Data Science Seminar Series: Steve Veldman
In this Data Science Seminar Series, you will hear from MS-ADS alumnus Steve Veldman, who is a Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Rotational Labs. The Seminar Series presents projects, research, and questions posed by our instructors, where you can learn how UChicago does data science.
Topic: An Introduction to Computer Vision Techniques and Applications
Speaker Bio: A veteran of the manufacturing industry, Steve Veldman is passionate about building practical and impactful solutions to real-world problems. In his role as a Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Rotational Labs, Steve helps to make the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence accessible to organizations of all sizes by building a meaningful understanding of his clients’ goals and challenges. He specializes in computer vision as well as classical machine learning techniques, and has a keen interest in the developing field of multimodal AI. Outside of work, Steve enjoys playing guitar, running, hiking, and cultivating an eclectic vinyl record collection.
Session Topic: Join us for a deep dive into the “eyes” of artificial intelligence. This webinar breaks down the fundamental tasks of computer vision, explaining the mechanics behind how neural networks, transformers, and the latest vision-language models (VLMs) interpret visual data. We’ll explore real-world applications, demonstrating how specific CV techniques can be applied to use cases as complex and varied as interpreting medical images, monitoring security camera feeds, and digitizing paper documents. We will also discuss the exciting shift toward multimodal LLMs and how they are expanding what’s possible in visual reasoning. Whether you are looking to understand the core technology or its practical impact on the field, this session will provide a strong foundation for navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of computer vision.
- Date: April 29th, 2026
- Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (CST)
- Registration: Click Here
💡 Attend this event to receive an application fee waiver for the Online MS in Applied Data Science program. After the session, you’ll receive a code via email that can be applied once your application is submitted.