Abdussalam Alawini

Abdussalam Alawini is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Portland State University (2016) and has held academic positions including a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania (2016–2018) and roles as a Teaching Assistant Professor (2018–2023) and Adjunct Faculty (2016).

Education:

• Bachelor's in Computer Science (2002), University of Tripoli
• MSc. Computer Science and MSc. Engineering & Technology Management (2011), Portland State University
• Ph.D. Computer Science (2016), Portland State University

Research Interests focus on databases, applied machine learning, and education. Key areas include:

• Improving classroom experiences via machine learning
• Next-generation data management systems (data provenance, citation)
• Developing tools like TriQL for database learning

Awards include the 2024 Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the 2022 A3E Education Innovation Fellowship. His work has been recognized for contributions to database education and student success.

Service & Leadership:

• Chair of Instructional Faculty Recruiting Committee (2023–2024)
• Co-Chair of SIGMOD 2020 and DataEd 2025
• Member of committees on Broadening Participation in Computing and Online Education

Teaching includes courses like Database Systems and Data Management in the Cloud, emphasizing practical learning through tools like MongoDB Atlas.