Dr. Feras Saad

Biography

Feras Saad joined the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2023. He previously served as a Visiting Research Scientist at Google. Dr. Saad earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2022, following a Master of Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2016. His dissertation focused on probabilistic programming systems and was recognized with the George M. Sprowls PhD Thesis Award in 2023. His professional pursuits center on developing new techniques for scalable computing systems that enable flexible probabilistic modeling and sound probabilistic inference. He integrates concepts from programming languages and probabilistic artificial intelligence to enhance the engineering of powerful reasoning systems with improved automation, accuracy, and scalability compared to existing methodologies. His research spans various problems within the computing stack, addressing foundational queries in representation and developing statistical models and algorithms to tackle significant data science challenges. Current research interests include Probabilistic Programming, Automated Probabilistic Model Discovery, and Random Sampling Algorithms, all aimed at improving accessibility to probabilistic inference for everyday users in various scientific and engineering domains.

Research Interests