Alaa Sheta

Alaa Sheta is a tenured Professor of Computer Science at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA. With over 180 refereed publications, three authored books, and extensive funded research, he is a globally recognized authority in machine learning, evolutionary computation, image processing, and robotics.

Education

• B.E. Electronics & Communication Engineering, Cairo University, 1988
• M.Sc. Electronics & Communication Engineering, Cairo University, 1994
• Ph.D. Computer Science, George Mason University, USA, 1997

Research Interests

Prof. Sheta’s research integrates machine learning, deep learning, and evolutionary algorithms to solve complex real-world problems. Core themes include image and signal processing for medical and industrial applications, autonomous robotics for navigation and inspection, big-data analytics for environmental and financial forecasting, and software reliability modeling using computational intelligence. His work frequently leverages meta-heuristic optimization techniques such as genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, and hybrid neuro-fuzzy systems.

Publication Trends

From 2015-2021, Prof. Sheta’s publications reveal a clear pivot toward deep learning and healthcare informatics, with multiple studies on obstructive sleep-apnea diagnosis using ECG and depth-sensor data, brain-tumor detection in MR images, and mobile-health applications. Earlier work emphasizes industrial process modeling, power-system optimization, and software effort estimation, reflecting sustained contributions across both theoretical algorithmic advances and high-impact interdisciplinary applications.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• Best Poster Award, SGAI International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Cambridge, UK, 2011
• Senior Member, IEEE
• Vice-President, Arab Computer Society (2011)
• Associate Editor, International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications (IJACSA)
• Associate Editor, International Journal of Computational Complexity and Intelligent Algorithms (IJCCIA)

Advising & Grants

Prof. Sheta has successfully supervised more than 30 master’s and Ph.D. students in the United States, United Kingdom, Jordan, and Syria. His research has been funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, as well as agencies in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. He has also consulted for the Egyptian Ministry of Communication & IT (2002-2004) and UNDP Smart Schools project (2003).

Labs, Workshops & Leadership

He is the founder and chair of the Advanced Computation for Engineering Applications (ACEA) workshop series, held five times across Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. He served as Program Chair of the Science and Information Conference 2013 in London and has held academic leadership roles such as Associate Dean (2008-2009) and Assistant Dean for Planning & Development (2006-2008) at Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan.