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About AAIG

At Applied Artificial Intelligence Group (AAIG), we conduct research in a wide range of AI applications, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Our team of experts works closely with government agencies, defense contractors, and other partners to develop innovative solutions that can be used to support a range of national security efforts. As members of the Florida Institute for National Security (FINS), we play a critical role in developing cutting-edge technologies that can enhance our nation’s security and protect against emerging threats.

Leadership

Dr. Damon Woodard
Damon Woodard
Founder, Director
Research Interests:

Profiling via Text Analytics and Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI-enabled Hardware Assurance & Security, AI-enabled Cybersecurity, Cognitive Biometrics (Author Attribution), Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, Data-Centered Artificial Intelligence

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Ronald Wilson
Co-Director, Research Assistant Professor, Project Lead and Mentor
Research Interests:

Artificial Intelligence for Hardware Assurance and Trust on Integrated Circuits, Computational Behavior Analytics for Identity Sciences, Computer Vision, and Natural Language Processing

Postdocs

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Reiner Dizon-Paradis
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Research Interests:

Artificial Intelligence in Hardware Security and Assurance, Internet of Things, and Robotics

Members

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Avanti Bhandarkar
PhD Candidate
Research interests:

Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computational Behavior Analytics, Generative AI, Applied AI

Anushka Swarup
Anushka Swarup
PhD Candidate
Research Interests:

 Natural Language Processing (NLP), Information Extraction, Personality Prediction, Large Language Models

Mengdi Zhu 1
Mengdi Zhu
PhD Candidate
Research interests:

Deep Learning, Generative Networks, Synthetic Data, Data-driven AI, Image Processing, and Computer Vision

Princess Lyons 1
Princess Lyons
PhD Student
Research interests:

Natural Language Processing (NLP), Deep Learning, Multilingual Text Analysis

Stephen Wormald
Stephen Wormald
PhD Student
Research interests:

Deep Learning, Explainable AI, AI for Design

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Qiangeng Yang
PhD Student
Research interests:

Cybersecurity, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Deep Learning

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Tianyu Bell Pan
PhD Student
Research interests:

Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Deep Learning, Information System, Computational Methods in Business and Economics

Alexa Cole1
Alexa Cole
PhD Student
Research Interests:

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

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Wavid Bowman
PhD Student (Incoming)
Research interests:

Explainable AI (XAI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML)

Christopher Crump
Christopher Crump
MS Student
Research Interests:

Synthetic Data, Object Detection, Synthetic Data Generation using Game Engines

Volunteers

Matheus Kunzler Maldaner
Matheus Kunzler Maldaner
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

Neuro Symbolic AI, Adversarial Machine Learning, Artificial General Intelligence and Artificial Brains

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Olivia Bronstein
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision

Connor McCloon 1
Connor McLoon
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

 Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning

Kian Ambrose
Kian Ambrose
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

 Literature Review on Causal AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Image Processing

Kristian O'Connor
Kristian O’Connor
Undergraduate Student, Researcher
Research Interests:

Explainable AI, Recommender Systems, Computer Vision

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Rachel Pu
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)

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Erik Bloomquist
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Forecasting Systems

saagarpatel
Saagar Patel
Undergraduate Student
Research Interests:

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) and Deep Learning

Alumni

Olivia Dizon Paradis
Olivia Dizon-Paradis
PhD, 2024
Research interests:

Computer vision, Reinforcement learning, Imitation Learning

Daniel Capecci
Daniel Capecci
MS, 2024
Research interests:

Generative modeling, Synthetic Data Generation, Deepfake Detection, Adversarial Deepfake Detection

Mira Esposito
Mira Esposito
MS, 2023
Research interests:

 Machine learning, Synthetic Data, Object Detection