Mentorship Program 2024-2025 Mentors

I am a second-year MSc student in Machine Learning (ML) at Aalto University. I have been involved in ML research for over two years, with a primary focus on ML applications in healthcare. During my Bachelor's studies, I worked with two research groups at Istanbul Technical University and published papers at both international and national conferences. At Aalto, my work centers on deep generative models, specifically using probabilistic methods to generate health data.

If you share an interest in ML and generative models and are considering pursuing an academic career, starting with a Master's degree, I would be happy to discuss these fascinating topics with you. Together, we can explore which university would be the best fit for your MSc studies and work on preparing your application documents, such as your motivation letter, CV, and more.

After graduating from the Computer Engineering program at Istanbul Technical University, I'm currently pursuing my second year of master's in Machine Learning program at Aalto University, Finland. I have seen my undergraduate years as a chance to obtain diverse experience so I obtained working experiences in both companies and research groups. Also, I spent one semester at Tampere University, Finland as an exchange student, which helped me to decide my route for my master's education. As my recent working experience, I completed my summer research internship on a representation learning task on gene expression data so I'm currently interested in probabilistic models in deep learning. In previous years, I was a mentee in mentorship programs of different organizations including Inzva, all provided me with precious learnings. Now, I am thrilled to give back to the community and create even a tiny impact on your career journey. In the program, I can contribute to you getting prepared for master's\internship\exchange applications, deciding on career prospects, or just exchanging ideas about any existential questions. To have maximum benefit from the program, I expect my mentees to take the initiative to organize meetings, clearly express their demands, and participate in events organized by the mentorship team. Also, they should be active in communication, otherwise, I tend to convert meetings into monologues :D See you on the program!

I am Pouya P. Niaz. I have an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Koc University, and I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. After graduating from B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and working for some time in my homeland, I applied for M.Sc. positions and was accepted with full scholarship by Koc University, Bilkent University, and Sabanci University. I chose Koc University. I worked in a TUBITAK project in the Robotics and Mechatronics Lab (RML) under Prof. Basdogan, and then was also enrolled into the KUIS AI Center as a research fellow. I took courses and worked with faculty members within KUIS AI Center such as Aykut Erdem, Fatma Guney, Deniz Yuret, Engin Erzin, and a few others. During my M.Sc. I worked on using AI for advancing Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction via timeseries classification and prediction in the form of subtask detection and motion estimation. After graduating M.Sc. I applied for Ph.D. positions and received acceptance from a few positions in Germany, Italy and Austria. I chose the Intelligent and Interactive Systems (IIS) research group of U. Innsbruck. My Ph.D. research currently focuses on using AI for Robot learning, including perception, planning and control. On the one hand, I am working on using reinforcement learning for learning abstract discrete representations of the environment and actions through free play and exploration, so that symbolic planning can be used for more efficient task planning, motion planning, and dynamic control. On the other hand, I am working on affordance detection through computer vision and haptic interaction for better perception and control in different environments. In terms of AI and deep learning, I have mostly been involved with timeseries prediction, and computer vision to some extent. I am now getting more involved with reinforcement learning as well.

I was introduced to Inzva via the 2021 Applied AI program. After completing this program, I also attended and finished the ML bootcamp. I have served as a guide in the Tensorflow section of the previous ML bootcamp, as well as a mentor in the mentorship program for the last 2 years.

Having studied both M.Sc. and Ph.D. abroad outside my homeland, I have extensive knowledge about academic positions in general, especially in relevant fields. I have more knowledge and experience in the academic sector than the industrial sector. That being said, even though I am not aware of all the nuanced minutia of the industrial sector in computer science, I do have mentorship experience with people learning classical ML or DL to find better job prospects in the data science and AI fields. I can therefore strive to help my mentees achieve their goals and grow as individuals. I am relatively flexible in the level of hands-on interaction and guidance required for a mentee to grow and learn comfortably at their own pace, but I do value due diligence and responsibility, and would most enjoy working with mentees that have clear goals, and have no problem doing whatever it takes to achieve them on time. I hope to help my mentees clarify their immediate goals and expedite their learning and growth path in this mentorship program as well.

I am currently a researcher at the University of Glasgow, with previous academic experience at University College London (UCL) and Marmara University. As a PhD researcher, my work is at the intersection of big data, machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision. My primary focus is to leverage these technologies to address complex and unique challenges across various domains, aiming to uncover insights and develop innovative solutions.

My research is particularly centred on data science and artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on Large Language Models (LLMs) and Large Multimodal Models (LMMs). I am actively exploring how these advanced models can be integrated with other technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial analysis and computer vision, to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

As a mentor, I am keen to share my knowledge and experience accumulated over more than a decade in academia, both domestically and internationally. I am passionate about guiding mentees who are willing to learn, open-minded, and especially those looking to develop their careers in academia.

Together, we can create a mutually enriching relationship, where both mentor and mentee grow through collaboration, cooperation, and mutual respect.

I am currently a back-end engineer at Trendyol, working in the fulfillment domain. My professional interests include algorithms, distributed systems, database systems, and programming languages. Throughout my career, I’ve gained experience at 8 different companies, including 7 internships during my bachelor’s degree at organizations like Amazon, Getir, Commensis, Baykar Technologies, and Garanti BBVA. I’ve had the opportunity to work in various technical areas, including robotics, frontend, and backend development. For those seeking to benefit from my mentorship, I can assist with topics such as algorithms, distributed systems, computer science fundamentals, and software engineering. I offer support with CV preparation, finding internships, and providing career guidance within the industry. Additionally, I help individuals make informed decisions about their career paths and effectively manage their bachelor’s studies. I can also assist those approaching graduation with their initial career steps, including job searches and building professional networks.

I'm a Senior Data Scientist with a strong background in developing and deploying machine learning solutions that create real-world impact. My journey began at Tarfin in Istanbul, where I played a pivotal role in building the company’s first credit scoring model, along with other key data-driven initiatives such as fraud detection, portfolio optimization, and pricing algorithms. Leading a diverse team of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and risk experts, I developed a deep understanding of guiding complex projects from concept to implementation.

Currently, I’m based in Berlin, working at Pair Finance, where I focus on creating ML-driven models for optimizing debt recovery strategies, fine-tuning large language models (LLMs) for automated email classification, and maintaining machine learning APIs in a cloud environment. My work is deeply rooted in Python, and I have experience with AWS, Docker, and advanced ML frameworks of Python.

My Interests

Beyond my professional interests, I’m passionate about leveraging data science to solve real-world problems, especially in fintech, where data-driven insights can significantly impact people's lives. I also have a keen interest in the intersection of machine learning and LLMs.

On a personal note, I’ve been an avid sailor since I was 14. I’m also active in beach volleyball, which I play regularly. These activities keep me grounded and balanced, and I enjoy connecting with others who share these interests.

What I Offer to Mentees

As a mentor, I bring a wealth of experience in both the technical and strategic aspects of data science, particularly within the fintech sector. I can offer guidance on developing and deploying machine learning models, navigating the challenges of data science in production, and advancing your career in tech. Additionally, I can provide support in interview preparation, helping you refine your technique and approach.

I’m happy to share insights and experiences related to sailing or even just the sea.

Given that I’m based in Berlin, face-to-face meetings may not always be possible, but I’m fully committed to providing remote mentorship through regular virtual sessions and ongoing communication.

What I Expect from Mentees

I believe mentorship is most effective when it’s a two-way street. I expect my mentees to be curious, open-minded, and proactive in their learning journey. I value mentees who are eager to challenge themselves, willing to tackle difficult problems, and committed to continuous improvement. If you’re passionate about growing as a data scientist, particularly in fintech, and ready to put in the effort, I’m excited to help you reach your goals.

I graduated from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) with a degree in computer engineering 1.5 years ago. I have a strong background in math and computer science from my work in olympiads, and I’ve spent 2-3 years developing web and mobile applications.

Right now, my main interests are high-frequency trading (HFT) and algorithmic trading, where I use advanced algorithms in financial markets. I also have a broad network and can connect my mentees with experts in different areas when needed.

I like to keep in regular contact with my mentees, through frequent meetings and constant communication. I also enjoy face-to-face meetings to build a strong and productive relationship

I'm Yasin, I graduated from Bogazici University in 2022. I've been working as a Software Development Engineer (SDE) at Amazon in the Berlin office since June 2022. Previously, I did two summer internships in the same team at Amazon. Our work is mostly on building infrastructure for ML models using AWS Services and making images beautiful. I believe I can be most helpful when preparing for internships/full-time work abroad (e.g. CV preparation/interviews). Other than that, I would be happy to talk about working abroad or working as an SDE in a science team.

All participants have to abide by our CODE OF CONDUCT  and LETTER OF CONSENT. 

A  BEV Foundation project inzva is a non-profit hacker community organizing study and project groups as well as camps in the fields of AI and Algorithm; and gathering CS students, academics, and professionals in Turkey.

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