CV

Education

• B.S. in Computer Science, IIUI, Pakistan, 2017
  • Thesis Title: Pakistan Sign Language Recognition using Local Binary Patterns and Support Vector Machine
  • Spearheaded a research project focused on the development of an intelligent system for Pakistan Sign Language recognition, paving the way for enhanced communication and accessibility.
• M.S. in Data Science, Innopolis University, Russia, 2022
  • Thesis Title: A Framework to Understand Image Augmentations for Classification Tasks LINK
  • Investigated the intricate relationship between image augmentations and their impact on classification tasks, providing valuable insights to improve the accuracy and performance of AI tools.

Work experience

Research Assistant, Innopolis University, Russia
Aug, 2022 - Feb, 2023 (7 Months)

• Conducted in-depth analysis of deep learning models, exploring the intricacies of loss functions and proposing innovative alternatives.
• Delivered engaging courses, including Introduction to AI, Information retrieval, and advanced information retrieval.

Data Science Specialist, Tatneft, Almetyevsk, Russia
Nov, 2021 - Aug, 2022 (10 Months) Tech Stack: Numpy, Pandas, SQL, Matplotlib, PyQT, BeautifulSoup, Selenium, PowerBI, Python.

• Designed and implemented a robust Trello Tasks desktop monitoring application by leveraging Trello API and advanced web scraping techniques.
• Engineered a seamless API for efficient task transfer across websites through web scraping.
• Developed visually appealing and interactive dashboards using PowerBI to present and analyze sales data.
• Automated the analysis of complex Excel sheets by creating a powerful API.

Software Engineer, MicroMerger Pvt Ltd, Islamabad Pakistan
Mar, 2018 - Aug, 2018 (6 Months) Tech Stack: OpenCV, Scikit-Learn, Torch, Python, Java

• Optimized image enhancement techniques to significantly enhance OCR accuracy on bank receipts, resulting in an impressive improvement from 65% to 80%.
• Implemented intelligent traffic jam optimization strategies, successfully reducing GPS points for trucks by 10%.

Researcher, Department of CS and SE, IIUI
Sep, 2016 - Feb, 2018 (17 Months) Tech Stack: OpenCV, Scikit-Learn, Numpy, PyQT, Python

• Spearheaded the collection and compilation of data for the creation of the Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) dataset, a valuable resource for ongoing research.
• Applied cutting-edge machine learning techniques, including implementation, training, analysis, and results reporting, to conduct groundbreaking experiments on the PSL dataset.

Publications

• (Published) Ch M Awais, I.E.I Bekkouch, A.M Khan “What augmentations are sensitive to hyper-parameters and why?”, SAI 2022: Intelligent Computing pp 449–468 [LINK]

• (Published) Ch M Awais, Wei Gu, Gcinizwe Dlamini, Zamira Kholmatova, and Giancarlo Succi, “A meta-analytical comparison of Naive Bayes and Random Forest for software defect prediction” [LINK]

Projects

• Music and Image Search (Course Project) CODE

• Document Retrieval Algorithm (Course Project) CODE

• Malicious Content Detection (Hackathon Project) CODE

• Advertisements Assessment (Hackathon Project) CODE

• Image Correction Algorithms Benchmarking (Hackathon Project) Presentation LINK

Teaching

I have taught the following three courses to Bachelors and Masters students.

1. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
2. Information Retrieval
3. Advanced Information Retrieval

Skills

Honors and Achievements

• Gratitude Letter for Significant Contributions: Recognized with a gratitude letter for making substantial contributions to the growth of extracurricular activities at Innopolis University. (2022)
• Best Student of the Year: Awarded the prestigious title of Best Student of the Year at Innopolis University for three consecutive years, demonstrating consistent academic excellence and leadership. (2022, 2021, 2021, Russia)
• First Position, Innopolis Happiness Index Hackathon: Achieved the first position in the Innopolis Happiness Index Hackathon by developing innovative solutions to measure and enhance happiness within the community. (2021, Russia)
• Second Positions, LingvoHack and Case in Tools International Hackathon: Secured second positions in the highly competitive LingvoHack (2022) and Case in Tools International Hackathon (2021) by applying problem-solving skills and collaboration to deliver outstanding results. (Russia)
• Third Position, AR/VR Hackathon: Attained the third position in the AR/VR Hackathon, showcasing expertise in creating immersive experiences and pushing the boundaries of augmented and virtual reality technologies. (2020, Russia)
• Second Position, Programming Competitions: Demonstrated exceptional programming skills and problem-solving abilities by securing second positions in prestigious programming competitions. (2016, 2017, Pakistan)
• First Position, Programming Competition: Earned the first position in a highly competitive programming competition, highlighting proficiency in algorithmic thinking and programming prowess. (2015, Pakistan)
• Merit-Based University Scholarship: Awarded a merit-based scholarship for outstanding academic performance throughout the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, recognizing exceptional dedication and achievements.
• Paper Presentations at SAI Computing Conference and ISDA: Delivered impactful presentations of research papers at the SAI Computing Conference (2021) and ISDA (International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Applications) (2022), contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of computer science.