Welcome!
After graduating from the American University of Beirut, in 2011, with a BE in Computer and Communications Engineering, I joined the University of California, Los Angeles, to pursue my life-long aspiration of becoming a Ph.D.
My research interests are Information Theory and Coding Theory, which is why I joined Prof. Suhas Diggavi's Information Theory and Systems Laboratory.
Professional Summary
This is just a summary. For my full professional profile, please visit my LinkedIn page, or download my résumé (PDF).
Research Interests
- Information Theory
- Coding Theory
Other Technical Interests
- Communications Engineering
- Computer Science
- Algorithms, Complexity Theory
- Programming
- C/C++, Java
Work Experience
- 2011-present
- Graduate Student Researcher at UCLA
- 2012: July-August
- Research Assistant at EPFL
- 2010: July-August
- Research Intern at German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles
- 2013-present: Ph.D., Information Theory
- 2011-2013: MSc, Electrical Engineering
- American University of Beirut
- 2007-2011: BE, Computer and Communications Engineering
Personal Information
I was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1989. Having grown up there, I am fluent in all of Arabic, French, and English. I attended the International College (from preschool to high school), and then got into computer and communications engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB). I learned much there from my professors, some of whom highly influenced me. I also joined the AUB Red Cross Club, which was my chance at giving back to the community I grew up in. I finally graduated in 2011, and joined UCLA for my Ph.D. program.
I am an avid user of the GNU/Linux operating system, which is one aspect of my slight tendency to being a computer geek. On a related note, I also enjoy some webcomics, my favorite being xkcd, as I can relate to many of the (funny) situations in the comics, though probably less dramatically (for instance, this one).
My hobbies include:
- Arts: acting, music, dancing
- Sports: running, swimming, tennis
- Chess (challenge me on GameKnot!)
- Reading