📚 About Me

I’m an Associate Professor in both the Computer Science Department and the Intelligent Systems and Robotics Department at the University of West Florida, where I lead the Jalaian AI Lab. My work is driven by a deep commitment to advancing the frontiers of artificial intelligence - especially in high-stakes, real-world environments like defense, healthcare, and critical infrastructure.

My research focuses on building safe, robust, and efficient AI systems, with expertise in:

  • Large Language Models (LLMs) and multi-modal foundation models
  • Agentic AI and neurosymbolic reasoning
  • Model compression (distillation, quantization, pruning) for edge deployment
  • Uncertainty quantification and AI assurance
  • Adversarial robustness and AI safety

Across multiple federally funded projects, I’ve led efforts that integrate theory with deployment-ready AI—addressing not just accuracy, but trust, explainability, and operational efficiency. Whether compressing massive models to run on edge devices or designing agentic AI architectures that reason under uncertainty, my lab pushes toward one goal: reliable AI that works when it matters most.

My background includes building large-scale research programs, mentoring PhD students and junior scientists, and publishing extensively in top-tier journals and conferences. I thrive at the intersection of cutting-edge ML research and mission-driven impact, and I’m always looking to collaborate with forward-thinking teams in academia, industry, and government.

If you’re interested in the future of trustworthy, efficient, and agentic AI systems, I’d love to connect—whether for research collaboration, student mentorship, or strategic partnerships.

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Experience

  1. Associate Professor, Computer Science Department and Intelligent Systems & Robotics Department

    University of West Florida

    Responsibilities include:

    • Awarded the Reubin O’D. Askew Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies (AIMS) Faculty Fellowship
    • Secured $302,928 from the Army for research on the Neuro-symbolic Risk-Aware Deep Learning project
    • Established an entire ML team from scratch, including recruiting and hiring new faculty
    • Developed a fully asynchronous high-quality machine learning course with competitive leaderboard
    • Delivered talks at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and international conferences

  2. Research Scientist

    Institute of Human & Machine Cognition

    Responsibilities include:

    • Awarded a single PI proposal to the Army for $805,787 on AI model optimization
    • Developed an end-to-end deep learning framework for human state detection using commercial wearable sensors
    • Conducted research on robustness to synthetic perturbation testing as an indicator of real environment robustness
    • Collaborated on writing multiple proposals and white papers

  3. AI Test Tool Lead

    Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center

    Responsibilities include:

    • Developed and implemented the first DoD test tool factory framework for systematic AI testing
    • Secured $12 million in Congressional support for the JAITIC initiative
    • Pioneered the adoption of open-source Python-based libraries for AI testing tools
    • Established RAVEN, an AI T&E platform

  4. Senior AI Research Scientist

    U.S. Army Research Laboratory

    Responsibilities include:

    • Continued leadership in AI research and development
    • Advanced work on uncertainty quantification and AI safety
    • Collaborated on cross-disciplinary projects within the Army Research Laboratory

  5. Research Scientist and Internet of Battlefield (IoBT) Technical Research Area Lead

    U.S. Army Research Laboratory

    Responsibilities include:

    • Built and led the IoBT program, managing 1/3 of a $50M program
    • Integrated senior researchers from various institutions into the AI Assurance community
    • Formed and led a machine learning research team focused on uncertainty quantification, safe, robust, and resilient AI
    • Initiated and led the AI uncertainty and T&E community within the Army

  6. Adjunct Assistant Professor

    Virginia Tech, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

    Responsibilities include:

    • Taught graduate courses in wireless networking
    • Conducted research on uncertainty quantification in AI and complex network optimization
    • Mentored graduate students in research projects
    • Collaborated with faculty on AI and network-related research initiatives

  7. Postdoctoral Fellow

    U.S. Army Research Laboratory

    Responsibilities include:

    • Conducted research on programmable networks and complex network optimization
    • Developed long-range tactical sensor networks using off-the-shelf protocols for efficient communication
    • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams on projects related to network optimization for defense applications
    • Contributed to publications and presentations on cutting-edge network research and communication efficiency

Education

  1. PhD in Electrical Engineering

    Virginia Tech

    Thesis on Modeling complex network dynamics via advanced mathematical programming techniques and developing computationally tractable algorithmic for network optimization.

    Research focused on developing novel approaches for network optimization and complex system modeling.

  2. MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Virginia Tech

    Specialized in Operation Research.

    Courses included:

    • Advanced optimization techniques
    • Mathematical probability & statistics
    • Random processes
    • Advanced stochastic simulation

  3. MS in Electrical Engineering

    Virginia Tech

    Focused on Communication & Networking Systems.

    Courses included:

    • Modern wireless communication
    • Wireless network optimization
    • Information theory & networking
Skills
Technical Skills
Python
Deep Learning
Large Language Models
AI Safety & Security
Uncertainty Quantification
Soft Skills
Strategic Leadership
Teaching
Program Management
Mentoring
Communication

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