Mahmoud Nazzal - ECE PhD Student of the Month - June 2024
Mahmoud Nazzal is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in computer engineering, specializing in the robustness and applicability of advanced machine learning models. His research primarily focuses on enhancing the security, reliability, and real-world applicability of these models, ensuring they can be effectively and safely deployed in various critical domains. Specifically, his work involves graph neural networks (GNNs) and large language models (LLMs) as relational and sequential models, respectively. By addressing the unique challenges these models present, he aims to push the boundaries of their potential applications, making them more robust and trustworthy.
What do you think will be the next big move in your field of study?
I believe the next big move in my field will be the release and integration of more advanced large language models (LLMs). These models, despite their impressive performance, will present significant research challenges, particularly in terms of robustness, security, and ethical alignment with human values such as fairness and transparency. Tackling these challenges will be essential to ensure these models can be reliably used in applications where security, privacy, and fairness are critical. This will involve interdisciplinary efforts to enhance their robustness against adversarial attacks, ensure their decisions are fair and unbiased, and align their behavior more closely with human values.
You have quickly become successful on publishing your research. What advice do you have to junior PhD students who are working on publishing their first research paper?
From my experience, I would offer two key pieces of advice to junior Ph.D. students. First, invest considerable time and effort in identifying and selecting a significant and practically relevant problem to address in your research. Often, inspiration can be found in diverse sources such as internet blogs, magazines, and technology videos, which highlight current trends and challenges. Second, strive to balance your research progress with staying continuously updated on the rapidly evolving literature, particularly in fast-moving fields like artificial intelligence. Regularly reviewing new publications and breakthroughs will help you stay at the forefront of your field and inspire innovative approaches in your work.
You have lead the development of a research proposal which has been funded successfully. How do you think this experience is going to help you in your development after PhD?
This experience has enabled me to identify and align my research with societal and industry needs, highlighting the practical impact of my work. It has also honed my skills in articulating a clear vision, securing funding, and managing research projects from start to finish. These abilities will be valuable in both academic and industry careers after Ph.D., as they help bridge the gap between theoretical research and real-world applications. Ultimately, this experience has prepared me to contribute effectively to research and development initiatives that address meaningful real-world problems.