ALEXANDER M.

RUCH, PHD, MPH

Twitter/GitHub: AlexMRuch – Website: alexruch.weebly.com

INDUSTRY POSITIONS
S&P Global: Associate Director / Head of Graph Machine Learning 2022 – present
• Engineering Solutions serves 6K+ global customers, 400+ global standards organizations,
and 650K+ engineers. We connect trusted knowledge to customers’ workflows, mitigate
risk, increase efficiency, and accelerate innovation, delivering unparalleled integration of
technical content and AI technologies to surface answers from the vast universe (e.g., 1B
parts) of technical knowledge, both inside and outside organizations. In a single interface,
we connect the dots between data siloed in different sources, enabling tech professionals
to make better, more informed decisions faster.
• The Graph ML team I lead designs and distributes automated processes focused on multi-
modal modeling services and infrastructure to enable our digital transformation products.
Our workflows combine data from structured tabular sources as well as unstructured text,
graph, and image sources. Our knowledge graphs provide a 360°-view of customer data
that covers not only what entities and relationships/interactions exist in networks, but also
the content that flows through those dynamically evolving connections.
• As the Associate Director / Head of Graph ML, I standardized and conducted interviews
for MLEs, ML research engineers, MLOps engineers, and data scientists. I recruited and
hired 10+ individuals for these roles and others (e.g., DevOps, Data Engineering, SWE).
• As the founder of an early-stage team, I hired members, mentored direct reports, educated
stakeholders and team members in cross-functional business units, defined the company’s
vision and strategy for graph ML and MLOps across all data science teams, and delivered
content highlighted in leadership publications and media in cooperation with other leads.
• Our products included pipelines that generated metrics that help customers understand
the quality of their networked data, ML models which provided measures of similarity
and propensity for connection between different entities, enhanced entity resolution and
linkage from unstructured data, and workflows that assisted engineers’ development of
complex components and systems where new connections can have unexpected effects.
• Spearheaded product development in an Agile fashion with our team’s product manager.
Spotify: Senior Machine Learning Engineer 2022 – 2022
• Lead MLE on team creating Spotify’s music industry knowledge graph linking disparate
data on entities core to Spotify’s platform and developing novel graph machine learning
pipelines for contextualized embeddings, content mismatch/correction, and knowledge
graph completion models to predict/infer missing relationships and properties, etc.
• Key contributor to projects, initiatives, and RFCs with substantial company-wide impact.
• Stakeholder management across content platform, search, personalization, podcast teams.
• Member of product area extended leadership; technical vision/strategy groups; working
groups for rapid ML development/experimentation, human-in-the-loop & active-learning
systems to scale annotations/curation, ontology definition and design working groups.
• Lead Organizer of Spotify’s ML Guild, Graph Guild, Graph Database Group, Research-
to-Engineering Group, Tech Research & ML Track of Spotify’s Engineering Conference.
• Point of contact for external partnerships with Neo4j, TF-GNN, Snorkel AI, and Ray.
• Mentor/consultant for junior, mid-level, and senior engineers and data scientists seeking
ML growth/experience and professional/leadership development in tech and research.
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Spotify: Machine Learning Engineer II 2021 – 2022

• Core machine learning systems engineer in ads biz unit creating, extending, maintaining
disciplined and innovative pipelines to better serve customers personalized content.
• Owning and driving systems, pipelines, components from business/research/engineering
problem identification/definition through concept, vision, design, architecture, iterative
development, delivery, and reporting of results and new opportunities/debts across teams.
• Migrated legacy modeling pipelines to Kubeflow, from TensorFlow Estimators to Keras.
• Created TFX component to calibrate probabilities for imbalanced classification models.
• Implemented semi-supervised and unsupervised topic models and pipeline for automatic
label generation to dynamically classify playlists into thematic groups for ads targeting.
• Member of Spotify/Google Machine Learning Special Interest Group for AI advances.
Graphika, Inc: Machine Learning Research Engineer 2019 – 2021
• Founding Co-Lead of Research Engineering team: strategized and prioritized workflows
and objectives across research, engineering, and product squads. Led ML Operations.
• Extended core mapping engine’s ETL/model pipelines to new social media platforms.
• Created knowledge graph modeling/clustering pipelines to enhance network analysis,
boost mapping capacity, and scale input/output 300-fold.
• Engineered an information-theoretic approach to automatically quantify network quality.
• Produced a network-genealogy tool to refine network maps’ interpretability and integrity
by enabling analysts to determine/show why specific users appeared in maps/clusters.
• Helped create Graphika’s cultural-bridging tool to identify/quantify the most important
content linking otherwise disconnected groups in networks and to detect content that may
be responsible for driving shared ideas/actions between individuals and organizations.
• Facilitated four grant applications, including a successful $1M award to build a multi-
modal deep learning system to predict/forecast COVID-19 outbreaks in US states and to
perform stance detection on topics such as social distancing, mask wearing, vaccination.

EDUCATION
Cornell University: PhD Sociology, PhD Minor Information Science, 3.84 GPA 2021
Areas of Concentration: computational social science, network science, cognitive science
Dissertation: Integrating Graph and Language Data in Machine Learning Models: Applications
for Computational Social Science
PhD Committee: Michael Macy (Chair), David Mimno, Thomas Gilovich
The University of Iowa (UI): M.A. Sociology, 3.94 GPA 2016
Areas of Concentration: social psychology, social movements and collective behavior
Thesis: Perceived Organizational Risks and Reputations Are Related to Individuals’ Decisions to Eat
Genetically Modified Foods
The University at Buffalo (UB): Master of Public Health (MPH), 3.93 GPA 2013
Area of Concentration: Community Health and Health Behavior
Awarded for Outstanding Academic Performance and Professional Promise
The State University of New York at Geneseo: B.A. Sociology, cum laude 2011
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TECHNICAL AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

Machine learning, natural language processing, networks, graph neural networks, knowledge graphs,
multi-modal learning, representation learning, data mining, machine learning operations, optimization,
data science, statistics, experimental methods, computational social science, complex social contagion

PUBLICATIONS
1. Ruch, A., Decter-Frain, A, Batra, R. 2021. “Millions of Co-purchases and Reviews Reveal the
Spread of Polarization and Lifestyle Politics across Online Markets.” ArXiv. Featured in The New
York Times and on National Public Radio.
2. Ruch, A., Zhang, Y., Macy, M. 2021. “Demographic Confounding Causes Extreme Instances of
Lifestyle Politics.” ArXiv.
3. Ruch, A. 2021. “When, How, and Why Does Integrating Graph and Language Data Enhance
Machine Learning Models and Facilitate Computational Social Science?” Dissertation Ch.
4. Ruch, A. 2021. “Integrating Graph and Language Data: Problems and Promises.” Dissertation Ch.
5. Ruch, A. 2020. “Can x2vec Save Lives? Integrating Graph and Language Embeddings for Automatic
Mental Health Classification.” Journal of Physics: Complexity.
6. McQuillan, L., McAweeney, E., Bargar, A., Ruch, A. 2020 “Cultural Convergence: Insights into the
Behavior of Misinformation Networks on Twitter.” SBP-BRiMS 2020.
7. Barash, V., Ruch, A. 2020. “Evolution of the Digitally Mediated Public Sphere in Russia, 2012–
2018.” SSRN. Top Ten download list for InfoSciRN.
8. Macy, M., Deri, S. Ruch, A., Tong, N. 2019. “Opinion Cascades and the Unpredictability of Partisan
Polarization.” Science Advances, 5(8): 1-7.
9. Ruch, A. 2017. Briefly Noted Review of Good Pharma: The Public-Health Model of the Mario Negri
Institute, by Donald Light and Antonio Maturo. Contemporary Sociology, 46(1):122-123.
10. Ruch, A. 2017. Briefly Noted Review of Death on Demand: Jack Kevorkian and the Right-to-Die
Movement, by Michael DeCesare. Contemporary Sociology, 46(1):120-121.
11. Bianchi, A., Ruch, A., Ritter, M., and Kim, J. 2016. “Emotion Management: Unexpected Research
Opportunities.” Sociology Compass, 10(2):172-183.
12. Ruch, A. and Zaloznaya, M. 2016. “Corruption Claims in Current Debates on Genetically Modified Foods:
Moral and Ethical Challenges to Law and Science.” Pp. 233-265 in Corruption: Political, Economic
and Social Issues. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
13. Ruch, A. 2016. “Risks and Reputations in the Decision to Eat Genetically Modified Foods.” Thesis
published through the University of Iowa.
14. Ruch, A. 2016. Briefly Noted Review of The Black Box Society: The Secret Algorithms that Control
Money and Information, by Frank Pasquale. Contemporary Sociology, 45(3):367-368.

WORKS IN PROGRESS
1. Ruch, A., Kim, S., Ruch, J. “Not All Support Is the Same: Multilabel Psychiatric Classification and
Prediction of Social Support among Members of an Online Suicide Support Group.” Presented at the
2018 Sociology Research Symposium, Cornell University. Revising.
2. Paul, I., Ruch A. “Mapping the Emotional Arcs of Mental Health Before and After Crises.” Revising.

CODING COMPETITIONS
1. Kim, S., Ruch, A., Ruch, J. “Using NLP Systems and Narrative Medical Records for Cohort Selection
for Clinical Trials.” 2018 National NLP Clinical Challenges, Track 1.
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GRANTS AND AWARDS

Sage Fellowship (Cornell): $25,000 2020 – 2021
Macy, M., Ruch, A., Tong, N., Deri, S., “Testing Unpredictability with Multiple 2018 – 2020
Worlds” (National Science Foundation Award #1756822): $335,000
PyTorch Deep Learning Scholarship (Facebook) 2018 – 2019
Social Networks & Health Fellow (NIH & Duke University) 2018 – 2019
Sage Fellowship (Cornell): $25,000 2016 – 2017
Research Fellow, Strategic Initiative Fund Fellowship (UI) 2015
th
17 Annual James F. Jakobsen Graduate Paper Competition (UI): third place, awarded $360 2015

CONFERENCE AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

1. McQuillan, L., Ruch, A., Barash, V. “Groundbreaking Research – Combining Natural Language
Processing and Network Analysis - Large-Scale Social Behavior - Disinformation.” Presented to the
Pardee RAND Graduate School, 7/29/2020.
2. Ruch, A. “Integrating Graph & Language Embeddings for Automatic Mental Health Classification.”
Presented at the 2020 Behavioral Insights from Text Conference, The Wharton School, UPenn.
3. Ruch, A. “Integrating Graph & Language Embeddings for Automatic Mental Health Classification.”
Presented at the 2019 SN&H Workshop, Duke University.
4. Ruch, A., Hong, J. Lee, H. “Lifestyle Politics on Facebook.” 2019 BOOM Conference, Ithaca, NY.
5. Ruch, A., Kim, S., Ruch, J. “Social Support and Mental Health among Members of an Online Suicide
Watch Group.” 2018 10th Annual Cornell Sociology Research Symposium, Ithaca, NY.
6. Ruch, A. and Vasi, B. “The Empire Strikes Back: Activism, Industry Mobilization, and the Adoption
of Pro-GMO Policies.” Refereed roundtable at the 2017 ASA Annual Meeting, Montreal, CA.
7. Ruch, A. and Vasi, B. “The Empire Strikes Back: Activism, Industry Mobilization, and the Adoption
of Pro-GMO Policies.” 2017 9th Annual Cornell Sociology Research Symposium, Ithaca, NY.
8. Ruch, A., “Perceived Organizational Risks and Reputations are Related to Individuals’ Decisions to Eat
Genetically Modified Foods.” Refereed roundtable at the 2015 ASA Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
9. Ruch, A., “Perceived Organizational Risks and Reputations are Related to Individuals’ Decisions to
Eat Genetically Modified Foods.” The 2015 Jakobsen Conference, University of Iowa. Third place.
10. Ruch, A., “Contaminated Fields (of Science): Risks, Reputations, and Influence in the Decision to Eat
Genetically Modified Foods.” The 2014 UI Sociology Theory Workshop, Iowa City, IA.
11. Ruch, A., “Contaminated Fields (of Science): How Reputations and Power Influence Decisions to Eat
Genetically Modified Foods.” The 2014 Food for Thought Conference, Iowa City, IA.
12. Ruch, A., “Food Culture: A Helpful Tool for Understanding Food Systems.” The 2013 Field & Fork
Network’s Connections Conference, Buffalo, NY.
13. Ruch, A., Barrick, C., Homish, G., Ecker, M., and Quattrin, T. "Enhancing Knowledge of Daycare
Personnel on Healthy Weight and Nutrition Using Traditional and Web-Based Approaches.” The 2013
Pediatric Academic Societies’ Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
14. Reilly, S., O'Quin, K., Orom, H., Hall, V., Ruch, A., Hubbard-Robinson, R., Showard, K., Wilkenson,
D., and Kiviniemi, M. “‘Growing Healthy Together’: An Example of How a Community-Hospital-
University Partnership Can Mobilize Communities toward Healthy Environments and Lifestyles.” The
National Institutes of Health’s 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit, Washington, DC.
15. Orom, H., O'Quin, K., Reilly, S., Kiviniemi, M., Hubbard-Robinson, R., Showard, K., Hall, V., Ruch,
A., Wilkenson, D. “Cancer Risk Appraisal in a Predominantly African American Neighborhood.” The
National Institutes of Health’s 2012 Science of Eliminating Health Disparities Summit, Washington, DC.
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16. O’Quin, K., Reilly, S., Hall, V., Slevar, M., Ruch, A., Gillespie, S., Hubbard-Robinson, R. “‘Growing
Healthy Together’: An Example of How a Community-Hospital-University Partnership Can Mobilize
Communities toward Healthy Environments and Lifestyles.” The 2012 P2 Conference, Buffalo, NY.

OTHER RESEARCH AND INTERVENTION EXPERIENCE

Co-Investigator, “Testing Unpredictability with Multiple Worlds” (NSF-funded) 2018 – 2021
Laboratory Co-Administrator, Social Dynamics Laboratory (Cornell) 2016 – 2021
Graduate Laboratory Manager, Center for the Study of Group Processes (UI) 2015 – 2016
Research Assistant, Iowa Social Science Research Center 2014
Research Assistant, Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab 2013
Research Assistant, Obesity and Nutrition Knowledge Study 2012 – 2013
Independent Study: Food Beliefs and Ideologies Study 2012 – 2013
Health Intervention: Primary Care Progress Buffalo 2012 – 2013
Health Intervention: Cooking for Health Initiative 2012 – 2013
Research Assistant, The Grider Community Health Assessment Survey 2011 – 2012

ANALYTICAL, TECHNICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Python, Java, SQL, Scala, Unix, Git, R, Stata * TensorFlow, TFX, TFT, TFDV, TFMA, TensorBoard,
TF Tuner, TF Serving, Keras, PyTorch, scikit-learn, PyG, DGL * AWS, GCP, Apache Beam, Dataflow,
ML Operations, Kubeflow, Luigi, MLflow, Grafana * supervised, semi-supervised, unsupervised, deep
learning models * natural language processing * graph neural networks, knowledge graphs, network
analysis * linear, non-linear, mixed-effects, longitudinal/multilevel statistical models * GPU, parallel,
distributed computing * data mining, feature engineering, representation learning, embeddings * model
evaluation, optimization, selection, validation, calibration, serving, monitoring * deep learning server
setup/admin * A/B, bandit, experimental design * analyst/engineer management, mentoring, training *
program planning and evaluation * grant and technical report writing * mental health, inclusion efforts
* cross-functionally and adaptive communication across multi-team agile development environments

NOTABLE COURSEWORK
Advanced NLP Technologies (Claire Cardie), NLP and Social Interaction (Lillian Lee), Advanced
Topic/Embedding Modeling (David Mimno), Social Dynamics (Michael Macy), Computational
Methods (Paul Ginsparg), Network Analysis (Benjamin Cornwell, Freda Lynn), Social Sequence
Analysis (Ben Cornwell), Information Networks (Jon Kleinberg), Network Sampling (Douglas
Heckathorn), Advanced Longitudinal Analysis (multiple), Statistical Estimation of Formal Models
(Fred Boehmke), Experimental Methods and Interventions (multiple), Sampling, Measurement, &
Observation Techniques (multiple), Theory Construction and Analysis (multiple), Contemporary
Social Psychology (multiple), Moral Psychology (Daryl Cameron), Epidemiology and Health
Behavior Change (multiple), Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures (David Gries)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE

ML Guild Lead: S&P Global 2022 – present
Mental Health Awareness Group: S&P Global 2022 – present
Social Activities Coordinator: S&P Global 2022 – present
Undergraduate/Graduate Student Mentor: Cornell University 2022 – present
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TechU Contributor to Machine Learning Courses: Spotify 2022 – 2022

Heart & Soul Mental Health Ambassador: Spotify 2022 – 2022
Spotify/Google Machine Learning Special Interest Group: Spotify 2021 – 2022
Mentorship/leadership programs for underrepresented populations: Spotify 2021 – 2022
Reviewer: Social Science Research 2020
Co-Founder: Program of Peace: Coding Development and Training Center 2018 – 2019
Co-Founder: The Cornell Computational Social Science Reading Group 2018 – 2019
Reviewer: Social Psychology Quarterly 2018 – 2019
Organizer: The 10th Annual Cornell Sociology Research Symposium 2017 – 2018
Reviewer: Contemporary Sociology 2015 – 2016
Reviewer: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2015 – 2016
Committee Member: Outstanding Published Article Award (ASA AMSS Section) 2016
UI Theory Workshop: Committee Member 2014 – 2016
UI Alpha Kappa Delta: Committee Member 2014 – 2016
UI Formal Theory Research Group: Member 2015
UB Graduate Student Association: Community Health President 2012 – 2013

ACADEMIC AWARDS AND HONORS

UI Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (UI): nomination 2015
Student Ambassador, American Public Health Association Meeting (UB): awarded $700 2012 – 2013
Francis V. Hanavan Award (UB): awarded $500 2012
Alpha Kappa Delta, International Honor Society of Sociology (Geneseo) 2010

FOUR FUN FACTS

1. I have synesthesia and can see sound (youtube.com/watch?v=obrBAysVef0&t). It’s fun!
2. In 2011, I broke the New York State deadlifting record in the 100% RAW Powerlifting Federation
New York State Championship. I weighed 163.6 lbs. and lifted 457.45 lbs. 🏋 My knees hurt.
3. I once had ghost pepper pizza and wings in the same meal. My ears went numb.
4. I am learning how to speak and write in Korean (Hangul). 김치는 맛있어요!