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Currently, I'm an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Dhofar University (DU), in the green city of Salalah, Sultanate of Oman. Recently, I have been appointed as the chairperson of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department. My arrival to DU comes after spending two years in Lebanon as a full-time faculty member at Hariri Canadian University (HCU), a part-time lecturer at the American University of Beirut (AUB), and a part-time Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Lebanese American University (LAU).  At HCU and AUB, I was with the Department of ECE, while at LAU I was with the division of  Computer Science and Mathematics.

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In August 2004, I completed my Ph.D. degree at London South Bank University (LSBU), where I have been a member of the Institute for Computing Research. This degree followed my completion of the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree in Computers and Communications Engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB), and the Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree in Computer Engineering at Beirut Arab University (BAU).

Currently I'm a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  My biography is included in the Who’s Who in the World; 2009 and 2005, and the Who’s Who in Science and Engineering 8th Edition 2005 - 2006, Marquis Who’s Who, New Jersey, U.S.A.

My first research position, following my second degree, was at AUB as a Research Assistant. Currently, my research interests include:

• Hardware and Embedded System Design: Methods, rapid prototyping, high-level synthesis, optimization, and hardware acceleration

• Parallel Processing: Methods, modelling techniques, and design of parallel algorithms

• Reconfigurable Computing: Rapid prototyping and automatic compilation, integration of programmable devices in modern electronic systems, and performance evaluation of reconfigurable systems

• Cryptography: Algorithms and their applications in hardware security systems, Internet and network security

• Fuzzy Logic: Fuzzy controllers, fuzzy inference systems, simulation, and application

• Microprocessors & Computer Interfacing: Remote sensing, building management systems, circuits and applications

• E-Learning: Training and the application of simulation as a tool for engineering education

• Engineering Formal Methods: Formal modelling, functional programming, concurrency, and their adoption in different areas of engineering.

At this site, I have included a summary of few research projects I have been running and a list of publications.

As yet, I have joined the following international journals boards:

• The International Advisory Board (IAB) of the International Journal of Software Architectures (IJSA)

• The International Editorial Board (IEB) of the International Journal of Software Reuse (IJSR)

• The International Domain Experts Board (IDEB) of the International Journal of Patterns (IJOP)

Moreover, I have been serving on the International Program Committee of the following international conferences:

• The International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Networks (PDCN 2009), Innsbruck, Austria, February 16 – 19, 2009.

• The Fifth IASTED International Conference on Advances in Computer Science and Technology (ACST 2008),   Langkawi, Malaysia,  April 2 – 4, 2008.

• The First IEEE/ACM International Workshop on Unified Software Engines for Any Domain: Addressing the Challenges (USE 2007), Atlanta, Georgia, November 5 – 9, 2007.

• The First International Workshop on Unified Data Mining Engine: Addressing Challenges (UDME 2007), Montréal, Canada, October 21 – 22, 2007.

• The First IEEE International Workshop on Software Patterns: Addressing Challenges (SPAC 2007), Beijing, China, July 24 – 27, 2007.

Besides research, I have been involved in several administrative duties. At DU, and in addition to being the chair of the ECE department, I have been appointed as a member of the University Council since October 2007. With the kick-off of the self-study at DU, as a part of the Quality Audit Process run by the Omani Accreditation Council (www.oac.gov.om), I have been appointed as a member of the Self-study Steering Committee and a co-chair of the Students and Student Support Services Committee.  Furthermore, I have served on various committees at DU since 2006 including the University Committee for Deferred Fees, the University Grievance Committee, the University Student Faculty Council, the University Research Board (URB), the University Ad-hoc Committee for IT Review, the University Committee for Fund Raising Towards Victims of Typhoon Gonu, the College of Engineering Academic and Administrative Committee, and different ad-hoc committees. Between 2004 and 2006, at HCU, I served as a member of the University License Committee, where I have reviewed the curriculum of the Faculty of Science and Information Management for the formal licensing of the program by the ministry of education in the Lebanese government. I have also served in the  Academic and Curriculum Committee, and the Research Committee.

Besides research and administrative work, I have been doing some training and teaching. I trained with companies such as Olivetti (Computers and high-tech equipment), Lematic (Household Appliances Manufacturing), and LibanCell (GSM). I lectured or tutored at AbdelHadi Addibes Vocational Center (Al-Makassed Association), Beirut Arab University (BAU), The American University of Beirut (AUB), London South Bank University (LSBU), Hariri Canadian University (HCU), and Lebanese American University (LAU). Current and previous training and teaching topics include:

Click on course name to follow link to the course website. follow this sign for currently active courses.

• Hardware/Software Co-design CSC 888 LAU

• Hardware/Software Co-design CCEE 500 HCU

• Reconfigurable Computing

• Advanced Computer Architecture

• Embedded System Design CCEE 314 HCU

• Embedded System Design EECE 413 DU

• Computer Architecture EECE 421 AUB

• Computer Architecture CCEE 213 HCU

• Computer Organization EECE 321 AUB

• Computer Organization and Architecture EECE 320 DU

• Microprocessors CCEE 212 HCU

• Microprocessor Systems EECE 221 DU

• Logic Design Fundamentals CCEE 110 HCU

• Digital Systems Design EECE 220 DU

• Introduction to Engineering

• Computer Interfacing

• Networked Hardware and Software Environments

• Computer and Communications Architecture

• Advanced Logic Circuits & Logic Design

• Digital Signal Processing

• Digital Communications and Computer Networks

• Internet Engineering and Web Programming

• GSM/DCS Mobile Networks

• Parallel, Distributed, Mobile, and Internet Computing

• Distributed Computer Systems

• Operating Systems

• Systems and Software Engineering

• Integrated Systems Development

• Programming (Pascal, C, C++, MFC VC++ and JAVA)

• Introduction to Computer Programming CCEE 140 HCU

• Computers and Programming I EECE 130 DU

• Computers and Programming II EECE 230 DU

• Data Structures and Algorithms EECE 231 DU

• Objects and Data Abstraction

• Systems Programming (Translators)

• Complexity Analysis of Algorithms

• Automata Theory and Formal Languages

• Computer Graphics

This is in addition to undertaking some Management and Statistics Courses which I always find very enjoyable.

Selected Research Projects

An Embedded Nine-Port Microwave Vector Network Analyzer

Since June 2006

With Prof. Soubhi Abou Chahine (Beirut Arab University)

Currently manufacturers are looking to build better products for communications applications such as mobile phones, pagers, cordless equipment, and radars.  All of these products require radio and microwave frequency components for their circuitries.  Design and fine testing of these components require a Microwave Vector Network Analyzer (MVNA). Construction of an MVNA benefits from the recent advancement in creating network analyzer using six or five-port reflectometers. The construction of an MVNA can also benefit from the emergence of powerful reconfigurable computing systems, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), to implement its computational parts responsible for analyzing the measured parameters. In the research in hand, we study the feasibility of building a network analyzer that is based on five-port technology that includes a standalone system-on-chip (SoC), and to be assembled in the local market.

Reconfigurable Hardware for Cryptography

Since September 2006

With Prof. Hassan Diab (American University of Beirut)

         Mrs. May Itani (American University of Beirut)

This project includes studies selected from cryptography. Completed studies include the Serpent, RC6, MARS, etc. Targeted hardware systems include the MorphoSys reconfigurable system from the University of California at Irvine, and various FPGA systems. Software packages used include the mULATE emulator for the MorphoSys.

The Aram Locator GPS–based Vehicle Tracking System               

Since June 2006

With Mr. Adnan Yaqzan (M.Sc. CCE Thesis Supervisor, Hariri Canadian University)
One recently implemented Vehicle Tracking System is the Aram Locator. The system has a great storage capacity, and could perform a significant recording with a considerable sampling rate. In this project, we study various enhancements on the original design. The study includes programmable realization of some critical components reaching a better design with a cohesive architecture that would save processing time, speeds up system interactions, and reduces the manufacturing cost.

Parallelizing Arabic Morphological Analysis towards Faster Natural Language Processing and Data Mining Systems

Since Sep 2005

With Dr. Rached Zantout (Hariri Canadian University)

         Dr. Lama Hamandi (American University of Beirut)

         Dr. Ahmad Ghuessoum (University of Sharjah)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) has gained a lot of importance nowadays with many applications requiring real-time performance. In order to achieve the real-time requirements, the components of an NLP system should be made more efficient. Investigating the enhancement of NLP systems efficiency includes the study of creating efficient algorithms, parallelizing the computations, and employing modern hardware acceleration systems. Yet, we have proposed a novel natural language processing (NLP) algorithm for parallel moulds matching for Arabic language - early results found were promising. The current work is being extended for the other important parts of an NLP system like the parser, the morphological generator and the sentence generator taking into consideration the specifics of each area in order to have a complete parallel NLP package.

High-Speed Hardware Systems for Computationally Intensive Applications

Since Sep 2004

With Dr. Ramzi Haraty (Lebanese American University)

Mrs. Safaa Kasbah (M.Sc. CS Thesis Co-supervisor, Lebanese American University)

Miss Amina Maarouf (Lebanese American University)

Mr. Omerfraz Khan (B.Sc. CCE Bachelor Project Supervisor, Dhofar University)

Mr. Wael Ghazawi (B.Sc. CCE Bachelor Project Supervisor, Hariri Canadian University)The aim of this research is to develop high-speed cores for some specific computationally intensive applications. Some of the already developed chips include very high-speed version of tiny ciphers (TEA, XTEA, etc.).  Complex mathematical solvers (Multigrid, Jacobi, SOR, etc.) were also studied offering fast and highly-accurate solutions. Another route was started by addressing parallel layout and placement design strategies. In this project, we did use Handel-C automated compilations for the mathematical solvers, Verilog, and VHDL to implement our other optimized low-level designs. We did also introduce the use of Altera's Quartus II hardware design package for some of our cores.

Synthesis of Parallel Algorithms and their Mapping onto Reconfigurable Hardware
Since Sep 2001
With Dr. Ali Abdallah (London South Bank University)

          Dr. John Hawkins (London South Bank University)

This research project comprises higher-level synthesis of massively parallel algorithms and their mapping onto hardware circuits. This project handles case-studies selected from cryptography. Formalisms and techniques used include the functional notation,  function decomposition strategies, data refinement techniques, and communicating sequential processes (CSP) notation. Software packages used include Haskell Hugs compiler and Handel-C hardware compilation tool. 

Performance Evaluation of Reconfigurable Computing Systems
April 2000 – August 2004

With Prof. Hassan Diab (American University of Beirut)

         Prof. Fadi Kurdahi (University of California  Irvine)

         Prof. Albert Zomaya (University of Sydney)

         Mrs. Nathalie Awad (American University of Beirut)

         Mr. Imad Abdennour (American University of Beirut)

This project includes studies selected from computer graphics, signal processing, digital coding, etc. Targeted hardware systems include the MorphoSys reconfigurable system from the University of California at Irvine, and various FPGA systems. Software packages used include the mULATE emulator for the MorphoSys.

Others
Since Feb 2000
Fuzzy Logic employment in automated systems, computer assisted teaching software packages, and building management systems hardware and software components.

List of Publications

Selected Projects

Performance Testing of Refrigerators using Fuzzy Inference Methodology Under LABView
Aug 1999 - June 2000

With Prof. Hassan Diab (American University of Beirut)

          Prof. Jean Saade (American University of Beirut)
This project employed fuzzy inference methodology in order to pave the way for the emergence of an intelligent, automated and efficient procedure for the refrigerant charging of refrigerators. Interfacing and control are done using National Instruments hardware systems. The graphical  language G under LABView is used for programming. This project was the first prize winner in the Fourth Exhibition on Industrial Research Achievements in Lebanon 2000. The theory behind this project was published in the 7th IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Circuits and Systems Beirut, Lebanon 2000.

Internet-Based Remote Control System
March 1998 - June 1999

With Dr. Ziad Othman (Beirut Arab University)

          Dr. Mohammad Ladan (Beirut Arab University)

          Mr. Raslan Al Obaji (Beirut Arab University)

          Mr. Mohammad Nahas (Beirut Arab University)

This project was an online building management system that consists of three main parts. The first part included the design, assembling, and testing of the hardware interfacing cards and the physical infrastructure. The second part featured the programming of the server side drivers and its software controllers. The third part included building the user interface, website design, and packaging of the hardware components. This project was published in the proceedings of the 13^th Science Meeting, organized by the National Council for Scientific Research and Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Science - Beirut, Lebanon 1999. The second phase of the project had been exhibited in the Second Exhibition on Industrial Research Achievements in Lebanon 1998. An early prototype appeared in the Project Section of the Engineering Day organized by Faculty of Engineering at Beirut Arab University 1998 and was awarded the first prize.

Efficient Tiny Hardware Ciphers
April 2008

The Third Engineering Students Gathering, Sultan Qabous University

Muscat - Oman

Object Oriented Design and Implementation of Interactive Historic Battles
April 2007

Open Days Engineering Exhibition, Dhofar University

Salalah - Oman

Hardware Multigrid Solvers
July 2006

International Conference on Domain Decomposition Method

Strobl - Austria

Hardware Development of the Extended Tiny Encryption Algorithm
March 2006

International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications

Dubai/ Sharjah - United Arab Emirates

Handel-C as a Backend Compiler for Synthesizing Reconfigurable Hardware from Functional Specification
Feb 25, 2005

Celoxica LTD
Abingdon - United Kingdom

Synthesis of Parallel Algorithms for Field Programmable Gate Arrays, with Applications from Cryptography
July 9, 2004
25 Years of CSP Event

London South Bank University

London - United Kingdom

Engineering Graduates: Motivation & Frontiers
Aug 10, 2003

The Annual Universities Academic Camp
Majdilioun - Lebanon

Presentation 2

Reconfigurable Computing: Research and Current State-of-Art
July 17, 2003

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering

Hariri Canadian University

Mishrif - Lebanon

Synthesis of Massively Parallel Algorithms and Their Mapping onto Reconfigurable Systems
April 17, 2002
IEEE and EPSRC Conference PREP

Nottingham - United kingdom

Performance Evaluation of Linear Algebraic Functions Under MorphoSys Reconfigurable Computing System
May 17, 2001
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

American University of Beirut

Beirut - Lebanon

Computer Graphics Educational Toolkit
March 12, 2001
Conference on Information Technology in Higher-Education

in Arab Universities

Beirut - Lebanon

Performance Testing of Refrigerators using Fuzzy Inference Methodology Under LABView
July 18, 2000
Fourth Exhibition on Industrial Research Achievements in Lebanon

Beirut - Lebanon