Armin Ashrafi
Department of Computing Science,
University of Alberta
University of Alberta | CIFAR AI Chair
Office: Athabasca Hall 3‑08
Email: you@ualberta.ca
Mail: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
ORCID: 0000‑0000‑0000‑0000
GitHub: yourhandle
Twitter: @yourhandle
About
I am Master of Computing Science student at the University of Alberta. My research interests lie broadly in machine learning, specifically in (deep) reinforcement learning, representation learning, continual learning, and real‑world applications of all the above.
Previously, I studied Computer Science at Islamic Azad University, and worked in the Machine Learning startup Chashmyar, and the E-learning platform Shastad.ir, where I created educational content and also was an AI engineer for their recommendation system.
I completed my B.Sc. and M.Sc. at UFMG, Brazil, and my Ph.D. at the University of Alberta, where I popularized the idea of temporally‑extended exploration through options, introducing the concept of eigenoptions.
Research Interests
- Deep Reinforcement Learning
- Representation & Feature Learning
- Continual & Lifelong Learning
- AI for Real‑World Control Problems
Selected Highlights
- Introduced stochasticity and game modes in the Arcade Learning Environment.
- Pioneered the use of eigenoptions for temporally‑extended exploration.
- Awarded the CIFAR AI Chair for contributions to reinforcement learning.