Hi! This is Iftekhar.

I'm a second-year Ph.D. student in Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where I work with Dr. Weizi Li in the Fluidic City Lab. My research lies at the intersection of reinforcement learning and intelligent transportation systems. I'm teaching robot vehicles to be good, proactive neighbors on the road—helping mixed traffic flow safely and efficiently.

Before coming to the U.S., I spent four wonderful years as a computer science lecturer in Bangladesh. That experience shaped how I think about learning: you truly understand something only when you can explain it clearly. Whether I'm walking students through dynamic programming or talking myself through debugging an RL agent, those "aha!" moments keep me motivated.

My long-term goal is to do work that blends technical depth with clear communication—bridging ideas across people and fields. I believe the best work happens when expertise meets collaboration and clarity.

When I'm not training RL agents or writing papers, you'll find me cooking, watching movies, or creating educational content for my YouTube channel.

To learn more about my background and experience, please see my CV.