Mr Aarbaz Alam

I am a Lecturer in the Division of Computer Science and Informatics within the School of Engineering at London South Bank University. My academic practice is informed by a professional background as an AI Developer and Data Engineer, where I focused on the practical application of intelligent systems and the architecture of scalable data pipelines. My work is dedicated to bridging the gap between high-level algorithmic theory and industry-standard software deployment, ensuring that students and researchers alike can navigate the complexities of modern digital infrastructure.

Interests

My work focuses on the optimization of computational systems and the integration of intelligent frameworks into diverse technological environments.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) & Large Language Models (LLMs): I am interested in the architecture and application of transformer-based models and Generative AI. My work involves designing conversational AI for specialized domains, with a focus on prompt engineering, model alignment, and the ethical deployment of LLMs.

• Discrete Mathematics & Algorithmic Optimization: I apply mathematical structures to enhance the efficiency of search, sorting, and resource management within Operating Systems and high-performance databases.

• Human-AI Interaction: I am interested in how users interact with automated systems and how we can design AI interfaces that are both intuitive and transparent.

Subjects Taught

Postgraduate (Level 7)

• Natural Language Processing (CSI_7_NLP) : Module Leader and Creator.

• Software System Engineering (CSI_7_SSE) : Module Leader and Creator.

• Systems and Cyber Security (CSI_7_SYS)

Undergraduate (Level 6)

• ICT Project Management (CSI_6_ICT)

Undergraduate (Level 5)

• Software Engineering (CSI_5_SFE) : Module Leader.

• Operating Systems (CSI_5_OSY)

• Big Data and Database Systems (CSI_5_BDD)

• Advanced Programming (CSI_5_ADP)

• Object Oriented Programming (CSI_5_OOP)

Undergraduate (Level 4)

• Discrete Mathematics (CSI_4_DMA) : Module Leader.

• Data Structures and Algorithms (CSI_4_DSA)

• Professional Practice (CSI_4_PPR)

Additional Responsibilities

Beyond my core teaching, I hold several leadership and development roles within the university:

• Year 1 Lead for Computer Science: I serve as the Year 1 Lead, overseeing the academic journey and transition of first-year Computer Science students, ensuring a strong foundational experience and student retention.

• Module Creation & Curriculum Design: I have spearheaded the creation and leadership of advanced postgraduate modules, ensuring our curriculum reflects the rapid advancements in AI, LLM integration, and software architecture.

• AI in Education Workshops: I design and deliver workshops for staff and students on the ethical and practical use of AI in teaching and learning. These sessions focus on generative AI tools, effective prompt engineering, and maintaining academic integrity in an AI-assisted landscape.

• Technical Upskilling: I lead cross-university workshops on essential developer tools, including GitHub for version control and Python for data automation, helping students from all disciplines develop a "code-literate" mindset.

• Module Leadership: I oversee the curriculum development and quality assurance for some of the core Computer Science modules across Levels 4, 5, and 7, ensuring that our teaching remains aligned with industry standards.

Professional Expertise

• LLM & Generative AI: Practical experience in implementing Large Language Models and developing applications using modern AI frameworks.

• AI & Chatbot Engineering: Extensive experience in developing end-to-end conversational agents and web-based AI solutions.

• Industry Alignment: Dedicated to ensuring academic content meets the rigorous demands of the modern tech workforce.

Projects & Knowledge Exchange

• Heston Lions Urban Farm Web Platform: I am collaborating with academic colleagues and the CEO of Hecate Technologies LTD to design and develop a web platform for Lions International Charity (Heston Branch). The project supports their community-focused Urban Farm initiative. The immediate objective of this industry-charity partnership is to deliver a functional digital presence to strengthen the charity's upcoming application for a National Lottery grant.