A talented lecturer in CS gives you algorithms & data structures & programming languages lessons online

Find out more about Hussein

• 1) Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  I was about seven years old when I first sat in front of my family's old Pentium II, running Windows 98. I remember launching MS Paint and getting completely lost in playing with pixel art-drawing everything from stick-figure superheroes to wild abstract patterns. That feeling of "What happens if I click here… and here?" sparked a curiosity that's still driving me today.

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most, and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  Nothing blew my mind more than watching software migrate from "installed-on-your-PC" to "live-in-the-cloud." During my Master's at the University of Melbourne under Dr Junha Gan, I worked on problems that ingested financial data in real time, where every millisecond counted. Looking forward, I'm convinced that hybrid classical/quantum-inspired algorithms will be game-changers, tackling problems that simply take too long today, from ultra-fast optimisations to bullet-proof communications.

• 3) Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  I geek out on streaming algorithms and computational geometry. In fact, I am interested in how you can spot "events" in a river of data without needing a data centre's worth of RAM. It's a bit like finding a needle in a haystack-except the haystack never ends! With industries from finance to IoT relying on instant insights, these tools are becoming the backbone of the digital world.

• 4) Do so-called "visionaries," such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, inspire you, or do you have other role models?

  Sure, Gates, Jobs, and Zuckerberg reshaped industries-but my real role models are people I've met directly. Dr Junha Gan taught me to balance rigorous proofs with real-world benchmarking, and Dr Mohammad Ali Abam, my coauthor, showed me how collaborative creativity can push a project from "cool idea" to "conference highlight."

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  In my Bachelor's project, I built "IQSon," an autonomous negotiating agent. In its first live test at ANAC-2018, it insultingly low-balled its opponent-and promptly lost. I was devastated, but went back, rewrote its utility estimator, and in the final round, IQSon climbed to 4th place. That taught me two things: fail fast, and never underestimate the power of real-world trials.

• 6) What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I tell them, "Think of coding like learning a recipe. You don't bake a wedding cake on day one-you master cookies first." Pick a tiny challenge that excites you-maybe automating a simple daily task-celebrate that win, then tackle a slightly bigger one. Before you know it, the computer feels like your collaborator, not your enemy.

• 7) What are your other passions, related or unrelated to computers?

  I love teaching (I've led Data Structures & Algorithms sessions for undergrads), I'm a devoted chess player (patterns on the board often mirror patterns in code!), and I unwind by hiking the hills around Tehran-sometimes the best coding ideas come on the trail.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  Deep expertise: PhD work in theoretical CS, publications, and hands-on projects.
  
  Proven teaching track record: Tutoring one-on-one and lecturing at Superprof, Platute, and my home universities.
  
  Student-first mindset: I adapt my approach-stories, diagrams, live coding-based on each learner's style.
  
  Genuine enthusiasm: Nothing beats the sparkle in a student's eyes when a tough concept clicks.
  
  I look forward to bringing these experiences to Superprof and helping new students discover the joy of computing!