AIR Lab directors have also led a range of AI-driven projects aimed at addressing various challenges and enhancing quality of life. These projects include improving security measures with gaze tracking and iris scanning, enhancing educational outcomes through AI applications, and developing health monitoring systems for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and autism. Additionally, our work in human motion analysis holds potential for advancing therapies and detecting motion-related problems. The impact and credibility of these initiatives are supported by their publication in respected peer-reviewed journals and conferences. We have also supported students in significant projects, such as wildfire prediction, effect of wildfire on infrastructure, brain activity analysis during various tasks, and the development of inner speech decoding models.
However, AI is not limited to any specific domain or application; with collaboration and bringing in your domain expertise, we can work together to tackle new challenges.
Dr. Masoumeh Heidari Kapourchali is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at UAA, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. She earned her Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Memphis and completed postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University. At UAA, Dr. Heidari teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Computer Vision. Her expertise includes personalized AI models, AI-driven patient monitoring, and AI applications in the Internet of Things (IoT). She actively mentors students on capstone projects and conducts research on practical solutions that address individual and community needs, with careful attention to privacy and broader social impact. Dr. Heidari has consistently chosen projects aimed at benefiting individuals and society, reflecting her commitment to meaningful and practical applications of AI. Dr. Heidari’s publications, reflecting nearly a decade of AI experience and expertise, can be accessed here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=H8OJzL4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Dr. Kenrick Mock is the Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage and an expert in Artificial Intelligence. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Davis. With a career dedicated to advancing computational intelligence education and research, as well as undergraduate student mentoring at UAA, Dr. Mock leads with a vision that combines educational excellence with practical innovation. His leadership ensures that the lab’s projects are strategically aligned with the needs of Alaska and contribute to solving real-world challenges through community partnerships. His commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment is reflected in his experience in organizing outreach programs, supporting diversity initiatives, and mentoring students. Through his guidance, the lab nurtures future leaders in AI, robotics, and automation equipped to handle the complexities of today’s tech-driven landscape. Dr. Mock’s publications, showcasing over 20 years of AI experience and expertise, can be accessed here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=SENA7AQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao