Our Team – Augmented Cognition Laboratory

Current Lab Members

SARAH OSTADABBAS

PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR

617-373-4992
Ostadabbas@ece.neu.edu

Professor Ostadabbas is an associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Northeastern University (NU) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She joined NU in 2016 after completing her post-doctoral research at Georgia Tech, following the achievement of her PhD at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2014. At NU, Professor Ostadabbas holds the roles of Director at the Augmented Cognition Laboratory (ACLab), Director of Women in Engineering (WIE), and Co-Director at The Center for Signal Processing, Imaging, Reasoning, and Learning (SPIRAL). Her research focuses on the convergence of computer vision and machine learning, particularly emphasizing representation learning in visual perception problems. In her applied research, she has significantly contributed to the understanding, detection, and prediction of human and animal behaviors through the modeling of visual motion, considering various biomechanical factors. Professor Ostadabbas also extends her work to the Small Data Domain, including applications in medical and military fields, where data collection and labeling are costly and protected by strict privacy laws. Her solutions involve deep learning frameworks that operate effectively with limited labeled training data, incorporate domain knowledge for prior learning and synthetic data augmentation, and enhance the generalization of learning across domains by acquiring invariant representations. Professor Ostadabbas has co-authored over 120 peer-reviewed journal and conference articles and received research awards from prestigious institutions such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DoD), Sony, Mathworks, Amazon AWS, Verizon, Oracle, Biogen, and NVIDIA. She has been honored with the NSF CAREER Award (2022), Sony Faculty Innovation Award (2023), and was the runner-up for the Oracle Excellence Award (2023).

ELAHEH HATAMI

EAI POSTDOC

eh.hatami@gmail.com

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.” Joe Girard

Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran (September 2014 – September 2020)
Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (September 2010 – February 2013)
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran (Sep 2005 – June 2009)

SOMAIEH AMRAEE

EAI POSTDOC

s.amraee@northeastern.edu

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi

PhD (2018) Computer Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
MS (2010) Computer Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
BS (2006) Computer Engineering, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

WEN XIE

EAI POSTDOC

we.xie@northeastern.edu

“Fake it and make it, till you become it.” Amy Cuddy

PhD (2023) Electrical Engineering, University of Houston, Texas, USA.
BS (2018) Electronic Information Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China.

ZHOUPING WANG

PHD STUDENT

zpwang@ece.neu.edu

“If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” Albert Einstein

Doctor of Philosophy (Sept 2019– Present)—ECE, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
Master of Engineering (2016-2019)—Control Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Bachelor of Science (2010-2014)—Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

XIAOFEI HUANG

PHD STUDENT

xhuang@ece.neu.edu

“If you’re waiting until you feel talented enough to make it, you’ll never make it.” Criss Jami

Doctor of Philosophy (Sep 2019–present)—ECE, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
Master of Science (2015-2017)—Electrical and Computer Engineering -Northeastern University, Boston, US.
Master of Science (2010-2013)—Mechanical Manufacture & Automation – Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Bachelor of Science (2006-2010)—Electronic Engineering – Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China

SHAOTONG ZHU

PHD STUDENT

shawnzhu@ece.neu.edu

“You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down.” Charlie Chaplin

Doctor of Philosophy (Sept 2020– Present)—ECE, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
Master of Science (2018-2020)—Electrical Engineering, The George Washington University, USA.
Bachelor of Engineering (2013-2017) Optoelectronic Information Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), China.

LE JIANG

PHD STUDENT

jiang.l@northeastern.edu

“The key to success is the ability to extract the lessons out of each of these experiences and to move on with that new knowledge.” Tina Seelig

MS/PhD (Sep 2020 – Present) — Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
BS (Sep 2015 – Jun 2019) – Microelectronics Science and Engineering, Wuhan University, China

POORIA DANESHVAR KAKHAKI

PHD STUDENT

daneshvarkakhaki.p@northeastern.edu

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” J.R.R Tolkien

Master of Science (2019-2022)—Artificial Intelligence – Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Bachelor of Science (2013-2018) — Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

YEDI LUO

PHD STUDENT

luo.ye@northeastern.edu

“Our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. “Steve Jobs

PhD (Sep 2022 — Present) — Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
MS (Sep 2015 — July 2017) — Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
BS (Sep 2011 — Jun 2015) — Electrical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

XIANGYU BAI

PHD STUDENT

bai.xiang@northeastern.edu

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

PhD in ECE, Northeastern University, 2023-Present
MS in ECE, Northeastern University, 2021-2023
BS in Computer science Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, 2018-2021

SHAYDA MOEZZI

PHD STUDENT

moezzi.s@northeastern.edu

“I can see nothing,” said I, handing it back to my friend. “On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawing your inferences..” Sherlock Holmes

PhD in ECE, Northeastern University, 2024-Present
BS in Computer Science and Engineering, 2020-2024

BISHOY GALOAA

MS STUDENT

sobhy.b@northeastern.edu

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein

Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration: Machine Learning, Northeastern University Boston, MA, 2022-Present

AMAL MATHEW

MS STUDENT

mathew.ama@northeastern.edu

“Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking something different.” Albert Szent-Györgyi

Master Of Science (Computer Science) (09/2022 – 05/2024)– Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Bachelor of Technology (Computer Engineering) (08/2018 – 05/2022) M S Ramaiah university of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, India

SAI KUMAR REDDY MANNE

MS STUDENT

manne.sa@northeastern.edu

“Impossible is just an opinion.” Paulo Coelho.

Master of Science in Computer Science, Northeastern University, Portland, ME
Bachelor of Technology in Electronics & Communication, National Institute of Technology Warangal, India, Warangal, India

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Alumni

MICHAEL WAN

SENIOR COMPUTATIONAL SCIENTIST (ALUMNI)

mi.wan@northeastern.edu

“It’s not the warm illusion / Nor the crack in the plate / Nor the breath of confusion / Nor the starkness of slate” Adrianne Lenker

Position after ACLab: Research Scientist at Experiential Artificial intelligence (EAI) Institute
Postdoc in Mathematics (2017–2019)—Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
PhD (2017)—Logic and the Methodology of Science, UC Berkeley
HonBSc (2010)—Specialist in Mathematics and Physics, Major in Philosophy, University of Toronto

LINGFEI LUAN

EAI POSTDOC (ALUMNI)

l.luan@northeastern.edu

“There is nothing permanent except change.” Heraclitus

Position after ACLab: Research Scientist at University of Minnesota
PhD (2021) Neural and Cognitive Science-Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, USA
MS (2016) Media and Communication Studies-Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, USA
MS (2010) Performing Arts, Film and Broadcast Studies-University of Paris VIII, Paris, France
BS (2008) Film Production-Beijing Film Academy, Beijing, China

SHUANGJUN LIU

PHD STUDENT (ALUMNI)

shuliu@ece.neu.edu

“The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds.“ Theo Jansen

Position after ACLab: Researcher of Mobile AI @ Qualcomm
PhD Dissertation Title: “United Human Pose: Integrating Domain Knowledge and Machine Learning”
PhD (Jan 2017–July2022) ECE – Northeastern University, Boston, USA
MS (2012) Mechatroincs Engineering – Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
BS (2009) Mechatronics Engineering – Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China

AMIRREZA FARNOOSH

PHD STUDENT (ALUMNI)

farnoosh@ece.neu.edu

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” Rumi

Position after ACLab: Machine Learning Scientist at Liminal Sciences
PhD Dissertation Title: “Unsupervised Learning of Low-Dimensional Dynamical Representations from Spatiotemporal Data”
Doctor of Philosophy (Sep 2016–present)—ECE, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
MS (2016) Biomedical Engineering (Bioelectrics)—University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
BS (2011) Electrical Engineering (Communications)—Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

BEHNAZ REZAEI

PHD STUDENT (ALUMNI)

brezaei@ece.neu.edu

“Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it.” André Gide

Position after ACLab: Senior Engineer–Computer Vision & Machine Learning @Qualcomm
PhD Dissertation Title: “Low-dimensional Representation of Visual Dynamics towards Animal/Human Behavior Monitoring”
Doctor of Philosophy (Jan 2016–May 2020)—ECE, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
Master of Science (2009-2012)—Electronics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Bachelor of Science (2005-2009)—Electronics, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

DAVOUD HEJAZI

PHD STUDENT – CO-ADVISED (ALUMNI)

hejazi.d@northeastern.edu

“The night is darkest just before dawn.” Thomas Fuller

Position after ACLab: Senior Data Scientist–Titan Advanced Energy Solutions
PhD Dissertation Title: “Dispersion-Free Accurate Color Estimation using Layered Excitonic 2D Materials and Machine Learning”
PhD Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, US, 2015 – 2022
M.Sc Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, US, 2015 – 2017
M.Sc Physic, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, 2007 – 2010
B.Sc Physics, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran, 2002 – 2006

MOHSEN NABIAN

VISITING SCHOLAR (ALUMNI)

monabiyan@gmail.com

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” Omar Khayyam

YU YIN

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

yin.yu1@northeastern.edu

“When I had nothing to lose, I had everything.” Paulo Coelho.

Position after ACLab: PhD student at SMILE lab
Master Thesis Title: Affective Pose: Facial & Physiology Expression of Emotion (Defense Date: Dec 3, 2018)

DIVYANG TEOTIA

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

teotia.d@northeastern.edu

“An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself.” Albert Camus

Position after ACLab: Deep Learning Engineer at Intel
Master Thesis Title: Interpreting Face Inference Models using Hierarchical Network Dissection

NIHANG FU

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

nihang@ece.neu.edu

“Learning is like sailing against the current; if you don’t advance, you’ll retreat.” Unknown

Position after ACLab: PhD student at University of South Carolina
MS Thesis Title: “Data Efficient Infant Pose and Posture Recognition”
MS (Sep 2019 — present) — Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
BS (Sep 2015 — Jun 2019) — Electrical Engineering and Automation, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, China

SHRUNALI SURESH SALIAN

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

salian.sh@northeastern.edu

“We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?” Steve Jobs

Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2023-2024.
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India, 2019-2022.

TREVOR POWERS

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

powers.tr@northeastern.edu

“Love the hand fate deals you and play it as your own.” Marcus Aurelius

Position after ACLab: Army Training at Augusta GA
The Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership Project: Casualty Status Communication Tool (CSCT): An End-to-end Pipeline for Battlefield Casualty Status Documentation
Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence, Northeastern University, September 2021-2023
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Honors, Minor in Cybersecurity, United States Military Academy

KATHAN VYAS

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

vyas.k@northeastern.edu

“Curiosity leads to innovations…which in turn leads to inventions…be curious to invent.”

Position after ACLab: PhD student at Texas A&M
MS Thesis Title: “Data Efficient Analysis of Human Behavior by Spatio-Temporal Pose Generation and Inference”

KASHISH JAIN

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

jain.ka@northeastern.edu

“Work with the smartest people you can, hopefully smarter than you . . . be persistent, don’t give up easily. Be guided by beauty . . . it can be the way a company runs, or the way an experiment comes out, or the way a theorem comes out, but there’s a sense of beauty when something is working well, almost an aesthetic to it.” Jim Simons

CHOLPADY VIKRAM KAMATH

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

kamath.c@northeastern.edu

“The highest forms of understanding we can achieve are laughter and human compassion.” Richard P. Feynman

Position after ACLab: Software Engineer – Computer Vision at Fizio Health
Master Thesis Title: An edge-friendly development of human pose estimation in extreme and private conditions (Defense Date: April 20th, 2023)
MS, Robotic, Northeastern University, 2021-2023
B.E, Information Science and Engineering, Ramaiah Institute of Technology, 2013-2017

PRATEEK GULATI

MS STUDENT (ALUMNI)

gulati.p@northeastern.edu

“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” Gerard Way

MSAI, Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, USA, 2021 – Present
BTech. in Computer Science Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Shiv Nadar University, India, 2013 – 2017