About Me
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). I am currently working on the Reading the Reader project, funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, in collaboration with Associate Professor Per Bækgaard. My research lies at the intersection of Cognitive Neuroscience, UX/UI Design, Human–Machine Interaction (HMI), Human–Robot Interaction (HRI), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Prior to joining DTU, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Affective Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory (AFAR), Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, UK. There, I contributed to the WorkingAge project, which focused on affective analysis of workers to promote healthy habits, improve working conditions, and support well-being in both professional and daily living contexts.
I received my PhD in Computer Science from Aalborg University, Denmark, jointly conducted within the Visual Analysis & Perception (VAP) and Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) Labs. My doctoral research focused on Facial Emotion Recognition for Citizens with Traumatic Brain Injury for Therapeutic Robot Interaction. I hold a Master’s degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Coventry University, UK (2016).
Current Research
"Reading the Reader" (RtR)
This project aims to improve the reading abilities of visually impaired people by using advanced AI methods (deep learning) to analyse the reader’s individual reading patterns and challenges. The project involves developing a model that enables us to rapidly decode a person’s reading patterns and simultaneously set, for example, the font size, contrast or spacing between letters on a mobile phone, a tablet or other screen, so that the material is optimally adapted to the person’s reading pattern, thereby providing the optimal reading experience and improving reading speed. Data will be recorded from eye trackers and other biometrical sensors and the patterns learned by the AI will be used to dynamically adjust the font size, height, width, type, spacing, etc. to help the reader optimize the reading experience and outcome (e.g., reading speed). The research is being carried out in collaboration with the Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation and includes computer scientists, psychologists, experts in reading patterns and ophthalmologists.
Novo Nordisk Foundation–Funded ProjectEye-Tracking & Pupillometry
Using Tobii eye-trackers to capture gaze patterns, fixation dynamics, and Task-Evoked Pupillary Responses (TEPR). Full preprocessing pipeline including blink detection, Hampel filtering, Gaussian smoothing, and baseline correction.
TVA Parameter Estimation
Applying Bundesen's Theory of Visual Attention (TVA) to model visual cognition during reading. Per-participant estimation of K, C, and t₀ across font conditions using Bayesian MCMC in PyMC.
Font Legibility & Psychophysics
Investigating how font families (Cambria, Roboto, Garamond) and styles (regular vs. italic) modulate reading performance through word superiority effects and Bayesian posterior difference distributions.
Bayesian Hierarchical Models
Growth Curve Analysis (GCA) using orthogonal polynomials for temporal pupil data, hierarchical models for Peak Pupil Dilation curves. LOO-CV diagnostics and model identifiability.
Research Interests
- Affective Computing & Human Behaviour Analysis — Understanding and modelling emotional and behavioural states, particularly in occupational and real-world settings.
- Human–Robot Interaction — Designing and evaluating socially intelligent robotic systems that can perceive and respond to human affect.
- Neuroinspired AI & Deep Learning — Applying brain-inspired computational models to perception and decision-making tasks.
- Computer Vision — Facial expression recognition, action recognition, and multimodal sensing.
Honors & Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| Sep 2020 | International Networking Innovation Fund, Denmark — €30,000 (Applied in collaboration) |
| Nov 2018 | Research Stay Abroad Grant — DKK 25,000 |
| Feb 2018 | Otto Mønsted Conference Grant — DKK 10,000 |
| 2018–2020 | Board Member, PhD Network Association, Aalborg University (PAU) |
| Jan 2016 | Global Leadership Certificate (GLC), Coventry University — awarded for organising seminars, events, and talks under the Global Leadership Programme (GLP) |
| Aug 2015 | Travel Grant for Industry Visits (Airbus & Volkswagen, Germany) |
| Jun 2015 | Research Assistantship, Coventry University, UK |
| Apr 2015 | 2nd Prize, NEC Birmingham Engineering & Design Competition, UK |
| Mar 2015 | Cultural Mundi Representative, Coventry University, UK |
| Jan 2015 | Senior Course Representative, B. E Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Pak |
| 2010–2011 | “Talent Award” (×2), Study Aid Foundation for Excellence (SAFE) |
Funding
The WorkingAge research project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 826232.
The Reading the Reader research project recieved the funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation under grant agreement NF22OC0076877. —
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