Personal Details
I’m a Research Scientist at Imagia, and a PhD. candidate at Dalhousie University based in Canada. I’ve been studying Deep Learning for the past 5 years and my current research is focus on Federated Learning Optimization. I have a master’s degree in Computer Architecture and used to work as an FPGA engineer. I’m the main contributor of a published patent for minimizing knowledge loss in transfer learning and a recipient of Scotia Scholar Award.
Areas of Interest
Take a look at some of the things I love working on.
Research
I have experience in research, designing and developing sophisticated ML solutions for real-world problems using traditional and cutting-edge ML solutions.
Machine Learning
I am passionate about learning the theory that is pushing the cutting edge of ML.
Collaboration
I enjoy working with my team to create winning strategies.
Data Analytics
I love telling a story. Getting to the heart of a problem and coming up with a solution.
Data
Excellent knowledge of data exploration, data cleaning, collecting, generalizing, evaluation of models, data integration and data manipulating.
Learning
Knowing that technology is evolving fast, made me passionate about learning new concepts and skills. Ability to implement novel ideas.
Skills
Professional
| Programming Languages | Python, Java, Bash, C, C++ |
|---|---|
| Deep learning libraries | PyTorch |
| MLOps, automation & AI scaling systems | Polyaxon, MLflow |
| Machine learning libraries | Pandas, scikit-learn, Numpy, Scipy, Mathplotlib, Jupyter |
| Version control | Git, GitHub |
| Operating system | Windows, Linux, Mac OS |
| Markup languages | LaTeX, Markdown, Mermaid |
| Workflow | Agile Development & Scrum |
| Others | Slack, Trello |
Intermediate
| Programming Languages | MATLAB, C# |
|---|---|
| Deep learning libraries | Tensorflow, Theano |
| Cloud | Docker, AWS, Google Cloud Platform |
| Graphic Design | GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program |
| Databases | MySQL |
Familiar
| Programming Languages | HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript |
|---|---|
| Data visualization tools | Tableau |
| Statistical Analysis Tools | IBM’s SPSS |
Education
P.hD. in Computer Science (CGPA: 4.19)
2017 – present
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
DLRL Summer School
2020
Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Canada
M.Sc. in Computer Architecture (CGPA: 4.01)
2012 – 2015
University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
B.Sc. in Computer Engineering
2008 – 2012
University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Employment History
-
Research Scientist @ Imagia
Montreal, Canada (May 2018 – present)
– Member of Open Innovation team.
– Research on Federated Learning Optimization led to SOTA performance via drift elimination.
– Research on Transfer Learning led to a filed patent.
– Research on multiple Meta Learning and Few-shot Learning projects.
– Research on Multi-hypothesis Transfer Learning and out of distribution generalization.
– Collaborated with R&D team in designing an AI library for Imagia research.
– Collaborated with IT in porting Polyaxon on a cluster of NVIDIA DGX systems.
-
Research Assistant @ Institute for Big Data Analytics
Halifax, Canada (May 2017–May 2018)
– Research on predicting human behaviour from fMRI data.
– Developing a CNN framework for detecting corrosion in aircrafts using D-Sight technology (DAIS).
– Optimizing calculation of minimum distance to shore from AIS-GIS streaming data using CUDA and OpenMP.
– Research on sparsity, activation functions and normalization.
-
Data Scientist (part-time) @ Cognitive Health and Recovery Research Lab
Halifax, Canada (Mar 2020–Jun 2020)
- Clinical data integration and visualization.
– Investigating post-operative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients.
– Analyzing surgical time series data (anesthesia depth, patients’ vitals, …).
-
FPGA Engineer @ Kara Telephone
Tehran, Iran (Jun 2013–Jun 2014)
- Design & Imp. of TDM switches on FPGAs supporting up to 16k×16k channels (in VHDL)
– Multi-channel I2C master controller supporting 16 modules with error checking & correction.
– SPI & USART Peripheral interfaces.
-
FPGA Engineer Intern @ Sarvnet Tele. Inc.
Isfahan, Iran (Jun 2012–May 2013)
- Design & imp. of lightweight AES encryption modules for Virtex 4 & 6 Xilinx FPGA series.
Teaching
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
ML for Big Data, CSCI-6515
Co-instructor
Fall 2020
ML for Big Data, CSCI-6515
TA
Fall 2018
Digital Circuits, ECED-2200
TA
Winter 2017
System Analysis, ECED-3401
TA
Fall 2017
Chehelsotoon Inst. for Higher Edu., Isfahan, Iran
Computer Architecture
Instructor
Fall 2015
System Programming
Instructor
Fall 2015
University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Introduction to Java
TA
Winter 2009
Introduction to Algorithms
TA
Winter 2010
Awards & Recognition
Accelerate Award, 56k CAD
Mitacs
2021-2022
Scotia Scholar Award, 45k CAD
Research Nova Scotia
2019-2021
Best Graduate Student Research Award
Big Data Congress
Sep 2017
Nova Scotia University Student Bursary
Government of Nova Scotia
2020-2022
Alloc. for outstanding status, 2k CAD
Dalhousie University
Aug 2017
1st Rank Student Recognition
University of Isfahan
Mar 2015
Highlights
- Vice-president of Public Relations, Toastmasters International, Dal Toastmasters, 2020.
- Have led teams of 2-3 researchers during several projects
- Mentored two masters students both working as Data Scientists, one of which promoted to senior level recently
- Conference Program Committee Member/Volunteer: ICLR2020, KDD2017
- Grantee of exemption from Iranian universities’ entrance exam for Masters, based on Recognition for Brilliant Talents.
- Consistent record of high academic achievement: merit scholarships awarded every semester from Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Iran during MS.c. ad BS.c. degrees.
- Accomplished to participate at the Iranian Computer Olympiads Competition as the representative of University of Guilan.