I am a US citizen looking for a research position in computer vision, machine learning and/or robotics.

News

Sept 2018

I will be attending NIPS 2018 from December 3rd - December 8th, 2018. I am a NIPS reviewer, meta-reviewer and co-organizer of black in AI.

Education

Aug 2010 - Dec 2015	Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Vanderbilt University
Aug 2007 - May 2009	M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Vanderbilt University
Sep 2000 - July 2005	B.S. in Electrical Engineering, with Great Distinction Bahir Dar University

Research Experience

Dec 2015 - present	US Naval Research Laboratory, Greg Trafton and Wallace Lawson Machine learning and computer vision
Aug 2010 - Dec 2015	Vanderbilt University, Nilanjan Sarkar Robotics, VR/AR, signal processing, and machine learning
Jun 2014 - Aug 2014	US Naval Research Laboratory, Greg Trafton and Wallace Lawson HRI, Computer vision, and machine learning
Aug 2007 - Aug 2010	Vanderbilt University, Alan Peters Computer vision and machine learning

Teaching Experience

F2007	Image Processing (EECE 253), TA
S2007 - S2010	Microcontrollers (EECE 270), TA
S2007 - S2010	Embedded Systems (EECE 276), TA

Industry Experience

May 2014 - Aug 2014	Universal Robotics (aka Logic) Inc., Computer Vision Intern

Vanderbilt Graduate Coursework

• Machine Learning (CS 362), D. Fisher, S2012
• Special Topics - Medical Image Processing in VR (EECE 395), B. Landman, F2012
• Foundations of Medical Imaging (BME 258), B. Welch, S2011
• Special Topics - Cyber Physical Systems (EECE 395), G. Karsai, F2011
• Intermediate Software Desing (CS 251), D. Schmidt, S2010
• Algorithms (CS 250), J. Spinrad, S2010
• Intelligent Systems and Robotics (EECE 356), K. Kawamura, F2010
• Detection and Estimation Theory (EECE 362), M. Wilkes, S2009
• Digital Systems Architecture (EECE 343), W. Robinson, F2008
• Computer Vision (EECE 254), A. Peters, F2008
• Advanced Artificial Intelligence (CS 360), G. Biswas, F2007
• Intro. to Robotics (EECE/ME 271), G. Cook, F2007

Patent & Awards

2015	(Patent) Walking Aid System and Method of Gait Monitoring, U.S. Patent No. 15/068,317
2016 - present	(Fellowship) National Research Council Reserach Associate Program (RAP)
2015	Tennessee TechVenture Challenge, Pitching a 6 DOF Laparascopic Tool
2015	3rd Place Winner and Competition Master Rank at kaggle.com, Grasp-and-lift EEG Detection
2014	The Naval Research Internship Program (NREIP)
2013	Doctoral Consortium, IEEE Virtual Reality Conference
2005	Great Distinction, Ranked 3rd from the Faculty of Engineering, Bahir Dar University

Skills

Research Areas	Computer Vision, Machine Learning, AI, Robotics, HCI/HRI, VR/MR, Signal Processing
Programming Languages	Python, C, C++, Java, JS, Matlab, *Mathematica*, HTML5, CSS, Lisp, \latex
Frameworks	PyTorch (favorite), TensorFlow, Caffe, Keras, NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, OpenCV, Simulink, Hugo, Jekyll, Maya, Unity3D
Systems	Linux, OSX, Windows
Natural Language	English (Fluent), Amharic (Native)

All Publications

Google Scholar

Patent

Walking aid and system and method of gait monitoring N. Sarkar, T. Withrow, J. Wade, R. Boyles, A. Myszka, E. Bekele, and M. Beccani USTPO 2016 [P1] [pdf]

Thesis

Object Detection and Localization Using Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search: Random Tree Implementation E. Bekele Vanderbilt University 2009 [T1] [pdf]

Intelligent Systems for Autism Spectrum Disorders and Schizophrenia Intervention--Design, Development and User Studies E. Bekele Vanderbilt University 2015 [T2] [pdf]

Book Chapters

Psychophysiological feedback for adaptive human--robot interaction (HRI) E. Bekele and N. Sarkar Advances in physiological computing 2014 [C1] [pdf]

Adaptive virtual reality and its application in autism therapy E. Bekele, U. Lahiri, K. Welch, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar Virtual Reality: Technologies, Medical Applications and Challenges 2014 [C2] [pdf]

The impact of robots on children with autism spectrum disorder Z. Zheng, E. Bekele, A. Swanson, A. Weitlauf, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar Autism Imaging and Devices 2017 [C3] [pdf]

Conference Proceedings

Implementing a Robust Explanatory Bias in a Person Re-identification Network E. Bekele, W. Lawson, Z. Horne, and S. Khemlani CVPR 2018 [C1] [pdf]

Finding Anomalies with Generative Adversarial Networks for a Patrolbot. W. Lawson, E. Bekele, and K. Sullivan CVPR 2017 [C2] [pdf]

Implementing a Robust Explanatory Bias in a Person Re-identification Network E. Bekele, W. Lawson, Z. Horne, and S. Khemlani CVPR 2018 [C3] [pdf]

Learning by Generating Mental Imagery from Limited Labeled Dataset E. Bekle and W. Lawson NIPS 2017 [C4] [pdf]

Multimodal adaptive social interaction in virtual environment (MASI-VR) for children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) E. Bekele, J. Wade, D. Bian, J. Fan, A. Swanson, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar IEEE VR 2016 [C5] [pdf]

Automated Surveillance from a Mobile Robot W. Lawson, K. Sullivan, E. Bekele, L. Hiatt, R. Goring, and J. Trafton AAAI 2016 [C6] [pdf]

Multi-attribute residual network (maresnet) for soft-biometrics recognition in surveillance scenarios E. Bekele, C. Narber, and W. Lawson FG 2017 [C7] [pdf]

EEG analysis of facial affect recognition process of individuals with ASD performance prediction leveraging social context J. Fan, E. Bekele, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar ACII 2017 [C8] [pdf]

Dense Stereo Vision on GPU E. Bekele and R. Peters GTC 2010 [C9] [pdf]

Design and implementation of an instrumented cane for gait recognition J. Wade, M. Beccani, A. Myszka, E. Bekele, P. Valdastri, P. Flemming, M. de Riesthal, T. Withrow, and N. Sarkar ICRA 2015 [C10] [pdf]

Development of a novel robot-mediated adaptive response system for joint attention task for children with autism E. Bekele, U. Lahiri, J. Davidson, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar Ro-MAN 2011 [C11] [pdf]

Touch recognition and learning from demonstration (LfD) for collaborative human-robot firefighting teams W. Lawson, K. Sullivan, C. Narber, E. Bekele, and L. Hiatt Ro-MAN 2016 [C12] [pdf]

Impact of robot-mediated interaction system on joint attention skills for children with autism Z. Zheng, L. Zhang, E. Bekele, A. Swanson, J. Crittendon, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar ICORR 2013 [C13] [pdf]

A step towards adaptive multimodal virtual social interaction platform for children with autism E. Bekele, M. Young, Z. Zheng, L. Zhang, A. Swanson, R. Johnston, J. Davidson, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar HCI 2013 [C14] [pdf]

Virtual reality-based facial expressions understanding for teenagers with autism E. Bekele, Z. Zheng, A. Swanson, J. Davidson, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar HCI 2013 [C15] [pdf]

A novel virtual reality driving environment for autism intervention D. Bian, J. Wade, L. Zhang, E. Bekele, A. Swanson, J. Crittendon, M. Sarkar, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar HCI 2013 [C16] [pdf]

Gesture Recognition Using Commodity RGB-D Sensor for Imitation Learning Platform for Children with Autism E. Bekele, J. Bumpus, S. Das, J. Crittendon, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar HCI 2013 [C17] [pdf]

Multimodal Interfaces and Sensory Fusion in VR for Social Interactions E. Bekele, J. Wade, D. Bian, L. Zhang, Z. Zheng, A. Swanson, M. Sarkar, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar HCI 2014 [C18] [pdf]

Responses during facial emotional expression recognition tasks using virtual reality and static iaps pictures for adults with schizophrenia E. Bekele, D. Bian, Z. Zheng, J. Peterman, S. Park, and N. Sarkar HCI 2014 [C19] [pdf]

Design of a novel virtual reality-based autism intervention system for facial emotional expressions identification E. Bekele, Z. Zheng, U. Lahiri, A. Swanson, J. Davidson, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar ICDVRAT 2012 [C20] [pdf]

Refereed Journal

Human modeling for human--robot collaboration L. Hiatt, C. Narber, E. Bekele, S. Khemlani, and J. Trafton IJRR 2017 [J1] [pdf]

Understanding how adolescents with autism respond to facial expressions in virtual reality environments E. Bekele, Z. Zheng, A. Swanson, J. Crittendon, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar TVCG 2013 [J2] [pdf]

Design of a virtual reality based adaptive response technology for children with autism U. Lahiri, E. Bekele, E. Dohrmann, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar TNSRE 2013 [J3] [pdf]

A step towards developing adaptive robot-mediated intervention architecture (ARIA) for children with autism T. Esubalew, U. Lahiri, A. Swanson, J. Crittendon, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar TNSRE 2013 [J4] [pdf]

Design of a Virtual Reality System for Affect Analysis in Facial Expressions (VR-SAAFE); Application to Schizophrenia E. Bekele, D. Bian, J. Peterman, S. Park, and N. Sarkar TNSRE 2017 [J5] [pdf]

Can robotic interaction improve joint attention skills? Z. Warren, Z. Zheng, A. Swanson, E. Bekele, L. Zhang, J. Crittendon, A. Weitlauf, and N. Sarkar JADD 2015 [J6] [pdf]

Assessing the utility of a virtual environment for enhancing facial affect recognition in adolescents with autism E. Bekele, J. Crittendon, Z. Zheng, A. Swanson, A. Weitlauf, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar JADD 2014 [J7] [pdf]

A physiologically informed virtual reality based social communication system for individuals with autism U. Lahiri, E. Bekele, E. Dohrmann, Z. Warren, and N. Sarkar JADD 2015 [J8] [pdf]

Pilot clinical application of an adaptive robotic system for young children with autism E. Bekele, J. Crittendon, A. Swanson, N. Sarkar, and Z. Warren Autism 2014 [J9] [pdf]

Complexities of emotional responses to social and non-social affective stimuli in schizophrenia J. Peterman, E. Bekele, D. Bian, N. Sarkar, and S. Park Frontiers in psychology 2015 [J10] [pdf]