Who Am I?
Hi, I'm Yashar. I got my M.Sc. in Computer Science at the University of Alberta, where I spent most of my time turning big messy graphs into clear insights. My passion lies at the intersection of complex systems and intelligent agents (i.e. modeling how ideas, values, and internal states flow between human and artificial minds). My favorite part of any job is sharing what I learn, whether that's open-sourcing code on GitHub, mentoring students, or hosting small events and workshops so that I can talk about the cool things I'm learning, while giving others a chance to do the same. If you poke around this site you'll see a few of those projects, the skills I picked up along the way, and the kind of problems I'd like to tackle next. Feel free to reach out to explore collaborations, ideas, or just a good systems-thinking conversation!
Skills & Overview
Summary
Systems-focused researcher and builder with 5+ years of experience in graph mining, LLM engineering, and multi-agent simulations. Proven ability to translate theoretical insights into production-grade tools and prototypes.
Technical Skills
- Programming Languages: Proficient in Python, Java, and SQL, with basic knowledge of JavaScript, PHP, and C++
- Large Language Models: Generative models (e.g., GPT APIs, Llama, Mistral), Hugging Face Transformers, LLM-powered application development (e.g., LangChain), Multi-agent LLMs (e.g., AutoGen), Fine-tuning (LoRA, DeepSpeed), RAGs
- Machine Learning and Data Science: Reinforcement Learning (PyTorch, TensorFlow), Supervised/Unsupervised Learning (Scikit-learn, Keras), Data Processing (Pandas, NumPy), Natural Language Processing (NLTK), Computer Vision (OpenCV)
- Miscellaneous: Git, LaTeX, Parallel processing of large datasets (e.g., pySpark), TTS and STT libraries, Web Scraping (e.g., BeautifulSoup), Cloud Computing (GCP, AWS), Database Management (MySQL), Web Dev (Flask, HTML, CSS, React, MDX, Next.js, tailwind)
Soft Skills
- Systems Thinking
- Communication & Teaching
- Leadership & Mentorship
- Research & Analytical Writing
- Collaboration & Empathy
Education
Master of Science, Computer Science
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Jan. 2021 - Jan. 2024 | GPA: 3.85/4.00
Thesis: Towards Community Search in Uncertain Graphs
Supervisors: Dr. Osmar R. Zaiane and Dr. Christine Largeron
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Sept. 2015 - Aug. 2019 | GPA: 19.18/20.00 (Converted: 3.95/4)
Ranked 1st among 40+ Computer Science undergraduate students
Hackathon Projects
SenseAid
natHACKS 2024, Edmonton, AB, Canada | Nov. 2024 - Present
- Achieved 3rd place in the problem provider division out of 429 participants at a 72-hour neurotechnology hackathon with an innovative sensory therapy cueing tool that guides dementia patients through sensory activities (DevPost Link)
- Led the technical development using OpenCV and MediaPipe for body tracking and Pygame for visual/audio cues
- Initiated R&D to assess patient impact, refine the tool for production, and evaluate its potential to reduce staff workload
This provides a snapshot of my journey and skills. For a more detailed resume or to discuss any of these areas further, please feel free to get in touch!