Short Biography:
Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Syed obtained his M.Sc degree in June 1978 and Ph.D degree in November 1980 both in the field of Computer Technology from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at Budapest Technical University in Hungary.
Dr. Syed has worked for several institutions in Hungary, Bangladesh, Australia and in USA. He has about 20 years of experience in teaching, in industry, in research and in academic leadership in the field of computer science and engineering. Before he joined Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2000 he worked as a visiting professor at the North Dakota State University during 1999. Earlier he worked at Monash University in Australia (1993-99), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Bangladesh (1982-92) and Ganz Electric Works in Hungary. He was the Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering during 1986-92 at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, which is the topmost technical university in Bangladesh. He shouldered the responsibilities of developing its undergraduate and postgraduate course curriculum, infrastructure and laboratories from its foundation. He is widely acknowledged to have been able to develop the department from scratch as the first and best department in the country. During this period he was chairman of several selection committees and was member/chairman of other committees formed by university and outside organizations.
His research interests include multimedia computing and communications, multimedia document retrieval and processing, educational multimedia, video over ATM, microprocessor based designs, VHDL design, pattern recognition, neural network and artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, electronic commerce and security issues. His current research areas are: texture and shape based image/audio retrieval and processing, neural network based ranking, image segmentation, blocking artifact reduction, Bengali character recognition and security in electronic commerce. He has successfully supervised Ph.D and several Masters students to completion. All of his students are very well placed in well reputed academic institutions in USA, Canada and Australia and in leading industries like Intel, Motorola, Microsoft, Cisco and Sun etc. He has about 100 refereed publications. He was given award by the syndicate of the Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology for research supervision of postgraduate students. He also received the UNESCO/ROSTSCA’ 85 award for south and central Asia region in the field of Informatics and Computer Applications in Scientific Research. He won several other awards.
Dr. Syed has experience of teaching a broad range of subjects for almost two decades and has interest to broaden the range further. Recently he has developed and taught a number of multimedia computing and communications related subjects. The major subjects he taught include: Microprocessor Interfacing, Programming Languages (C++, Fortran, COBOL, Assembly etc.), Multimedia Computing and Communications, Data Communication and Computer Networks, Client Server Applications Development, Multimedia Concepts and Applications, Multimedia Programming, Software Engineering, Computer Technology, Information Systems, Computers in Business, Programming for Business Applications, Business Systems, Digital Computer theory and Design, Machine and Assembler Language Programming, Software Development, Computer Architecture and Organization, Switching theory and logic design, Data structures and Databases, Systems Analysis and Design. He has also interest to develop and teach courses in Digital Signal Processing, Image Processing, Pattern recognition, Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence and Electronic Commerce. He has also gained experience in teaching students both in internal and distance education mode of studies.
He also has industrial experience in the design of microprocessor based industrial process control systems, which has been installed in glass industries, railway traffic control and large city water pump controls.
Dr. Syed has experience in leading professional groups and to be involved in international professional activities including organizing conferences and serving as program committee members and session chairs etc. He was the General secretary of Bangladesh Computer Society. He has organized and is currently engaged in organizing a number of International conferences, and symposium and editing of Books. He has been invited to chair a number of sessions in international conferences. He is member of several professional societies such as IEEE, ACM, Australian Computer Society, IRMA, ISCA etc. He has several awards as recognition of his research and professional activities.
Dr. Syed is the co-editor-in-chief of the Tamkang Journal of Science and Engineering – an International Journal. He is also involved in the editorial review committee of few journals such as Annals of Cases on Information Technology Applications and Management in Organizations and Journal of Global Information management.