As you already know, Devtorium has a Research and Development Department that helps our team understand and master cutting-edge technologies. Currently, they are focusing on AI and Machine Learning and have workshops that anyone willing to learn can join.

Today, we’d like to tell you more about the Head of R&D, Oleksii Makarov, and the amazing team the Department has already assembled.

Oleksii Makarov: Solution Architect/Head of Research and Development

Oleksii is Devtorium’s leading expert in AI and ML technology, who loves to share his knowledge as much as he enjoys learning new technologies. He has 24 years of experience in development, and over this time, Oleksii has worked with multiple projects and technologies, including:

• Developing desktop applications for Windows (C++)
• Web development (.NET)
• Front-end development (HTML, JavaScript, React, NodeJS)
• Deep Learning and AI (Python)

For the last seven years, Oleksii has been dealing with Machine Learning and Deep Learning technologies. He has experience developing several AI-related projects where he was actively working on the following:

• Computer Vision: object detection, video processing, data filtering, behavior tracking.
• LLM + prompt engineering + GPT Engine

Oleksii says that Deep Learning is one of his main interests in technology right now. It enables us to teach computers to perceive the world similarly to humans. This is one of the things involved in the work of the Devtortium R&D Department, and studying this technology offers excellent opportunities for personal growth. In addition, this looks great on your CV😉

Research & Development Team: Not Only for Developers

We’d also like to introduce some of the R&D Team members who have been studying new technologies with Oleksii for the last few months. We were surprised to learn that not all members of the Department are developers. Some Devtorium team members are very active and forward-thinking. Therefore, they want to discover everything they can about cutting-edge tech to stay sharp and expand their professional skills and opportunities.

Olha Romanets: Senior Front-End Engineer

Olha is one of the most active members of the R&D Department. Her drive is contagious, and her interest in the topic has no bounds. Olha has a successful career in front-end development, so we wondered what pushed her to take on this new challenge.

She said joining the R&D Team was essentially an ‘impulse purchase’. For some time, the topic of AI was popping up all around her, so when the opportunity to study it deeper presented itself, Olha took it immediately.

She is a highly dedicated person who enjoys studying things to their full potential. This is exactly how she approaches R&D workshops and never fails to impress her teammates.

Oleksandr Shapran: Strong Junior Business Analyst

As mentioned before, not all members of the Research and Development study group are developers. One of our business analysts, Oleksandr, is a good example of a person who doesn’t allow any perceived limitations to prevent them from reaching their full potential.

We asked him why he decided to join and spent some of his time studying something far removed from his primary specialty. His answers were truly inspiring.

First of all, Oleksandr highlights the importance of knowledge about AI for any professional working within the IT industry. This is the most cutting-edge technology that is already revolutionizing the world. Therefore, everyone must understand at least the basics of how it works and what it’s capable of.

Moreover, as Oleksandr wisely notes, the level of professionalism one has is determined by the depth and versatility of their knowledge. Simply put, any professional can bring more value if they are knowledgeable in many relevant areas. This way, they can be most helpful to the team, and that’s precisely how he wants to be.

That said, studying AI on your own is extremely difficult, especially for someone without a technical background. Joining the Devtorium Research and Development Department allowed him to learn from a great mentor and get support from his colleagues. They face challenges and grow together, each contributing something valuable to the work of this Department.

Also, Oleksandr notes that the knowledge and skills gained while working with the R&D Team help predict future trends. By learning these complex topics as an analyst, he can better understand changes in technology trends. Therefore, he can see what to pay attention to and how to benefit his current and future projects.

Ivan Danyliuk: Senior Front-End Engineer

Ivan is one of Devtorium’s leading front-end developers. He has shown tremendous talent and interest in working with AI through our Research and Development Department workshops.

According to Ivan himself, joining the R&D Team aligns with his passion to stay up-to-date with any changes in the industry. Due to his participation in this Department, Ivan broadened his horizons significantly. His direct quote:

Being a part of the R&D team has shown me new perspectives, encouraging me to approach everyday matters from a fresh and innovative standpoint.

Excited to be on this journey and eager to explore the limitless possibilities that our AI endeavors bring, I am confident that our collective efforts will shape the potential of our company.

Serhii Bevz: Senior Full-Stack Engineer

Serhii Bevz joined the Devtorium team not long ago but has proven to be an exceptionally talented full-stack engineer. However, despite being busy with his project, he makes time to actively participate in the work of the Research and Development Department. When we asked why he chose to join this team, he said that, first of all, it’s a highly promising direction for professional development. His second reason is that it’s a fascinating field for developers. Studying and working with AI enables you to move up to a completely different level of skill and knowledge.

In addition, Serhii mentions how he loved math in school and how working with AI requires a deep knowledge of mathematics. Moreover, studying a new programming language is much easier when you have real-life tasks for practice. Therefore, he enjoys mastering Python with the R&D Team and is progressing quickly in this area.

Serhii notes that expanding your personal tech stack is an outstanding professional opportunity. Also, he very much enjoys the way Oleksii teaches these complex subjects. The subject matter is very complicated, so it’s crucial to have someone who can explain it in a way that’s easy to understand. As a full-stack developer, Serhii knows he must know AI and how it works. This knowledge is vital for any ambitious developer today.

The only thing that Serhii does complain about is that he wishes to have more time for this exciting project. However, he hopes that working with the Research and Development Department on these topics will allow him to be near the start of changes in tech trends. Similar to how it was with NodeJS, AI has launched a revolution now, and those who are proficient with technology have a much better chance of professional success. Serhii also notes how important it is for a development company to have a team of professionals with these trending skills, as Devtorium has.

Oleksandr Kostylenko: Strong Middle .NET Engineer

Oleksandr is a very experienced and talented developer in his professional life and a highly artistic person outside of work. When we talked to him about his reasons for joining the Research and Development Team, he showed that both parts of his character played into it. 

We can already feel the presence of AI everywhere, and personally, I use ChatGPT and DALL-E in my daily life. The future of the IT industry is inseparable from AI technology, and I’m sure studying it will help me in my work. Moreover, this outstandingly fascinating technology allows you to realize your artistic potential in development, which is crucial for me.

Oleksandr states that he enjoys being a part of the R&D Team and how Oleksii teaches such a complex subject. He especially commends the fact that Oleksii, as a teacher, encourages the team to write their own code and experiment. It’s a very productive and efficient method of teaching such complicated topics.

According to Oleksandr, knowledge is the main benefit he gets from joining Research and Development. Despite being a team member for only a few months, he already understands the core principles of Deep Learning and looks for ways to apply this in practice. He is looking forward to learning more about AI and reaching new heights with the help of this technology.

Devtorium Research and Development Department: Progress Report 2023

Despite being so new, the Devtorium R&D Department has grown fast and attracted many talented people who wish to expand their knowledge of innovative technologies. According to Oleksii, who heads the Department, the main achievements so far were:

• Building a core team of people who are interested, driven, and have an aptitude for this type of work.
• Covering the basics of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Python, and Algebra needed for understanding and further work with AI technology.
• Bringing the team to approximately the same level of knowledge.
• Starting to work on simple model training tasks.

Currently, the Research and Development Team will continue to expand their knowledge and learn more about AI programming. We hope the team will soon have new exciting projects to work on.