/S0218216516500164
w/et al, PrecisionFDA Blog. https://precision.fda.gov/experts/22/blog
AI & Ethics, Springer Journal, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s43681-024-00502-w
w/Marcos Ramos-Benitez, Ponce Health Sciences University Scientific Journal, 2024. Accepted.
- https://www.lathisms.org/calendar-2021s/nelson-colon
- https://dailyiowan.com/2019/04/30/ui-alum-heads-to-d-c-with-presidential-fellowship/
- https://math.uprrp.edu/math-alumni-nelson-a-colon-vargas-b-s-mathematics-2009-uprrp-selected-presidential-innovation-fellow/
- https://www.cienciapr.org/en/monthly-story/nelson-colon-vargas-first-boricua-become-presidential-innovation-fellow
- https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/vanguard/VAnguard-Fall-2020.pdf (p.16-19)
- https://digital.va.gov/general/va-launches-smart-tool-to-reduce-veteran-wait-times-for-disability-claims/?redirect=1
- https://www.govloop.com/cutting-bureaucratic-tape-to-bring-better-service-to-veterans/
- https://www.uprrp.edu/2019/03/exalumno-de-la-upr-formara-parte-del-white-house-presidential-innovation-fellowship-2019/
- https://www.cienciapr.org/es/monthly-story/nelson-colon-vargas-primer-boricua-en-recibir-beca-de-innovacion-presidencial-de-la
- http://govciomedia.com/federal-agencies-explore-ai-use-cases-to-prevent-bias/
- http://govciomedia.com/culture-remains-a-hurdle-in-dod-ai-race/