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Abeed Sarker
Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University
Professional Background
Abeed Sarker is a distinguished researcher and academic whose work resides at the fascinating intersection of natural language processing, applied machine learning, and medical informatics. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the School of Medicine, Abeed has made significant contributions to the field through his innovative research initiatives and his collaborative efforts in advancing healthcare informatics.
Abeed is the Principal Investigator for the NIH/NIDA funded grant titled "Mining Social Media Big Data for Toxicovigilance: Automating the Monitoring of Prescription Medication Abuse via NLP and Machine Learning Methods (R01DA046619)." This project embodies his vision to harness the power of social media data to tackle complex medical problems, focusing on prescription medication abuse. His research aims to enhance the monitoring of medication-related issues by developing robust end-to-end technological solutions.
Before assuming his current role, Abeed cultivated a rich background in both academic and practical aspects of biomedical engineering and informatics. He served as an Assistant Professor at The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, where he contributed to interdisciplinary research and education. His extensive experience also includes being a Research Scientist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he actively worked on numerous projects aimed at enhancing medical outcomes through technology. Additionally, he has held various positions that include postdoctoral roles and a lead consultant in natural language processing (NLP) at Hugo (Hugo.ai), showcasing his versatility and expertise in different capacities.
Education and Achievements
Abeed's educational background has laid a strong foundation for his career. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computational Linguistics from Macquarie University, where he excelled academically, ranking in the top 10% of his cohort internationally. His research during this time focused on developing an end-to-end approach to query-focused text summarization specifically tailored for evidence-based medicine, merging his interests in linguistics and health informatics.
Prior to his Ph.D., Abeed obtained his Honours degree in Computer Science from Macquarie University, where he was not only a University Medalist and Valedictorian but also received the prestigious best paper prize for his groundbreaking work on automated motion blur reduction methods in digital image processing. His accolades reflect his dedication to innovation and excellence in research and education.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his robust career, Abeed Sarker has achieved several notable milestones that highlight his commitment to research and the advancement of medical informatics. His work on NLP and machine learning in the context of toxicovigilance stands out as a crucial contribution to safeguarding public health. By exploring social media as a data source, he is paving the way for more responsive and informed healthcare interventions.
Abeed's research interests continue to grow, embodying the evolving nature of both the fields of natural language processing and applied machine learning. He believes that combining these technologies with medical informatics provides an opportunity for significant breakthroughs in understanding and addressing health-related issues of modern society. Moreover, his experience in academia and various research positions demonstrates his ability to lead, collaborate, and innovate across disciplines.
Abeed is passionate about mentoring the next generation of researchers and students, sharing his knowledge and expertise in computer science, linguistics, and biomedical engineering. He actively participates in academic and professional communities, sharing his findings through publications, conferences, and collaborative projects. His vision and research philosophy encompass a commitment to applying technical knowledge in meaningful ways that contribute to medical advancement and patient care.
In an era where the integration of technology in healthcare is more critical than ever, Abeed Sarker stands out as a key figure in promoting how advancements in natural language processing and machine learning can be implemented in real-world medical scenarios. His academic endeavors and research accomplishments illuminate the path toward a future where data-driven solutions significantly enhance healthcare practices and patient outcomes.