الســــــــــــلام علــــــــــــيكم

About Me

I am a first-year PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, advised by Prof. Abdussalam Alawini and Prof. Dilek Hakkani-Tür.

Research Focus

My research focuses on natural language processing (NLP), multi-agent systems, and knowledge graphs within the context of educational technology. I aim to design intelligent systems that improve personalized learning, enhance feedback for students and instructors, and leverage data-driven insights to support better educational outcomes.

Background

Before starting my PhD, I received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Northridge in 2013, after which I began my professional career as a Plant Engineer at Alkout Industrial Project in Kuwait (2013–2014), where I focused on improving plant efficiency and chemical processes. I then joined Baker Hughes (2014–2015) as a Field Engineer, working on drilling fluids optimization and geological data analysis.Building on this, I previously founded Gonuts Cronuts LLC (2016-2021), where I oversaw operations and product innovation, supplying local and international brands that collectively operated over 70 outlets.

Transitioning toward computing, I pursued graduate studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, earning a Graduate Certificate (2023) and M.S. in Computer Science (2024). During this period, I worked as a Graduate Research Assistant, developing AI-driven educational technologies such as CodeLens, and collaborated with NCSA on chatbot research. I also served as a Web Application Developer (2023) for the UIUC Department of Computer Science, gaining experience in full-stack and cloud-based development. My journey reflects a progression from engineering and entrepreneurship to advanced AI and educational technology research.

Beyond Research

Outside of research, I enjoy playing squash, biking and video games.