CSGC Executive Committee (2022-2023)

Saumendu Roy (Saumo)

President

email: plz937@usask.ca

Saumendu Roy is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan. He has been working in the Software Research Lab under the supervision of Dr. Chanchal Roy and Dr. Banani Roy. Mr. Roy joined the lab after completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering from Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST), Bangladesh. He works with Explainable Machine Learning (XAI), a cutting-edge AI and ML research topic. It brings together computer science, data science, psychology, ethics, and more professionals to demystify AI and ensure these powerful technologies function as reliable decision-support tools. His research interests are mostly Explainability, Software Engineering, Software Maintenance, and Machine Learning. Mr. Roy has been actively participating in various community services. He is also the Vice President (Admin) of the Bangladeshi Students’ Association, University of Saskatchewan (BSAUS). Mr. Roy was the Vice President (Finance) for the last two consecutive years of the Computer Science Graduate Council (CSGC) and a Research Fest 2022, 23’s Executive Committee member.

Palash Roy

VP Finance

email: palash.roy@usask.ca

Palash is a passionate Masters’s student in computer science, deeply engrossed in research focused on the intersection of software clones and large language models. In the realm of software clones, he tirelessly explores the intricacies of code duplication, striving to enhance code quality, reduce maintenance challenges, and uncover opportunities for innovation in software development. Simultaneously, he delves into the world of large language models, harnessing their immense potential to revolutionize natural language understanding, text or code generation, and even automate complex tasks. This dual research focus not only exemplifies his commitment to advancing both software engineering and artificial intelligence but also fuels his drive to contribute meaningfully to the dynamic realms of computer science and robotics, where these two domains often intersect in transformative ways.

Jadyn Kimber

VP Internal

email: jrk057@usask.ca

Jadyn Kimber is a Master’s Student working at the Cyberlab at the Computer Science department of the University of Saskatchewan. He entered the master’s program after completing a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Computer science. During his time at the Cyberlab he has specialized in research studying Phishing scams and their behaviors. His research looks to describe phishing attacks in both their surface level function and technical depths to develop better understanding and defenses in these areas. In addition his research has covered the detection of vulnerabilities in code and their automatic detection, particularly using Large Language Models (LLMs).

Elaheh Jafari

VP Social

email: xeu892@mail.usask.ca

She is a second-year Ph.D. student in computer science at the Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, under the supervision of Prof. Julita Vassileva. Her research is concentrated on explanations within recommender systems, with a current focus on understanding users’ perceptions in this domain.

Mustakim Billah

VP Social

email: mjr175@mail.usask.ca

Embarking on a captivating academic expedition, Mustakim Billah is currently immersed in the pursuit of a Master’s in Computer Science under the expert guidance of Dr. Banani Roy. Mustakim’s scholarly focus is on software engineering and empirical software research, delving into the ever-evolving facets of the digital realm.
Bringing a wealth of experience as a web developer with a proficiency in Java, Mustakim is no stranger to the intricacies of the coding world. The journey doesn’t stop there – competitive programming has been a playground for Mustakim’s problem-solving skills, cultivating a deep-rooted passion for innovation.

Zahidul Islam

VP Social

email: eqm971@usask.ca

Zahid aspires to leverage his passion for computer science and problem-solving skills to develop innovative technology that can solve real-world problems. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at the University of Saskatchewan. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Mrigank Rochan, he is conducting research in the field of Computer Vision and Deep Learning. His primary focus is on developing robust and efficient algorithms for visual understanding that can recognize human appearance, behaviors, and interactions in an interpretable manner. Moreover, Zahid also focuses on developing efficient software systems to safely and effectively deploy Vision AI in diverse practical applications.

Thulani Hewavithana

GSA Representative

email: thulani.hewavithana@usask.ca

Thulani Hewavithana is a distinguished PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan, deeply engaged in the study of bioinformatics under the mentorship of Drs. Lingling Jin and Isobel Parkin. Her research is primarily focused on computational genomics, comparative genomics, and the intricate processes of genome evolution, with a special emphasis on polyploidy and subgenome analysis. In her groundbreaking research, Thulani is exploring the complexities of polyploid genomes, particularly the challenge of subgenome inference in polyploids. Her work involves delving into the evolutionary history of genomes by analyzing synteny blocks, a task complicated by recurring polyploidization and fractionation events. Outside her academic pursuits, Thulani is passionate about volunteer work and values the connections she makes through engaging with various communities. Her work not only reflects her academic brilliance but also her commitment to making a positive impact in the world

Fatima Saberi Khomami

GSA Representative

email: f.saberi@usask.ca

Fatima is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan. She is passionate about solving problems with innovative yet simple approaches. Currently, she is working in the MADMUC lab under the supervision of Professor Julita Vassileva. Fatima joined the University of Saskatchewan after completing her Master’s degree in Data Science at Shahid Beheshti University (SBU). Her MSc thesis focused on improving agent policy in interactive Reinforcement Learning with a continuous action space, using Actor-Critic methods. In her PhD, she plans to explore large language models as a persuasive technology.

Keyhan Najafian

Ph.D. Representative

email: sqi034@mail.usask.ca

Keyhan is a Ph.D. student in the department of computer science at the University of Saskatchewan. He is under the supervision of Dr. Lingling Jin and Dr. Ian Stavness. Keyhan’s main interests are in solving image processing and bioinformatics-related problems using deep neural network-based methods. He is a member of the Computer Science Graduate Council as the GSA Representative.

Mumtahina Ahmed

M.Sc. Representative

email: mumtahina.ahmed@usask.ca

Mumtahina Ahmed is a first-year Computer Science Master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan, working in the Software Research Lab under the supervision of Dr. Chanchal Roy. Focused on code clone detection and duplicate bug prediction, Mumtahina possesses a diverse skill set covering multiple programming languages like Python, C, Java, and more. Mumtahina aims to make significant strides in software engineering, contributing to the field’s advancements. Additionally, she serves as the MSC representative within the CSGC, further enriching her engagement in the computer science community.

Rezwana Mahfuza

VP Social

email: rezwana.mahfuza@usask.ca

Rezwana is an ambitious master’s student in computer science at the University of Saskatchewan, working under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Carl Gutwin and Dr. Debajyoti Mondal. Her research traverses the complex realms of graph visualization and human-computer interaction, focusing on enhancing user interpretability within large network visualizations. By venturing into the less explored aspects of graph visualization, Rezwana is making substantial contributions to the field. Her work does not just enrich academic discussions; it creates new avenues for a more profound and practical understanding of large networks.  Rezwana’s efforts are a significant step forward in both the academic and practical realms of network analysis for a wider audience.

Norah Ridley

Graduate Council Representative

email: norah.ridley@usask.ca

Norah Ridley is a master’s student under the supervision of Dr. Natalia Stakhanova. Her research primarily focuses on privacy in Android. She is excited to be part of the CSGC this year.