Deya Banisakher

Deya Banisakher has extensive experience in the field of data science, specializing in natural language processing and artificial intelligence/machine learning. Currently, they hold the position of Lead Data Scientist at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., where they serve as a subject matter expert in NLP and AI/ML, supporting national defense missions at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Prior to this role, Deya worked as a Data Scientist at the same company, fulfilling similar responsibilities.

In addition to their work at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., Deya also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University - College of Engineering & Computing and Miami Dade College, where they impart their knowledge and expertise to students. Deya has held these positions since 2021.

Deya's career also includes research positions. Deya worked as a Postdoctoral Scholar at both the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska from 2020 to 2021. Before that, they served as an NLP Researcher and an NSF CREST CAChE Fellow at Florida International University from 2016 to 2020. Additionally, they gained valuable research experience as a Graduate Research Assistant at Florida International University's Cognition, Narrative, and Culture Laboratory (Cognac) from 2014 to 2020.

Furthermore, Deya has contributed to research in other organizations. Deya worked as a Doctoral Researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2017, where they focused on national-scale graph models and visualization for transportation and energy infrastructures, as well as a situational awareness tool for the same infrastructures. Prior to that, they held the role of Undergraduate Research Assistant at Bethune-Cookman University, where they developed and debugged a satellite imagery analysis software extension and analyzed satellite imagery and data using graphical software. Deya also served as an Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant at The University of Texas at Arlington in 2013, where they built a prototype microphone array and created software for person localization in a smart home setting.

Overall, Deya Banisakher's work experience spans various roles in academia, research, and industry, with a focus on NLP, AI/ML, and their applications in national defense and infrastructure analysis.

Deya Banisakher's education history is as follows:

From 2007 to 2008, Deya attended The Jubilee Institute where they obtained a High School/Secondary Diploma or Certificate.

In the years 2008 to 2010, Deya studied at Spruce Creek High School and earned a High School Diploma with a field of study in International Baccalaureate.

Continuing their education, Deya pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science from 2010 to 2014 at Bethune-Cookman University.

Following the completion of their bachelor's degree, from 2014 to 2016, Deya attended Florida International University and completed a Master's degree in Computer Science.

Lastly, from 2014 to 2020, Deya pursued and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Computer Science at Florida International University.