Biography
Dr Hadj Batatia has been an Associate Professor at the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) at Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD) since 2020. He is the Associate Director of Research for MACS Dubai. In this role, Hadj is responsible for setting the school research strategy and delivery plan, promoting research activities, and leading the local research coordination committee.
Before joining HWUD, Hadj was an Associate Professor in the Computer Science department of the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (INP Toulouse), France. Previously, he was Director of the Graduate Apprenticeship in Computer Science, Head of the Computer Science department, and Associate Director of the School of Engineers at Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers – Toulouse Campus, France.
His research focus is computational imaging, with particular interest in machine learning, statistical modelling and inference, partial differential equations, and variational methods for image and signal processing problems, with emphasis on medical imaging
He has taught courses in various subjects, including Advanced Machine Learning, Biologically Inspired Computation, Big Data Management, Systems Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Medical Image Processing and Software Development at multiple levels (Diploma, Bachelor, Master). His combined experience in academia spans 30 years across France, the UK, Malaysia and currently the UAE. Throughout his academic career, Hadj has contributed to designing new curricula, updating existing ones, and creating and delivering continuous professional development programmes.
Hadj completed his MSc in Artificial Intelligence and his PhD in Computer Vision, respectively, in 1987 and 1992 at the University of Toulouse in France, having undertaken his undergraduate studies at the University of Algiers in Algeria. He is fluent in English, French, and Arabic. In his free time, Hadj enjoys reading history, hiking, mountain trekking, and gardening.