Short Resume

Webpage: http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~amir/

E-mail address: Reverse rima and add @cs, then a dot and then ualberta and then dot ca!

Academic Background

¤ Ph.D. Student: University of Alberta, Department of Computing Science, 2005-current

¤ Master of Science: University of Tehran, MS in EE (with a major in Control Theory), 2002-2005

o Thesis: Learning and Evolution in Hierarchical Behavior-based Systems

¤ Advisor: Majid Nili Ahmadabadi – co-advisors: Babak N. Araabi and Caro Lucas

¤ Committee: Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, Babak N. Araabi, Caro Lucas, Babak Moshiri, Alireza Fatehi

o GPA: 17.82/20

¤ Bachelor of Science: K.N. Toosi University of Technology, BS in EE (with a major in Telecommunication), 1998-2002.

o Thesis: Calculating Resonant Frequencies of a Metallic Cavity using Finite Element Method

¤ Advisor: Mohammad sadegh Abrishamian

¤ Committee: Mohammad sadegh Abrishamian, Manouchehr Kamyab, Mohsen Aboutorab

o GPA: 16.30/20

¤ High School: Allameh Helli High School (National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET))

o GPA ~=18.5/20.

¤ Primary School: Dr. Mahmood Afshar Primary School.

o GPA:~=19.8/20.

Research Interests

¤ Application of Machine Learning Methods in Visual-Servoing Problems (2006)

¤ Incremental Basis Generation in Reinforcement Learning (2006)

¤ Hierarchical [Reinforcement] Learning in Behavior-based Systems (MS. Thesis) (2003-2005)

o Structure Learning

o Behavior Learning

o Behavior Evolution

o Automatic Generation of Reinforcement Signal

¤ Evolutionary Robotics

o Hybrid Evolving/Learning in Hierarchical Behavior-based Systems (2004-2005)

o Evolving Neural Network-based Controllers for Robots (2001)

¤ Investigating the Effect of Reward Uncertainty on the Value and the Policy of the Agent. (2004-2005)

¤ Automatic Abstraction of Knowledge from Stimuli-Response information (2004-2005)

o Structural Abstraction

o Temporal Abstraction

¤ Synchronization of Chaotic Systems (2003-4)

¤ Combinatorial Optimization Problem (Channel Assignment Problem) using Chaotically-Enhanced Hopfield Neural Network (2002-3)

¤ Calculating Resonant Frequencies of a Metallic Cavity using Finite Element Method (BS Thesis) (2001-2)

¤ Investigating the Effect of Metallic Electrode and Buffer Layer on Dielectric Waveguides (Internship) (2001)

¤ Several Researches on Evolutionary Computation (2000-current)

o Evolutionary Robotics

o Evolution of Hidden Markov Models (2001)

o Distributed Evolutionary Systems (2000)

o Electromagnetic Filter Design (2000)

o Analog Circuits Design (2000)

Publications

Accepted Publications

1. A. M. Farahmand, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, Caro Lucas, and Babak N. Araabi, ÒHybrid Behavior Co-evolution and Structure Learning in Behavior-based Systems,Ó In the Proceedings of IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), Vancouver, Canada, 2006. (Chosen as the best presentation of the ÒEvolving Learning SystemsÓ technical session)

2. A. M. Farahmand and Mohammad javad Yazdanpanah, ÒChannel Assignment using Chaotic Simulated Annealing Enhanced Hopfield Neural Network,Ó In the Proceedings of International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), Vancouver, Canada, 2006.

3. Mohammad G. Azar, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, A. M. Farahmand, and Babak N. Araabi, ÒLearning to Coordinate Behaviors in Soft Behavior-based Systems using Reinforcement Learning,Ó International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), Vancouver, Canada, 2006.

4. A. M. Farahmand and M. J. Yazdanpanah, ÒLocally Optimal Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Controllers,Ó Proceedings of the 44^th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, and the European Control Conference, pp. 4095-4099, Seville, Spain, December 2005.

5. M. J. Yazdanpanah, E. Madanian, and A. M. Farahmand, ÒChannel Assignment in Cellular Communications using a New Modification on Hopfield Networks,Ó Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transaction B: Engineering, Vol. 29, No. B4, 2005.

6. A. M. Farahmand and Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, "The Effect of Reinforcement Signal Error in Reinforcement Learning," Computer Society of Iran Computer Conference (CSICC), 2005 (in Persian).

7. A. M. Farahmand, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, and Babak N. Araabi, "Behavior Hierarchy Learning in a Behavior-based System using Reinforcement Learning," Proceedings of IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS2004), Sendai, Japan, 2004.

8. A. M. Farahmand and Caro Lucas, "Fuzzy Neural Network Implementation of Q(λ) for Mobile Robots," WSEAS Transaction on Systems, Issue 1, Vol. 3, Jan. 2004.

9. A. M. Farahmand, Roxana Akhbari, and Maryam Tajvidi, "Evolving Hidden Markov Models," 4th Iranian Student Conference on Electrical Engineering (ISCEE), 2001 (in Persian).

10. A. M. Farahmand and Amir Emad Mirmirani, "Distributed Genetic Algorithms," 3rd Iranian Student Conference on Electrical Engineering (ISCEE), 2000 (in Persian).

Technical Reports and Under Revision Papers

11. A. M. Farahmand, ÒInvestigations on Uncalibrated Visual Servoing,Ó Technical Report, University of Alberta, 2006.

12. A. M. Farahmand, ÒReinforcement Learning in Linear Time-Delayed Dynamical Systems,Ó Technical Report, University of Alberta, 2006.

13. A. M. Farahmand, ÒBasis Adaptation in Reinforcement Learning,Ó Technical Report, University of Alberta, 2005.

14. A. M. Farahmand, ÒOn Multiple Cues Visual Trackers,Ó Technical Report, University of Alberta, 2005.

15. A. M. Farahmand, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, ÒA Culture-based Memetic Algorithm for Automatic Behavior-based System Design,Ó Technical Report, University of Tehran, to be submitted, 2005.

16. A. M. Farahmand, Learning and Evolution in Hierarchical Behavior-based Systems, M.S. Thesis, University of Tehran, 2005 (in Persian).

17. A. M. Farahmand, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, and Babak N. Araabi, "Behavior and Hierarchy Development in Behavior-based Systems using Reinforcement Learning,Ó Technical Report, 2005.

18. A. M. Farahmand and Parviz Jabehdar Maralani, "Stabilizing Chaotic Systems with Small Control Signal," Technical Report, University of Tehran, 2005.

19. A. M. Farahmand and Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, ÒThe Effect of Reinforcement Signal Uncertainty on Values and Policy of a Reinforcement Learner Agent,Ó Technical Report, University of Tehran, 2005.

20. A. M. Farahmand, Caro Lucas, and Babak N. Araabi, "Chaos Control Survey," A Technical Report for my Seminar Course, University of Tehran, 2004 (in Persian/Farsi).

21. A. M. Farahmand and Mohammad javad Yazdanpanah, "A Class of Nonlinear Controllers for Synchronization of Chaotic Semipassive Systems," Technical Report, University of Tehran, 2003 (under revision).

22. A. M. Farahmand and Mohammad sadegh Abrishamian, "Calculating Resonant Frequencies of a Metallic Cavity using Finite Element Method," BSEE Thesis, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, 2002 (In Persian).

23. A. M. Farahmand, Ramin Pashai, and Ezatollah Geranpayeh, "Effect of Metallic Electrode and Buffer Layer on Dielectric Waveguides," technical report of my internship period at Iran Telecommunication Research Center (ITRC), 2001.

24. A. M. Farahmand, "Evolutionary Design of Passive Filters," Technical Report, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, 2001.

25. A. M. Farahmand, "Optimizing Multi-layer Dielectric Absorbers using Evolutionary Methods," 2000.

26. A. M. Farahmand, "On Chaotic Models of Population - A Survey," 1999 (In Persian/Farsi).

27. A. M. Farahmand, "Compression Methods," (I can call it my first technical report which I started writing when I was in the last year of high school), 1997 (In Persian/Farsi).

Honors and Achievements

¤ Best Presentation Award for Evolving Learning Systems Technical Session in IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), Vancouver, Canada, 2006.

¤ Ranked among the best 0.5% attendee of graduate level electrical engineering university entrance exam (Konkoor).

¤ Ranked among the best 0.3% attendee of undergraduate university entrance examination (Konkoor).

¤ Bronze medal in The National Physics Olympiad.

¤ Being one of the three first students of 70% of my major courses in which I enrolled (There is no official ranking record in my transcripts).

Extracurricular Activities

Scientific:

¤ Working on a PC-based Mobile Robot with Vision sensor (2001)

o Designing decision making modules (the first Behavior-based systems that I have designed without knowing what a BBS is!)

o Designing image processing and object detection modules

¤ Presenting several short courses and seminars voluntarily (more details in Talks and Teaching Experiences section)

¤ Member of Scientific Student Society of E.E. Dept. of K.N. Toosi Univ. of Tech.

o Chair (2001-2002)

o Vice-chair (2000-2001)

o Active Member (1999-2000)

o Organizing several short courses, seminars, tutorials, and contests for students

¤ Scientific Chair of The First Soft Computing workshop in K.N. Toosi Univ. of Tech.

¤ Co-founder of Σαω scientific group (2000-current)

o Developing a mobile robot.

o Presenting several short courses.

¤ The only Electrical Engineering team from K.N. Toosi Univ. of Tech. attending ÒThe ACM Asia Programming Contest – Tehran Site 1999Ó.

¤ Coach of two teams participating in ÒThe ACM Asia Programming Contest – Tehran Site 2001Ó.

Others:

¤ Writing short stories (in Persian/Farsi).

¤ Writing a philosophical weblog (in Persian/Farsi) and a technical one (in English) (both of them can be accessed through www.SoloGen.net)

¤ Organized story reading sessions in K.N. Toosi Univ. of Tech.

¤ Co-founder of the first Persian e-newspaper in 1998.

Talks and Teaching Experiences

Conference Presentation:

á Hybrid Behavior Co-evolution and Structure Learning in Behavior-based Systems, IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), Vancouver, Canada, 2006. (Chosen as the best presentation of the ÒEvolving Learning SystemsÓ technical session)

á Channel Assignment using Chaotic Simulated Annealing Enhanced Hopfield Neural Network, International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), Vancouver, Canada, 2006.

á Behavior Hierarchy Learning in a Behavior-based System Using Reinforcement Learning, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2004, Japan, Oct. 2004.

á Evolving Hidden Markov Models, 4th Iranian Student Conference on Electrical Engineering, 2001.

á Distributed Genetic Algorithms, 3rd Iranian Student Conference on Electrical Engineering, 2000.

á Concept-Oriented Imitative Learning, The Computer Society of Iran Computer Conference, Winter 2005 (presented instead of Hossein Mobahi).

Poster Presentation:

á Reinforcement Signal Error in Reinforcement Learning, Poster Presentation, The Computer Society of Iran Computer Conference, Winter 2005.

Invited Talks:

á Learning and Evolution in Behavior-based Systems, Institute of Physics and Mathematics (IPM) – School of Cognitive SciencesÕ monthly seminar on Machine Learning, Winter 2005.

á Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning, Institute of Physics and Mathematics (IPM) - School of Cognitive SciencesÕ monthly seminar on Machine Learning, Summer 2004.

á Behavior-based Systems, Institute of Physics and Mathematics (IPM) – School of Cognitive SciencesÕ monthly seminar on Machine Learning, Winter 2004.

Other Presentations:

á A short survey of Control Theory, Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Summer 2006.

á Learning and Evolution in Hierarchical Behavior-based Systems, M.S. thesis defense, Summer 2005.

á Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning, guest lecturer of the Distributed AI class (Majid Nili Ahmadabadi), Spring 2004.

á A Short course on Fuzzy Logic, Student Branch of IEEE, University of Tehran, Summer 2003.

á Calculating Resonant Frequencies of a Metallic Cavity using Finite Element Method, B.S. thesis defense, Summer 2002.

á A short course on Soft Computing, K.N. Toosi Univ. of Tech., Summer 2002.

á Several presentations in The First Soft Computing Workshop in K.N. Toosi University of Technology, 2000.

á A course on Evolutionary Algorithms, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Summer 1999 – Winter 2000.

á Data Compression Methods, Alumni of NODET (National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents), 1998.

Teaching Assistant:

á Signals and Systems (for Mohammad sadegh Abrishamian), Spring 2001.

á Telecommunication I (Spring 2001 for Esmael Kalantari), Spring 2001.

Work Experiences

1. Research Assistant at the department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, (Sept. 2005 – current).

2. Research Engineer at Robotics Lab. of ECE Department of University of Tehran, developing low-level and high-level decision making systems for a mobile robot (2005 March-May).

3. Researcher at Institute of Physics and Mathematics (IPM – Tehran, Iran) working on hierarchical learning for behavior-based systems under supervision of Dr. Majid Nili Ahmadabadi (2003-2005)

4. Internship at Iran Telecommunication Research Center under supervision of Dr. Ezatollah Geranpayeh analyzing optical circuits using Finite Difference Frequency Domain method (Summer 2001).

5. Teaching high school mathematics and physics privately (Summer 2000).

6. Developing an e-office system for a private company (Spring 2000).

7. Consulting to enhance the IT capability of a private business company (1999).

Graduate Courses

1. Distributed AI (UT)

2. Reinforcement Learning (U of A)

3. Artificial Neural Networks (UT)

4. Fuzzy Systems (UT)

5. Bio-computing (UT)

6. Machine Learning (audited) (U of A)

7. Online Learning Algorithms (audited) (U of A)

8. Adaptive Control (UT)

9. Nonlinear Control (UT)

10. Optimal Control (UT)

11. Multivariable Control (UT)

12. Digital Control (UT)

13. Seminar on Chaos Control (UT)

14. Stochastic Process (UT)

15. Numerical Optimization (U of A)

16. Numerical Methods in Electromagnetic (K.N. Toosi)

17. 3D Machine Vision (U of A)

18. Pattern Recognition (audited) (UT)

19. Robotics Challenges (U of A)

20. Robotics (audited) (UT)

21. Advanced Digital Communication (audited) (K.N. Toosi)

Languages

Natural:

¤ Persian (Fluent in Reading, Writing and Speaking) (Native Speaker)

¤ English (Very good in Reading, good in Writing and Speaking) (TOEFL Score: 637 – L: 64, S: 63, R: 64)

¤ Arabic (Average in Reading)

Artificial:

¤ C/C++ (Very good), MatLab scripting language (Fluent), Assembly of 0x86 (Some knowledge), Assembly of Z80 (Some knowledge), BASIC (Good), Pascal (Some knowledge), Lisp (little).