Open to opportunities

Junaid Akhtar

@junaidakhtar

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Computational scientist specializing in AI and computer science education.

Pakistan

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What I'm looking for

I seek a role that fosters innovation in educational technology and promotes collaborative learning.

I am a computational scientist with a focus on evolutionary algorithms, human-centered AI, and computer science education at internet scale. As the author of peer-reviewed publications and the Principal Investigator on a $210k Templeton Foundation grant, I have a proven track record in advancing educational methodologies. Currently, I lead Educative Inc.'s Learn-to-Code vertical, where I design interactive, AI-assisted learning experiences that have reached thousands of learners worldwide.

My experience includes building the 'Learn to Code' vertical from concept to over 20 interactive courses and 6 career tracks, serving novice programmers at an internet scale. I pioneered AI Mentors within code widgets to provide real-time, personalized feedback, enhancing the learning process. My academic background includes teaching at Namal University, where I received multiple best teacher awards and founded the Deep-AI research group, supervising numerous projects and publications.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Content Architect

Current

Educative Inc.

Feb 2023 - Present (2 years 5 months)

Built the "Learn to Code" vertical from concept to over 20 interactive courses and 6 career tracks, serving novice programmers at an internet scale. Pioneered AI Mentors within code widgets, providing real-time, personalized feedback to help learners learn from their mistakes.

Curriculum Development Python Cross Functional Team Leadership Content Creation Product Management Engineering Marketing Design

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Namal University

Jan 2013 - Jan 2023 (10 years)

Taught 12 distinct undergraduate courses, including Operating Systems and AI for Games, and received multiple best teacher awards. Founded the Deep-AI research group, supervising 15 final-year projects and contributing to 4 peer-reviewed papers.

Teaching Curriculum Development Research Group Leadership Project supervision Operating System AI For Games Algorithms

Post-Doctoral Researcher (Visiting)

University of Virginia

Aug 2014 - Dec 2014 (4 months)

Undertook a short-term appointment to explore Peircean semiotics in the context of computational linguistics. This involved focused research and collaboration within the university's academic environment.

Linguistics Peircean Semiotics Research Research Collaboration

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

KICS

Post-Graduate Certificate, Computational Linguistics

2014 - 2015

Completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Computational Linguistics. This program focused on the intersection of computation and linguistics, enhancing skills in language processing.

Lahore University of Management Sciences

PhD, Evolutionary Computation

2010 - 2014

Completed a PhD in Evolutionary Computation, focusing on advanced algorithms and their applications. This research contributed to the field of computational science.

Lahore University of Management Sciences

MS, Computer Science (AI)

2004 - 2006

Obtained a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence. The curriculum covered various aspects of AI, preparing for advanced research and development.

FAST-NUCES

BS, Computer Science

1999 - 2003

Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. This foundational program provided a comprehensive understanding of computer science principles and practices.