Hello, This is Md. Tohidul Islam, a recent graduate from the Department of Information and Communication Engineering. I have completed my undergraduate studies from University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. I also attended Boise State University, USA in the Spring of 2022 as an international exchange student.

I am working as a research assistant at CV lab of University of Rajshahi, led by Dr. Dipankar Das and Dr. Md. Golam Rashed where I am mentoring 3 undergraduate students besides my research on developing counterfactual examples to explain decision-making processes of intelligent transportation systems. Previously, I worked at the CV lab as an undergraduate research  assistant and collaborated on 4+ research projects. Recently, I have also collaborated with the Qatar University Machine Learning Lab and was a part of IRv2-Net development team. During senior year, my research focused on Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to overcome the challenges of limited interpretability, explainability, transparency, and trust issues of traditional ML/DL practices that tend to be black-box in nature. Under the guidance of Dr. Md. Golam Rashed, I developed eight novel architectures that incorporate XAI techniques to provide a trustworthy and transparent framework for Network Intrusion Detection System. My research findings have been submitted to an international conference and also under review (1st revision submitted) in a prestigious journal, where I received positive feedback for my work. Additionally, I have actively participated in various research endeavors and made significant contributions to multiple published and under-review works through my comprehensive understanding of computation, Algorithms, AI, cybersecurity, data science, machine learning, and deep learning technologies. One of my significant accomplishments involves the successful fulfillment of a project supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, under the National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship. This project focused on utilizing Artificial Intelligence for Early Suicide Prevention using social media data. As a research assistant at CV Lab, I am currently working on developing counterfactual examples to explain decision making processes of intelligent transportation systems and mentoring three undergraduate students - one of them is working on developing and explaining the decision-making of recommendation systems powered by collaborative filtering.

As an undergraduate student, I was actively engaged in a dynamic exploration of diverse research domains, driven by a steadfast determination to ensure a well-informed foundation for my future pursuit of research-based higher education. This deliberate approach reflects my keen understanding of the pivotal role that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective can play in shaping a successful academic trajectory. By immersing myself in diverse research domains, I have not only gained a working knowledge of different fields but have also demonstrated an inherent drive to expand my intellectual horizons. This dynamic stance has enabled me to cultivate a delicate understanding of the interconnectedness of various disciplines and the potential for cross-pollination of ideas. The approach to exploration demonstrates my commitment to versatility and adaptability, two qualities that I believe are paramount in the pursuit of higher education. I am utterly convinced that this open-minded and exploratory attitude will not only fortify my academic journey but also contribute to my capacity to drive positive change in my chosen field of study.

I harbor a strong vision of leveraging technology to address pressing global issues. I see the world through the lens of artificial intelligence (AI), and I often find myself thinking about how to harness the power of AI to address pressing societal challenges and promote social good while AI remains accountable to human values, ethical principles, and takes the need of diverse backgrounds into account. My research interest is oriented towards two areas. First, I aim to explore the interdisciplinary applications of AI and Machine Learning (ML) systems, particularly in high-stakes settings, that are algorithmically fair, equitable, inclusive, accessible, and trustworthy. However, a significant challenge in realizing this vision is the lack of algorithmic transparency and decision interpretability in these systems, which makes it significantly dicult to understand how they function and make decisions. In line with this critical challenge, I also aspire to incorporate Explainable AI (XAI) into AI-powered systems to enhance our understanding of them, enabling us to make informed decisions about their development and deployment. My previous experiences explored several cutting-edge fields, including Artificial Intelligence, AI+X, Explainable Artificial Intelligence, Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Machine Learning and Deep Learning, Data Science, Sentiment Analysis, Natural Language Processing, and Computer Vision. As I prepare to take the next step in my academic journey, I carry forward with me the invaluable lessons and insights garnered from my earlier comprehensive exploration, poised to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge and the betterment of the world.

On top of that, I actively participated in diverse extracurricular activities and took leadership roles in various student organizations related to technology, engineering, and social movements. These experiences allowed me to enhance my communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, while also igniting a passion for utilizing technology to address real-world challenges. 

I embody creativity, responsibility, and a rapid learning aptitude, forging my path through a combination of exploration, gratitude, and a sheer commitment to uncovering every avenue that leads to a purposeful journey. I am researching, developing startup, volunteering, constructing projects, mentoring, writing, learning, and coding regularly. Possessing an open and adventurous spirit, I am ready to embrace new opportunities, with a resolute intent to leave meaningful footprints wherever I venture.