Michael Carter, Ph.D.

AI & Data Science Educator | I Teach Machine Learning Without the Math Overwhelm | Founder @ Computational Labs

United States

About

Most AI courses lose you the moment Greek symbols appear. I know — it happened to me. As a student, I'd be following along just fine until the math notation hit. Then I'd spend hours outside class tracking down the foundational explanation that should have been there from the start. That frustration became my teaching philosophy — and eventually, Computational Labs. I teach AI and data science using a 5-stage method that meets you exactly where you are: Foundational Concept → By Hand → In Excel → In Python → Adapting with LLMs. No jargon. No symbol shock. Just concepts that actually stick. My background: Ph.D. in Industrial & Systems Engineering | 17+ years at KPMG | Adjunct Professor at Liberty University. 📌 If you're learning AI and tired of feeling lost — follow me. 🌐 computationallabs.com

Experience

  • Adjunct Professor - Engineering at Liberty University
    Mar 2026 - Present · 4 mos

  • Founder at Computational Labs
    Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

    Designed a 5-step AI curriculum (Concept → ByHand → Excel → Python → LLMs) to eliminate the "symbol shock" that causes most beginners to quit, resulting in a structured learning path accessible to zero-prior-coding learners. Created and published AI and data science courses by translating Ph.D.-level research into plain-language progressions, making advanced machine learning concepts accessible to working professionals and students. Built Computational Labs as an independent AI education platform by applying 40+ years of industry analytics experience, establishing a content-first brand in the data science self-learning space.

  • KPMG US (17 yrs 8 mos)
    • Director Data Portfolio Management
      Jun 2022 - Jan 2025 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    • Director Analytics
      Jun 2007 - May 2022 · 15 yrs

      Data Analytics

  • Master Black Belt at Washington Mutual, Inc.
    Jan 2007 - Jun 2007 · 6 mos

    Process Improvement

  • Master Black Belt at Textron
    Aug 1997 - Jan 2007 · 9 yrs 6 mos

    Process Improvement