John M. Cox

john@johnmcox.org
http://johnmcox.org

Interests

Database-driven web applications, statistical natural language processing.

Education

• MFA, Poetry, University of Michigan, MI, USA, 2004.
• BA, English Literature, University of Michigan, MI, USA, 2002.

Experience

• Webmaster, School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan August 2003 - June 2004
  • Authored web file transfer utility April 2004 - June 2004
    • Designed and implemented a web-based program for transferring files up to 800MB in size.
    • Developed attractive, easy to use, standards compliant interface.
  • Redeployed website January 2004 - June 2004
    • Moved contents of organizational website off of legacy system and into a modern production environment.
    • Worked with diverse stakeholders to transition a heterogeneous web environment with no downtime.
    • Integrated internal services with external technologies such as LDAP and CoSign.
  • Ported extensive legacy code January 2004 - present
    • Updated mission-critical legacy software for use in a modern production environment (PHP/PEAR/MySQL).
    • Handled programming tasks on an extremely aggressive timetable, often without access to documentation.
    • Redesigned applications which could not be ported.
  • Maintained SNRE Website (http://www.snre.umich.edu) August 2003 - present
    • Authored templating and form generation software to standardize development sitewide. Dramatically reduced time requirements for application authoring and updates as well as deployment of sitewide changes.
    • Performed maintenance and code updates for a large institutional website praised both for its design and its positive effect on student recruitment.
• Instructor, Department of English, University of Michigan August 2002 - May 2004
  • Graduate Student Instructor: Rhetoric Teacher August 2003 - May 2004
    • Designed and implemented writing curriculum for incoming students.
    • Teaching subjects included textual analysis, argumentation, and logic.
  • Graduate Student Instructor: Assistant August 2002 - May 2003
    • Assisted in the teaching and evaluation of over 100 advanced undergraduate students.
    • Taught early British novels and medieval drama.
• Web Programmer, School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan January 2001 - August 2003
  • Developed moderated events calendar April 2003 - June 2003
    • Designed and implemented a web-based events calendar which allowed users to submit information while still allowing editorial review.
    • Dramatically increased organizational information flow.
    • Automated email notification of updates and information digests.
    • Site available at http://www.snre.umich.edu/news.
  • Developed asset tracking system January 2002 - August 2002
    • Authored software which manages hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of technical equipment.
    • Implemented check-in/check-out system.
    • Designed clean, standards-compliant interface.

Research

• Statistical natural language processing January 2004 - present
  • Designed and implemented Bayesian classifier capable of determining textual authorship.
  • Applied natural language processing to the works of Shakespeare, Jonson, Middleton, and contemporaries.
  • Determined statistical probability for the authorship status of disputed Elizabethan plays.

Selected Publications and Articles

• "Determining Authorship of 1 Henry VI: Bayesian Analysis of the Works of Shakespeare." University of Michigan, 2004.
• "Special Collection." MFA Thesis, University of Michigan, 2004.
• "On the Necessity of Technologically Fluent Criticism." University of Michigan, 2002.

Honors

• Colby Fellowship, University of Michigan, 2002-2004.
• Meijer Fellowship, University of Michigan, 2003.
• Meader Family Award, University of Michigan, 2003.