By Kelsey Kendall
Khan Iftekharuddin, Ph.D., has been named the first director of the Virginia Beach Data Science Institute at Old Dominion University. Open in November 2023The Institute is a hub of research, collaboration and education, bringing together interdisciplinary teams to discover solutions to complex societal challenges facing the Hampton Roads community.
“This institute and this (School of Data Science) is the right place to pursue this,” said Dr. Iftekharuddin. “This will bring together students, faculty members, researchers and all other stakeholders from different disciplines and enable team science to be done at a level where it will actually bring benefits not only to the University, but also to the region and beyond.”
He is concurrently director of the ODU Vision Lab, which develops innovative algorithms and systems for human-machine interaction, biomedical imaging, and environmental resilience using computer vision, signal processing, and intelligence artificial.
His research on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, image analysis and computer vision has broad implications. He worked to create computer models to identify brain tumors in MRI images, helping clinicians improve diagnosis, patient monitoring, and prediction of survivability. Likewise, his research developed AI and machine learning methods to monitor and detect the extent and depth of water on roads in flood-prone areas like Hampton Roads. These solutions can alert drivers and help them plan their routes in advance.
“There is so much data available, and most of it is not yet really analyzed and used,” Dr. Iktekharuddin said. “It’s like, ‘How much can you do?’ »The opportunities, I think, are endless.
Dr. Iftekharuddin has worked at the University since 2011, holding numerous leadership positions over the years. He is a professor and Batten Chair in Machine Learning in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
“ODU is a place where you are valued as a faculty member, staff member and student,” Dr. Iftekharuddin said. “This place also offers the opportunity to grow and pursue your ideas.”
Prior to his current role, Dr. Iftekharuddin served as Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies and Innovation and Interim Dean of the Batten College of Engineering and Technology.
He has received numerous accolades throughout his career. In 2023, he was recognized by the State Council of Higher Education for the Virginia Outstanding Teacher Award. He has made important contributions to his field and is among the best 2% of the most cited scientists in the worldaccording to a recent Stanford University ranking. Additionally, he received the 2020 Old Dominion University Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement Award and has been recognized for his research by ODU’s Batten College, the University of Memphis and the North Dakota State University in 2014, 2011 and 2000, respectively.
The institute falls under the School of Data Science, one of three academic units that make up the interdisciplinary schools. When the school launched in spring 2023, Dr. Iftekharuddin played a role in its creation. Its mission is to foster innovative research and development in data science and AI and facilitate collaborations between ODU and the public and private sectors.
“I am excited to collaborate with Dr. Iftekharuddin to further expand research and outreach activities in Virginia Beach,” said Frank Liu, Ph.D., director of the School of Data Science. “I look forward to new opportunities for students and faculty in the School of Data Science, as well as the broader Virginia Beach community.”