Official UMBC IS Independent Study Proposal

  • Graduate Student (Student Name): Nick Yeates
  • Student Advisor (Advisor Name): George Karabatis
  • Degree Program (MS/PhD): MS
  • Semester/Year: Fall 2008
  • Independent Study Coordinator: Dr Roy Rada
  • Credits (1-3): 3

Proposal

(One to two sentence proposal of the independent study)

We want to finish, test, enhance, and re-shift toward new ideas, then repeat that process for our project and research from Spring 2008 IS698B. Our project was to work with technical and fundamental market data, using Neural Network systems and other Artificial Intelligence methods such as Evolutionary algorithms, in order to enhance forecasting of financial markets, specifically the US stock markets.

Overview

(Background information for the independent study)

See above and prior class. I am looking into taking 3 credit hours towards my MS in IS, as a project-based, hybrid (online/offline mix) class. If the work put forth merits more hourage than this originally stated amount of credits, I would like to reserve the right to discuss alternatives after the fact.

Proposed Approach

(Planned approach to the independent study)

We ended on 3 main notes:

  1. starting to implement an unused method of smoothing out NN error functions to produce convex solution fields.
  2. utilizing evolutionary algorithms in order to optimize the inputs of the NN.
  3. to integrate the process into one smooth automation between MATLAB and Excel.

Proposed Result

(Results / deliverables)

Short-term objectives, every two weeks, and to have brief reports (about a page) every two weeks that indicate the progress towards that two-week objective and suggest the objective for the next two week period. End result will be enhanced knowledge into the subject, and a sole focus on project implementation and research to enhance the implementation.

Initial proposal email to Roy Rada

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Yeates [mailto:nyeates1@umbc.edu] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 1:56 AM
To: Roy Rada
Cc: Matthew Frazier
Subject: Re: Independent Studies discussion

Roy,

I am not yet thinking ahead far enough to parenthood. It excites and  
scares me at the same time. It will happen sometime when Sue and I are  
both ready!

I am just past halfway to earning my masters and plan on taking my  
time getting through it, no need to stress myself more.

I am looking into taking 3 credit hours towards my MS in IS, as a  
project-based, hybrid (online/offline mix) class. If the work put  
forth merits more hourage than this originally stated amount of  
credits, we can discuss alternatives after the fact. I think I will  
try to stick to a 3 credit time budget.

I believe that Matt and I have formerly expressed to each other our  
similar goals, and continued work together. Matt is CCed on this  
email, to confirm, but I believe that he would technically work on  
this with us independently. His thesis work and other classes relate  
directly to the topics, so he is hitting multiple birds with one  
stone. I believe that the prospect interests him personally, so he is  
aboard for continuing what would effectively be a joint project, but  
not for his direct credit, and no guarantees to us. If he uses any of  
the work for personal or scholastic achievement, which I would expect  
his thesis to draw from, I am sure he will keep us informed.

Matt, let us know if you can confirm these restatements of what you  
and I have talked about before.

Basically put, we want to finish, test, enhance, re-shift toward newer  
ideas, and repeat that process for our project and research from last  
class. Our project was to work with technical and fundamental market  
data, using Neural Network systems and other Artificial Intelligence  
methods such as Evolutionary algorithms, in order to enhance  
forecasting of financial markets, specifically the US stock markets.  
We ended on 3 main notes:
1) starting to implement an unused method of smoothing out NN error  
functions to produce convex solution fields
2) utilizing evolutionary algorithms (closer to simulated annealing)  
in order to optimize the inputs and parameters of the NN
3) to integrate the process into one smooth automation between MATLAB  
and Excel.

That is my brief proposal of a project-based class, directed mainly on  
research and project implementation ideas to support our goal of  
enhanced forecasting and knowledge into the subject. I am unsure as to  
what amount of interaction in content and requirements you want to  
have, or not have. I am open to your suggestions.

I am unsure of how you usually operate an independent study, so please  
let me know how close or far we are from making this a reality.

Thanks,
-Nick Yeates
 
personal/school/financialitproject_is700/independent_study_proposal.txt · Last modified: 09.10.2008 03:01 by 96.244.71.32
 
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