Michael is available for hire

Michael Seltenreich

Verified Expert in Engineering

Full-stack Developer

New York, NY, United States

Toptal member since September 19, 2022

Expertise

MERN Stack Web Development Full-stack Back-end Developers UI Development SaaS Data Visualization JavaScript Node.js Express.js jQuery Airtable Auth0

Bio

Michael is a full-stack (MERN) engineer and data scientist (Python). In 2013, Michael co-founded and served as CTO of Becomics.com, a publishing platform for webcomics and home to 17 million works by independent creators. In 2018, he exited to pursue his PhD at New York University, where he currently works as a research scientist. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael created psyxperiments.com, a web platform for conducting psychology experiments on remote participants (by invitation).

Portfolio

Market Cal

React, Airtable, HTML, JavaScript, APIs, Component Libraries, Scripting...

New York University

Node.js, jsPsych, React, NPM, Express.js, NGINX, Linux, DNS, JavaScript, Redux...

Paperplane Inc.

Tailwind CSS, Redux-Saga, TypeScript, React, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Python...

Experience

Web Development - 10 years
Full-stack Development - 10 years
Amazon Web Services (AWS) - 10 years
MongoDB - 10 years
Node.js - 10 years
Express.js - 10 years
Python - 5 years
React - 5 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Windows, WebStorm, PyCharm, JavaScript, Python, Mongoose, MongoDB, Pandas, Web Design, Data Visualization

The most amazing...

...solution I've created is a software package that became the golden standard for many scientists working in music research.

Work Experience

Full-stack Engineer/Tech Lead

2022 - PRESENT

Market Cal

Worked on front end, I implemented a fully-responsive single-page application (SPA) with React using components from MUI and styled components. For state management, I used Redux and implemented a persisted store.
Worked on the back end, taking advantage of Next.js support for server-side rendering (SSR) for SEO optimization. Designed an API back end that implements all the microservices required by the project.
Implemented an authentication system using Auth0 and added custom claims and actions for the client's specific needs. I also created an additional machine-to-machine provider with our server to execute Auth0 authenticated actions automatically.
Integrated a payment system using Stripe for the subscription services offered by the client.
Created the infrastructure for deployment on Vercel using Next.js along with an integration with GitHub for continuous integration (CI) with development, preview, and production environments seamlessly updating from different Git branches.
Designed and deployed data aggregation services using Python running on a serverless Vercel entity and integrated and used GitHub Actions to trigger scheduled scripts automatically.
Facilitated an integration with Airtable both to read and modify data from service, which seamlessly manifests on the site using a collection of microservices written for the integration.
Wrote QA testing procedures for end-to-end behavior and unit testing using Cypress.
Set up a collaborative work environment with Jira, Confluence, and Slack to accommodate a streamlined experience for larger teams as the company grows.

Technologies: React, Airtable, HTML, JavaScript, APIs, Component Libraries, Scripting, Data Collection, Jira, GitHub, Next.js, Vercel, Auth0, Auth0 Management API v2, Auth0 API, Python 3, Serverless Framework, Stripe, Stripe Checkout, Stripe API, Stripe Payments, Material UI, Styled-components, GitHub Actions, Continuous Integration (CI), SEO Tools, Slack, Confluence, Figma, TypeScript 3, Redux, Redux Thunk, React Redux

Research Scientist

2018 - PRESENT

New York University

Generated controlled pseudo-randomized stimuli for psychology and neuroscience experiments systematically.
Developed an npm-based software package for musical analysis used for academic research. Published an article about it in a peer-reviewed journal.
Developed a framework for denoising and analyzing brain-data recordings procured using a MEG machine.

Technologies: Node.js, jsPsych, React, NPM, Express.js, NGINX, Linux, DNS, JavaScript, Redux, Redux-Saga, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), Python 3, Jupyter Notebook, NumPy, PyTorch, Seaborn, MongoDB, MongoDB Atlas, Python, CSS, HTML, Pandas, Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Web Development, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Back-end, Libraries/APIs, OpenAPI, REST APIs, D3.js, Jupyter, Science, Agile Sprints, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Scripting, Data Collection

Senior React Front-end Developer

2023 - 2023

Paperplane Inc.

Developed a modern React front end with fully typed TypeScript.
Architectured back-end logic and routes for seamless integration with a PostgREST DB instance.
Managed a wide range of services and tools via Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Technologies: Tailwind CSS, Redux-Saga, TypeScript, React, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Python, Node.js, PostgreSQL

Data Scientist

2019 - 2022

New York University

Executed advanced analysis using machine learning and statistical models, including using NLP techniques where appropriate.
Created well-controlled datasets of behavioral data from human subjects.
Produced print-ready detailed data visualization and plots using matplotlib and Seaborn.

Technologies: Python 3, SciPy, PyTorch, NumPy, Pandas, Jupyter Notebook, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, Seaborn, Matplotlib, Word2Vec, BERT, React, JavaScript, Python, Mongoose, MongoDB, Jupyter, Science, Agile Sprints, Artificial Intelligence (AI), SQL, Data Visualization, PostgreSQL, Scripting, Data Collection

Senior Full-stack Developer

2019 - 2022

New York University

Created a web environment comprising MERN (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js) to deploy online psychology experiments.
Optimized the web environment for accuracy in its statistical aggregation of the user interaction timing and positioning to a scientific standard across many platforms and devices.
Integrated with Sona Systems, a comprehensive research platform for universities.
Designed complex user interactions with D3.js for graphics and animations and the Web Audio API for in-browser live sound processing.

Technologies: APIs, Amazon Web Services (AWS), jsPsych, Pavlovia, Node.js, MERN Stack, MongoDB, Mongoose, MongoDB Atlas, Express.js, Web Audio, D3.js, React, JavaScript, Web Services, Bootstrap, Material UI, ESLint, Next.js, Zapier, Auth0, Agile Sprints, REST APIs, Responsive UI, SaaS, Web Design, OAuth 2, Authentication, OpenID Connect (OIDC), OpenID, Interactive UI, API Integration, Accounts, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Scripting, Component Libraries, React Redux

CTO

2015 - 2018

Becomics

Founded a web-comic publishing platform that became the home for millions of comics by independent creators.
Managed its hosting and deployment on AWS using IAM, Amazon S3, Amazon EC2, and other services.
Oversaw a team and led the app's growth from inception to having 17 million comic strips by independent authors.
Architectured a scalable platform from A to Z from back end with Node.js and Express within AWS, data structure using MongoDB and Mongo Atlas, storage management with S3 buckets and CDNs, to the front end with React, Vue, D3, Snap.svg, and Raphael.
Implemented industry-standard authentication methods using OAuth2, SSH, and JWTs.

Technologies: Node.js, Express.js, Raphaël, SVG.js, jQuery, Vue, MongoDB, OAuth 2, Linux, NGINX, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Web Development, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Agile, Back-end, Libraries/APIs, OpenAPI, Seos, React, Mongoose, Web Services, Bootstrap, Material UI, ESLint, WebSockets, Auth0, Agile Sprints, REST APIs, Responsive UI, Web Design, Authentication, OpenID Connect (OIDC), OpenID, SQL, Interactive UI, API Integration, Accounts, Amazon S3 (AWS S3), Scripting, Component Libraries, React Redux

Experience

EDO.js | A Comprehensive JavaScript Library for Interaction with Musical Set Theory

https://joss.theoj.org/papers/10.21105/joss.03784

EDO.js is a comprehensive JavaScript library based on the set theory that enables pitch manipulation and analysis in any tuning system based on equal divisions of the octave or EDO, also known as TET. As such, it allows the description of pitches collections in psycho-acoustical terms, such as roughness or dissonance, the implementation of experimental algorithms proposed in the music theory literature, and standard and novel set-theory manipulations. This library is aimed at music theorists, musicologists, and cognitive scientists working on musical research to create stimuli for experiments and analysis of musical structures.

Becomics WebComic Platform

A comic-book and graphic-novel free publishing platform for independent creators similar to YouTube but specialized in comics. This platform seeks to connect comics creators and their current and future fans. By allowing creators to add animated tweens to their work, they can augment the reading experience and make it more immersive. Creators can create entire universes where they can build character profiles for recurring characters in addition to the comics themselves. Users, in turn, can comment and follow artists they like.

Psyxperiments.com

An online platform for the collection of online behavioral data for psychological experiments from remote participants.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, psychological experiments on human subjects reached a standstill. This platform was launched to allow for scientific investigations to resume online.

The platform requires that experiments executed will replicate as closely as possible in a laboratory setting. Therefore, the interaction with the platform has to be identical across different browsers and devices, which is no easy feat.

In addition, this platform requires highly accurate data collection, including reaction times which can be as quick as 100 milliseconds. This necessitates a high-performative environment where data can be recorded reliably.

Note: This platform is only accessible with custom personalized URLs for data tracking purposes and compliance with academic ethical standards.

MEG Denoising and Analysis Framework

A framework for the analysis of brain-signal procured with MEG (Magnetoencephalography ) recording techniques with a special focus on analyzing the auditory and motor cortices.

Brain-signal is highly complex and noisy. This platform uses machine learning and advanced statistical analysis techniques to amplify the signal, remove the noise, and extract meaningful data to advance our understanding of how the human brain works.

Education

2018 - 2022

PhD (Expected 2023) in Science

New York University - New York, NY, USA

2018 - 2021

M. Phil. in Music Composition

New York University - New York, NY, USA

2014 - 2016

Master's Degree in Music Composition

The Juilliard School - New York, NY, USA

2006 - 2011

Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition

Tel Aviv University - Tel Aviv, Israel

LinkedIn Learning

Skills

Libraries/APIs

React, Node.js, Raphaël, SVG.js, jQuery, REST APIs, Matplotlib, Auth0 Management API v2, Auth0 API, Pandas, Redux-Saga, Libraries/APIs, OpenAPI, OpenID, Stripe, Stripe API, React Redux, D3.js, Vue, jQuery UI, NumPy, PyTorch, SciPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, Web Audio

Tools

Mongoose, Jupyter, Seaborn, NPM, Stripe Checkout, Redux Thunk, Webpack 4, Canvas, WebStorm, PyCharm, NGINX, MongoDB Atlas, Zapier, Auth0, Seos, Jira, GitHub, Slack, Confluence, Figma

Languages

JavaScript, Python, HTML, SQL, TypeScript, CSS, Python 3, Ruby, GraphQL, Go, TypeScript 3

Frameworks

Redux, Express.js, OAuth 2, Bootstrap, Material UI, Next.js, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), React Native, Presto, Serverless Framework, Tailwind CSS

Paradigms

Agile, Database Development, Continuous Integration (CI)

Industry Expertise

Web Design

Storage

Amazon S3 (AWS S3), NoSQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Databases

Platforms

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Blockchain, Windows, Linux, Jupyter Notebook, Vercel

Other

Music, jsPsych, Web Development, Full-stack, Full-stack Development, APIs, Back-end, MERN Stack, Responsive UI, SaaS, Data Visualization, Interactive UI, API Integration, Scripting, Component Libraries, Data Collection, Styled-components, SDKs, Web Services, ESLint, WebSockets, Agile Sprints, Word2Vec, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Authentication, OpenID Connect (OIDC), Accounts, Airtable, Stripe Payments, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Algorithms, Science, SVG, DNS, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Machine Learning, Statistics, Statistical Learning, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Methods, Spatial Audio, Spatial Statistics, MEG, Dimensionality Reduction, Audio, BERT, Pavlovia, Data Science, GitHub Actions, SEO Tools, Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT)

Collaboration That Works

How to Work with Toptal

Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.

Share your needs

Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.

Choose your talent

Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.

Start your risk-free talent trial

Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.

Top talent is in high demand.

Start hiring