CV

An overview of my professional experience and qualifications.

Info

Name Erkan Basar
About I am a computer scientist specializing in AI and machine learning, with a focus on language technologies. My work is aimed at advancing research in AI and its practical applications. I enjoy working in multidisciplinary environments, collaborating with experts across various domains to bring innovative and effective solutions to complex challenges.
Location Nijmegen, Netherlands
Email erkan@basar.dev
Linkedin mebasar

Experience

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    PhD Candidate
    Radboud University
    Sep 2020 - Feb 2025 · 4 yr 6 mos · full-time
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Multidisciplinary research on controlled usage of large language models for utterance generation and dialogue management in health-promoting conversational agents
    • More information on the project: https://look.uvt.nl
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    Language Technologies Consultant
    FloodTags
    Sep 2020 - Feb 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos · part-time
    The Hague, Netherlands
    • Provided strategic guidance and technical expertise in AI solutions, assisting the company in developing and optimizing text processing workflows, and leveraging the advancements in AI to extract information from unstructured text.
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    Computational Linguist
    FloodTags
    Sep 2017 - Aug 2020 · 3 yrs · full-time
    The Hague, Netherlands
    • Specialized in the development of machine learning-based systems for event detection and information extraction, with a focus on analysing news articles related to natural disasters.
    • Utilizing state-of-the-art AI techniques and tools of the time, I have created an end-to-end information processing pipeline that has been successfully applied and tested in multiple languages, including English, French, Burmese, Lao, and Khmer.
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    Scientific Software Developer
    Radboud University
    Mar 2020 - Jul 2020 · 5 mos · part-time
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Developed a system that converts Dutch dialect words into their dictionary forms.
    • The project also included a demo website where users can interact with the system.
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    Software Developer
    FloodTags
    Apr 2016 - Aug 2017 · 1 yr 5 mos · part-time
    The Hague, Netherlands
    • Developed a machine learning-based information extraction system to detect critical information about disasters in news articles.
    • Started a data visualization website which displays the processed data in real time.
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    Guest Researcher
    Radboud University
    Apr 2018 - Sep 2019 · 1 yr 6 mos · part-time
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Research focused on information extraction from unstructured text for low resource languages.
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    Scientific Software Developer
    Radboud University
    Sep 2015 - Mar 2016 · 7 mos · part-time
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Developments of web interfaces and RESTful APIs for several text mining research projects.
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    Teaching Assitant
    Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
    Feb 2015 - Jun 2015 · 5 mos · part-time
    Muğla, Turkey
    • Taught Linux basics, had practical programming sessions for first year computer engineering bachelor students at the Computer Engineering Department.
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    Intern
    Radboud University
    Jun 2014 - Sep 2014 · 4 mos · internship
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Developed a web interface for a project on event detection from social media on the basis of two PhD studies at the Centre for Language and Speech Technologies.
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    Software Developer
    Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
    Feb 2013 - June 2014 · 1 yr 5 mos · part-time
    Muğla, Turkey
    • Developed the official Android application of the university
    • Developed minor web applications for the computer engineering department.

Education

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    PhD
    Radboud University
    Sep 2020 - Feb 2025
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Conversational Agents, Artificial Intelligence
    • More information on the project: https://look.uvt.nl
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    Artificial Intelligence, MSc.
    Radboud University
    Sep 2015 - Aug 2017
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
    • Radboud Scholarship Programme Recipient
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    Computer Engineering, BSc.
    Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
    Sep 2011 - Aug 2015
    Muğla, Turkey

Languages

  • English
    Full Professional Proficiency
  • Dutch
    Intermediate (Certificate: B1)
  • Turkish
    Native speaker

Skills

  • Computer Science Skills
    Language Modelling, Natural Language Generation, Text Mining, Information Extraction, Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks
  • Technical Skills
    Linux Server Administration (Ubuntu), API Development & Deployment (Flask), Web Server Management (Nginx), Full Stack Web Development, Data Analytics & Visualization
  • Programming Languages
    Python, JavaScript, Java, Bash
  • Other
    LaTeX, HTML, CSS

Reviewing

  • COLING 2025
    Reviewer, Program Commitee Member · 2024
    31st International Conference on Computational Linguistics
  • LREC-COLING 2024
    Reviewer, Program Commitee Member · 2024
    Joint International Conference on Computational Linguistics, Language Resources and Evaluations
  • IVA 2024
    Reviewer, Program Commitee Member · 2024
    24th ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents
  • IVA 2023
    Reviewer, Program Commitee Member · 2023
    23rd ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents

Organization

  • Engaging Long-Term Interactions with Chatbots for Health
    Symposium Organization Team · 2024
    Nijmegen, Netherlands
  • Personalized Intelligent Conversational Agents Workshop
    Workshop Organization Team · 2021
    Online
  • The Multimedia Satellite Shared Task at MediaEval 2019
    Shared Task Organization Team · 2019
    Nice, France
  • 28th Computational Linguistics in Netherlands (CLIN)
    Conference Organization Team · 2018
    Nijmegen, Netherlands

Awards

  • Radboud Scholarship Programme
    Radboud University Nijmegen · 2015
    The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers a select number of talented prospective non-EEA students the opportunity to receive a scholarship to pursue a complete English-taught Master's degree programme at Radboud University. The Radboud Scholarship Programme is very selective and is only intended for talented students who have obtained outstanding study results and are highly motivated to pursue a Master's degree programme at Radboud University.
    https://www.ru.nl/en/education/scholarships/radboud-scholarship-programme
  • Honors Student
    Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University · 2015