Information Technology Services (ITS)

IT@UofT People — Ninu Varghese

Published on: March 18, 2024

The backbone of any successful team is its hard-working people. The University of Toronto’s Information Technology Services (ITS) unit is no exception. It is made up of a diverse range of people with an even greater diversity in their interests and talents.

In this segment, entitled “IT@UofT People,” we will get to know our IT@UofT team across the tri-campus community and find out more about their hidden or not-so-hidden talents and/or pursuits outside of work.

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Name: Ninu Varghese

Department: Office of the Governing Council

Title:  Manager, Information Technology

How long have you worked at U of T?

Nearly three years!

What is your secret or not-so-secret talent or hobby outside of work?

My hobby involves tinkering with machine learning models and Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms. I enjoy diving into the intricacies of these technologies, experimenting with different approaches and fine-tuning the algorithms to achieve better results.

Whether it’s training a model to recognize patterns in data or developing algorithms that understand and generate natural language, I find immense satisfaction in the process of building and refining these systems. It’s not just a pastime for me; it’s a passion that fuels my curiosity and drives me to constantly learn and improve.

Beyond my endeavours in coding and experimentation, I channel my enthusiasm into sharing knowledge with others. As a tech blogger on medium.com, I relish the opportunity to distill complex concepts into accessible insights, offering guidance and sparking discussions within the community. With each line of code and every article penned, I strive to contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of technology and inspire others to embark on their own explorations.

How and why did you get involved in these hobbies?

It all started when I stumbled upon some tutorials online and found the challenge of making sense of vast amounts of data and teaching machines to comprehend language utterly captivating.

Do you have any professional training in this field?

As for professional training, my expertise lies in computer engineering. To stay current, I regularly enrol in courses, both at U of T and elsewhere, ensuring I stay up to date with the latest advancements in the field.

What inspires you?

I find inspiration in the endless possibilities that these technologies offer in solving real-world problems and improving lives.