Md Istiaque Al Jobayer

Name: Md Istiaque Al Jobayer
Nationality: Bangladesh
Current Role:

Why did you decide to pursue Computer Science?

I grew up with computers and took to programming at an early age. Although when I just started out, I would just mimic people’s code. It was a lot of fun still! After I started studying for my GCE O-levels, I could understand introductory computer science books. The more I read, the more I realized how powerful computing was --- almost any problem you can think about can be solved with the right combination of programming and mathematical reasoning. Near the end of my A-levels, I was almost certain that this was something that I would enjoy studying in university --- and so here I am.

Please tell us briefly about your current research.

At present I am pursuing an honours degree. My research area involves applying artificial intelligence to solving video surveillance problems. Specifically, I am looking at how we can use modern deep neural network architectures to identify objects of interest in a video scene.

Has studying at Monash met your expectations so far?

Definitely. The faculty of information technology has some very qualified and helpful members, both lecturers and tutors. I have learned a lot from the three years in undergraduate, and I am still learning from my supervisors every day. I also like the fact that Monash courses are designed so that you spend a fair amount of time doing independent study, and not just study only what’s in the lectures.

What opportunities did you participate in while at Monash? E.g. conferences, study trips, volunteer programs, student exchange, etc.

I joined the campus PASS program around July 2016. PASS, or Peer Assisted Study Sessions, is an academic mentoring program for university students, where the PASS leader (that’s me!) is leading extra tutorial sessions alongside the official lecture/tutorial/lab sessions, supporting the academic staff and helping students ease into a unit.

I also participated for two semesters in the International Buddy Program. The program is meant to support new international students by helping them settle into university life and navigate through academic and social aspects of life in a new country.

Did you have any industry exposure/placements while studying at Monash? If so, do you think it has made a difference for you in terms of career preparation?

I haven’t had any in my time here at Monash.

What are your career goals, or your future plans?

I am planning to apply for higher studies --- perhaps a PhD. I have a keen interest in research, especially research in modern approaches to artificial intelligence. As for career goals, I would like to work in a research and development setting where I am applying my knowledge of computer science and mathematics to solve challenging problems.