Syed Waquas 👋

AI/ML Engineer & Data Scientist

I build intelligent systems that are not only smart and scalable, but also secure and production-ready. Passionate about AI Security, Federated Learning, and Cloud-Native ML Pipelines, I deliver real-world, high-impact AI solutions that solve complex challenges at scale.

Syed Waquas

What I Do?

I specialize in building intelligent systems across multiple domains

Data Science & AI

TensorFlow Keras PyTorch Python OpenCV
  • Developed scalable ML models in NLP, computer vision & federated learning
  • Implemented adversarial ML defenses & explainable AI for secure systems
  • Delivered 90%+ accurate NLP models on healthcare datasets
  • Built AI security labs with reproducibility & cloud deployment

Full Stack Development

HTML5 CSS3 Sass JavaScript React Flask Node.js NPM Redux Gatsby Flutter Kotlin
  • Built full-stack web & mobile apps using React, Node.js, and Flask
  • Designed REST APIs, user dashboards, and secure authentication systems
  • Integrated SQL/NoSQL databases and cloud-hosted backend systems
  • Created NLP-based apps and model-serving endpoints

Cloud Infra-Architecture

Google Cloud AWS Azure Firebase PostgreSQL MongoDB Docker Kubernetes
  • Deployed scalable ML apps using Docker, Kubernetes & CI/CD pipelines
  • Built ETL workflows with Apache Airflow, Spark, and Azure Data Factory
  • Used AWS/GCP/Azure for model serving, monitoring, and auto-scaling
  • Managed data pipelines across cloud storage, Kafka streams & databases

UI/UX Design

Adobe XD Figma Illustrator Inkscape
  • Designed intuitive UIs for web & mobile using Figma and Adobe XD
  • Created custom illustrations, logos, and icon sets from scratch
  • Focused on accessibility, clean layout, and responsive experiences
  • Designed user flows for AI dashboards and analytics tools

Education

Basic Qualification and Certifications

MSC in Artificial Intelligence & Big Data

Anglia Ruskin University
2023 - 2025 | Cambridge, UK
Focused on core modules including Machine Learning, Advanced Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Web Semantic Technologies.
  • Gained hands-on experience in Big Data Analytics, Data Mining, and cloud-based AI solutions
  • Developed practical expertise in ethical AI, research methodologies, and deploying scalable AI models
  • Recognized for outstanding performance with research role offers from academic supervisors

B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technology University
2019 - 2022 | Maharashtra, India
Built a strong foundation in computer science fundamentals, including Data Structures, Algorithms, Database Management, Operating Systems, and Computer Networks.
  • Completed coursework in Machine Learning and Deep Learning
  • Published research paper on "Haptic Technology Assistance for Disabled People"
  • Served as Vice President of the departmental student forum

Diploma in Mechanical Engineering

Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education
2012 - 2015 | Maharashtra, India
Developed a solid technical foundation in mechanical design, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, manufacturing processes, and engineering drawing.
  • Completed internships focused on designing prototypes and 3D printing
  • Acquired hands-on experience with CAD tools and mechanical systems analysis
  • Built multidisciplinary base supporting transition into computer science

Certifications

Introduction to Data Science
Infosys
Industry 4.0 & IoT
IIT Kharagpur
Deep Learning
IIT Kharagpur
AWS Academy Machine Learning Foundations
Amazon Web Services
Machine Learning, Deep Learning & Data Science with Python
Udemy
The Web Development Bootcamp
Udemy
The Complete Android Developer Course
Udemy
Google Digital Garage Certification
Google
Cybersecurity Foundations
LinkedIn
Project Management Foundations
LinkedIn
Microsoft Office 365 Administration
LinkedIn

Workshops & Achievements

Winner – Web Design Competition
P.E.S College of Engineering
Google Maniac – Klystron 2016
MGM University
2D, 3D & VFX Animation Workshop
MAAC
IoT Technology Workshop
N.I.E.L.I.T
Autonomous Robotics – Autobotz 2015
N.I.E.L.I.T
Winner - Crisp Code Competition
Christ University

Experience

Work, Internship and Volunteership

Machine Learning Engineer (Research Associate)

Anglia Ruskin University
Jan 2025 – Present | Cambridge, UK
  • Developed comprehensive interactive lab environment showcasing 12+ advanced AI security vulnerabilities using Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Flask microservices architecture
  • Created 15+ educational modules with hands-on exercises and implemented 10+ deliberately vulnerable ML models across classification, NLP, and computer vision domains, improving student practical skills by 35% and knowledge retention by 42%
  • Engineered sophisticated AI-driven phishing attack frameworks in isolated Linux VM environments with containerized deployment, ensuring 100% security containment and real-world simulation capabilities
  • Built high-fidelity attack demonstrations against 5 ML model types (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers, GANs, Autoencoders) with 98% reproducibility rate and detailed exploitation documentation
  • Integrated adversarial ML visualization tools showing real-time model manipulation, enabling students to understand attack vectors through interactive dashboards
  • Designed and implemented secure coding practices curriculum specifically for ML engineers, reducing vulnerability introduction in production systems by 65%
  • Created infrastructure-as-code templates for rapid lab deployment across cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), reducing environment setup time from days to minutes

Security Systems Engineer

Anglia Ruskin University
Jan 2025 – May 2025 | Cambridge, UK
  • Developed an intrusion detection system with 95% accuracy, processing 10,000+ network flows per minute using Apache Spark and PySpark for real-time security analytics
  • Designed and implemented a distributed security network using Raspberry Pi devices integrated with Azure HDInsight Spark clusters for comprehensive monitoring
  • Created a high-performance security dashboard in PowerBI managing 100+ concurrent connections with sub-second latency, visualizing threat intelligence from Azure Synapse Analytics
  • Implemented explainable AI visualizations for 35 security features, reducing investigation time by 60% through optimized Spark applications
  • Enhanced system accuracy by reducing false positives by 75% using federated learning models deployed through Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines
  • Developed ETL pipelines using Azure Data Factory, T-SQL, and SparkSQL to transform security logs from on-premise sources (MySQL, Cassandra) and cloud environments
  • Built automated data ingestion workflows with Apache Airflow DAGs for security event processing, handling 1000+ events per second

Software Engineer

SmartHome Tutors Pvt Ltd
Jan 2016 – May 2019 | Pune, Maharashtra
  • Built and managed data pipelines for processing and transforming large-scale datasets using Hadoop and MapReduce
  • Designed and implemented data storage solutions with HDFS and HBase, optimizing data retrieval and ensuring scalability
  • Created ETL workflows with Apache Pig and Hive to extract, transform, and load data into data warehouses
  • Leveraged Apache Spark for distributed data processing, supporting both real-time analytics and batch processing
  • Developed data warehousing solutions using Amazon Redshift to improve data accessibility for analytics
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to understand business needs and deliver data solutions that support analytical models
  • Automated data processing tasks using Python and Bash scripts, boosting overall efficiency

Machine Learning Intern (Remote)

smallcap.ai
Jul 2024 – Oct 2024 | London, UK
  • Developed, trained, and optimized ML models using Random Forest, XGBoost, and CNNs, improving accuracy by 15-25% through hyperparameter tuning and feature engineering
  • Utilized Python (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, SciPy, Seaborn) for EDA, uncovering insights and reducing data biases by 20%
  • Collected, cleaned, and preprocessed large datasets (CSV, Excel, SQL), improving data quality by 30%
  • Built ETL pipelines and complex SQL queries for efficient data extraction, transformation, and validation
  • Designed advanced visualizations in Tableau and Excel (Heat Maps, Pareto Charts, Tree Maps), translating data into actionable insights
  • Deployed models using Docker, Kubernetes, and Flask, ensuring scalability on AWS, GCP, and Azure
  • Reduced model inference latency by 40% and drift by 35% via continuous retraining
  • Applied transformer architectures (BERT, GPT) and reinforcement learning, boosting NLP task accuracy by 20%

Data Analyst Intern (Remote)

Skyme Pty Ltd
Jul 2022 – Jul 2023 | Melbourne, Australia
  • Designed and implemented ETL pipelines using Apache Spark and Hadoop to efficiently handle large-scale data processing
  • Worked closely with cross-functional teams to define data needs and ensure seamless data access for analytics and reporting
  • Optimized SQL queries for extracting, transforming, and loading data from relational databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL
  • Developed and maintained scalable data workflows on AWS, utilizing Amazon S3, Redshift, and Lambda functions
  • Ensured data integrity and quality by establishing automated validation and monitoring systems
  • Leveraged Python and PySpark for data manipulation, processing, and developing reusable transformation scripts
  • Led the migration of on-premise data pipelines to Azure Data Factory and Azure Databricks, enhancing performance and scalability
  • Engineered real-time data streaming pipelines using Apache Kafka and Apache Flink for instant data processing

Vice President

FORCES - (FORUM OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & Engineering Students)
2021 – 2022 | Aurangabad, India

As the Vice President of FORCES (Forum of Computer Engineering Students) at PES College of Engineering, I played a pivotal role in leading and coordinating a wide range of technical events, seminars, and student engagement activities. My responsibilities included planning and executing national-level coding competitions, workshops on emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and web development, as well as facilitating expert guest lectures and industry interaction sessions. I actively collaborated with faculty, industry professionals, and fellow students to ensure each event was impactful and educational. Under my leadership, FORCES saw increased student participation and recognition within and beyond the campus. Additionally, I spearheaded initiatives to foster innovation, such as hackathons and mini-project showcases, encouraging a culture of hands-on learning and technical excellence among the student community.

Donation Volunteer

Jan Vikas Society
May 2015 – Nov 2015 | Aurangabad, India

As a dedicated volunteer, I have successfully collected approximately ₹34,000 INR for the NGO through various fundraising initiatives and community outreach efforts. This amount reflects my commitment to supporting the organization's mission and making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. My involvement included engaging with donors, organizing awareness campaigns, and contributing to the planning and execution of fundraising events, all carried out on a voluntary basis.

Featured Projects

A showcase of my work across AI/ML, web development, mobile apps, and open-source contributions

Completed

AI Security Lab Environment

Comprehensive interactive educational platform showcasing 12+ advanced AI security vulnerabilities with hands-on exercises for university students.

Python TensorFlow PyTorch Flask Docker Linux VMs
Completed

Healthcare NLP Analytics

Advanced NLP models for healthcare data analysis achieving 90%+ accuracy using transformer architectures and explainable AI components.

BERT Transformers PyTorch FastAPI Docker XAI
Completed

Federated Learning Framework

Distributed machine learning system enabling privacy-preserving model training across multiple devices without centralizing data.

TensorFlow Federated Python gRPC Kubernetes Privacy
Completed

Real-time Network Intrusion Detection

Advanced security analytics system processing 10,000+ network flows per minute using distributed computing for real-time threat detection.

Apache Spark PySpark Azure HDInsight PowerBI Raspberry Pi
Completed

Computer Vision Anomaly Detection

Deep learning system for detecting anomalies in manufacturing using CNN architectures with 95%+ accuracy in real-time processing.

OpenCV CNN PyTorch YOLO Edge AI
Completed

Customer Churn Prediction Model

Machine learning model predicting customer churn with 88% accuracy, helping businesses retain customers through targeted interventions.

Python Scikit-learn XGBoost FastAPI Tableau
Completed

Sentiment Analysis API

Production-ready sentiment analysis API using BERT transformers for social media monitoring with multi-language support.

BERT FastAPI Docker Redis Multi-lang
In Progress

Multi-Modal AI Assistant

Advanced AI assistant combining vision, language, and speech capabilities for comprehensive human-computer interaction.

GPT-4 CLIP Whisper Multi-modal RAG
Live

Personal Portfolio Website

Modern, responsive portfolio website built with vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript featuring dark mode, animations, and contact form integration.

HTML5 CSS3 JavaScript Responsive Design Formspree
Live

Technical Blog Platform

Full-featured blog website for sharing technical knowledge, built with modern web technologies and optimized for SEO.

Gatsby React GraphQL Markdown Netlify
Completed

E-Commerce Platform

Full-stack e-commerce application with user authentication, payment processing, and admin dashboard for inventory management.

React Node.js Express MongoDB Stripe JWT
Completed

Analytics Dashboard

Interactive business analytics dashboard with real-time data visualization, custom reporting, and team collaboration features.

React D3.js Node.js PostgreSQL WebSocket
Completed

AI-Powered Health Tracker

Cross-platform mobile application using Flutter that tracks health metrics and provides AI-driven insights for personalized wellness recommendations.

Flutter Dart Firebase TensorFlow Lite SQLite
Completed

Language Learning Assistant

Android application with speech recognition and NLP features to help users learn new languages through interactive conversations.

Kotlin Android SDK Speech API Room DB ML Kit
Completed

Smart Document Scanner

Mobile app that uses computer vision to automatically detect, crop, and enhance document photos with OCR text extraction capabilities.

React Native OpenCV Tesseract OCR Firebase PDF Kit
Completed

Music Streaming App

Feature-rich music streaming application with offline playback, playlist management, and social sharing capabilities.

Flutter Dart Audio Players SQLite REST API
Completed

ETL Pipeline for Financial Data

Scalable data pipeline processing millions of financial transactions with automated data quality checks and real-time analytics.

Apache Airflow Python PostgreSQL Redis Docker AWS S3
Completed

Sales Forecasting Model

Time series forecasting model using LSTM networks to predict sales trends with 92% accuracy for retail businesses.

LSTM Prophet Pandas Plotly Streamlit
Completed

Customer Segmentation Analysis

Advanced clustering analysis using K-means and DBSCAN to identify customer segments for targeted marketing campaigns.

K-means DBSCAN PCA Seaborn Jupyter
Completed

Fraud Detection System

Real-time fraud detection using ensemble methods and anomaly detection algorithms for financial transactions.

Isolation Forest Random Forest SMOTE Apache Kafka MLflow
Published

Haptic Technology for Disabled People

Research paper on assistive haptic technology solutions for people with disabilities, published in academic journal with practical implementations.

Arduino C++ Sensors 3D Printing Research
In Progress

Adversarial ML Defense Mechanisms

Research on novel defense strategies against adversarial attacks on machine learning models with focus on explainable AI and robustness.

PyTorch Adversarial ML LIME SHAP Research
Completed

Privacy-Preserving ML Study

Comprehensive analysis of privacy-preserving techniques in machine learning including differential privacy and secure multi-party computation.

Differential Privacy Python TensorFlow Privacy Cryptography Research
In Progress

Federated Learning Optimization

Research on optimizing federated learning algorithms for improved convergence and reduced communication overhead in distributed environments.

Federated Learning PyTorch Optimization Distributed Systems Research
Published

ML Security Toolkit

Open-source Python library providing tools for testing and securing machine learning models against various attack vectors.

Python PyPI TensorFlow PyTorch Documentation
Published

LeetCode Solutions Repository

Comprehensive collection of LeetCode problem solutions with detailed explanations, multiple approaches, and complexity analysis.

Python Algorithms Data Structures Dynamic Programming Leetcode
Published

Hugging Face Model Collection

Collection of fine-tuned transformer models for various NLP tasks, shared on Hugging Face with comprehensive documentation.

Transformers BERT DistilBERT Hugging Face Fine-tuning
Published

Kaggle Competition Solutions

Repository of high-performing solutions from various Kaggle competitions with detailed notebooks and methodology explanations.

Python Pandas Scikit-learn XGBoost Jupyter

Contact Me

I am available on almost every social media. You can message me, I will reply within 24 hours.

Get In Touch

Email

hello@waquashashmi.com

Location

Cambridge, UK

Phone

Available on request

Specialization

ML, AI, React, Android, Cloud and Opensource Development

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Blogs

I like to document some of my experiences in professional career journey as well as some technical knowledge sharing.

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