Ecem Bozkurt

Los Angeles · California,· (213) 255-0165 · bozkurt (at) usc (dot) edu

Signal Processing, Image Processing, Graph Signal Processing, Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetic Particle Imaging, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision.


Experience

Graduate Research Assistant

STACLab, Signal and Image Processing Institute (SIPI), Viterbi School of Engineering, USC

Non-negative Kernel Graphs for Time-series Signals

Novel framework is proposed to represent sets of time-series signals using non-negative kernel (NNK) graph construction. The original NNK framework is extended to allow explicit delays as part of the graph construction. Propoesed framework is applied on EEG signals.

Non-negative Kernel Graph Based Interpretation of Deep Neural Networks

NNK algorithm is applied on the penultimate layer feature space of a neural network and polytopes are formed around each feature. Polytopes have geometric properties that are shown to be predictive in the neural network’s performance. Geometric properties are also informative for enhancing the manifold representation or designing the types of data augmentation.

August 2019 - Now

Research Engineer

Huawei Technologies, Huawei Turkey R&D Center, Istanbul

Smart Ad Placement on Videos

The goal is to match ads with the contextually related scenes, and to place ads naturally to the background of the scenes, considering the surface geometry, scene change, saliency, occlusion problem and semantic similarity between the ads and the scenes. Deep learning, speech processing and computer vision techniques were used. Patent application in progress.

Automated Censoring Faces and the Licence Plates in Fish-Eye or 360° Images

The aim is to detect faces and license plates in fish-eye or 360° images and blur them to protect the privacy, using planar transformation, object detection and segmentation techniques.

February 2018 - August 2019

Graduate Research Assistant

SaritasLab, UMRAM, Bilkent University, Ankara

Effects of Human Scanning Parameters of Magnetic Particle Imaging on Image Quality

Simulation and experimental analysis of how the safety limits on human subjects affect the image quality of MPI images, as the ultimate goal is to use MPI as a new medical imaging modality for human scanning. Hardware experiments were conducted with phantom objects and 1D MPI images were attained at different scanning parameters. New receiver coil was designed for the MPI system using Solidworks and Matlab. Image reconstruction simulations were conducted in Matlab.

February 2015-January 2018

Intern

ASELSAN, Ankara

Bresenham's line algorithm implementation with VHDL programming.

August 2013

Intern

TUBITAK Space Technologies, Ankara

Java project for configuring modems and computers, including UI.

July 2012

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant

University of Southern University

Teaching Assistant in Courses:

EE510-Linear Algebra (Spring 2022)

EE503-Probability (Fall 2021)

EE563- Estimation Theory (Spring 2021)

February 2015-January 2018

Teaching Assistant

Bilkent University

Teaching Assistant in Courses:

EEE212- Microprocessors (Spring 2015, Summer 2015)

GE301- Science, Technology, and Society (Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017)

GE304- Technology, Society, and Professional Development Seminar (Spring 2017)

February 2015-January 2018

Education

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Electrical Engineering
Fulbright scholarship

GPA: 3.63/4.00

August 2019 - Present

Bilkent University, Ankara

Master of Science (MS)
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
100% scholarship

GPA: 3.52/4.00

February 2015 - January 2018

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Bachelor of Science-Exchange (BS)
Electrical Engineering
100% scholarship

GPA: 3.912/4.000

August 2012 - May 2013

Bilkent University, Ankara

Bachelor of Science(BS)
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
100% scholarship

GPA: 3.42/4.00

September 2010 - June 2014

Skills

Programming Languages & Tools
  • Matlab
  • Python
  • R
  • Java

Awards & Certifications

  • Fulbright Scholarship extended for 2020-2021 academic year for PhD studies in USA (2020)
  • Fulbright Scholarship for 2019-2021 academic year for PhD studies in USA (2019)
  • ‘Future Star Award’ by Huawei Turkey R&D Center , Istanbul, TR. (2018)
  • ‘Best Paper and Presentation Award’ with ‘Effects of Excitation Field Parameters on Image Quality in Magnetic Particle Imaging: A Relaxometer Study’ in 21st National Biomedical Engineering Meeting (BIYOMUT), Istanbul, TR. (2017)
  • Ranked 104th in the nationwide University Entrance Exam among nearly 1.5 million candidates. (2010)
  • 100 % Scholarship from Bilkent University for B.Sc and M.Sc (2010-2018)
  • Ranked 4th in graduation from TED Ankara College Foundation Private High School among nearly 500 students (2010)
  • 100 % Scholarship from TED Ankara College Foundation Private High School (2006-2010)
  • PASCH Scholarship for German Language Program in Oppurg, Thüringen, Germany from Goethe Institut (2008)

Publications

Conference Publications
  • Ecem Bozkurt, Antonio Ortega. ‘Neighbors Tell Who You Are: Non-Negative Kernel Graph Based Interpretation of Datasets for Deep Learning’. In progress.
  • Ecem Bozkurt, Antonio Ortega. ‘Non-Negative Kernel Graphs for Time-Varying Signals Using Visibility Graphs’, European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO). Oral Presentation. August 2022. Belgrade, Serbia. link
  • Ecem Bozkurt, Omer Burak Demirel, Damla Sarica, Yavuz Muslu, Emine Ulku Saritas, ‘Effects of Safety Limits On Image in MPI’. Poster Presentation. International Workshop on Magnetic Particle Imaging (IWMPI). March 2016. Lübeck, Germany.
  • Ecem Bozkurt, Mustafa Ütkür, Yavuz Muslu, Emine Ulku Saritas. ‘Effects of Excitation Field Parameters on Image Quality in Magnetic Particle Imaging: A Relaxometer Study’. Oral Presentation. 21st National Biomedical Engineering Meeting(BIYOMUT) November 2017. Istanbul,Turkey
Printed Publications
  • Ecem Bozkurt, Antonio Ortega. ‘ Non-negative Kernel (NNK) Graphs for Multi-channel EEG Signals’. In progress
  • Ecem Bozkurt, Emine Ulku Saritas. ‘Signal-to-Noise Ratio Optimized Image Reconstruction Technique for Magnetic Particle Imaging’. J Fac Eng Archit Gaz, 32(3):999-1013, 2017.

Interests