Iren Valova

Iren Valova, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from Tokyo Institute of Technology (1997), an MS in Applied Mathematics from Sofia Technical University (1993), and a BS in Computer Science from Sofia Technical University (1991).

Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, brain modeling, data mining, expert systems, and image processing. She leads the Neural and Adaptive Research Laboratory (NASLAB), exploring neural networks, medical imaging, and machine learning applications. Dr. Valova has secured over $1.2 million in NSF grants for cybersecurity education and has been recognized as an ELATES Fellow in 2023 for leadership in national programs.

Teaching highlights include courses in artificial intelligence, neural computing, algorithms, and game design. She advises students on MS projects and emphasizes academic integrity in coursework. Research contributions span neural network architectures, image segmentation, and olfactory system modeling, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications.

Her lab collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving medical imaging, ecological data analysis, and sensor networks. Current work includes developing adaptive learning algorithms for imbalanced datasets and optimizing CNNs for medical diagnostics. Dr. Valova advocates for innovation in STEM education and cybersecurity training through her administrative and research roles.