Dr Hamid Alinejad-Rokny
- Bachelor: Software Engineering, 2004-2009
- Master: Artificial Intelligence, 2009-2012.
- Industry: Data Scientist, 2012-2014.
- Ph.D: BioMedical Machine Learning,ÌýÂ鶹Éçmadou Sydney, 2014-2018.
- Post-Doctoral: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, UWA Australia, 2017-2019.
- Director of Â鶹Éçmadou BioMedical Machine Learning Laboratory (BML), 2019-present.
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Dr Rokny joined Â鶹Éçmadou on a highly prestigious and competitive Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Program (Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Program aims to attract the best and brightest scientists with outstanding research records in October 2019. Dr Rokny is currently acting as aÌýScientia Senior Lecturer at Â鶹Éçmadou Sydney and adj Associate Professor at Concordia University. He is leadingÌýÂ鶹Éçmadou BioMedical Machine Learning Laboratory (BML)Ìýat the Â鶹Éçmadou Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering (GSBmE), where he is mentoring a team of 13 researchers as well as 8 researchers in overseas universities as co-supervisor/mentor. He is also theÌýHeath Data theme Leader of Â鶹Éçmadou Data Science Hub. Dr Rokny received his master degree in Statistical Machine Learning (Ranked 1st) and his Ph.D in Biostatistical Machine Learning from Â鶹Éçmadou Australia, Jan 2018.
His research focuses on using cutting-edge statistical machine learning, biostatistics, and Advanced Health Data Analytics techniques in conjunction with health and medical data to understand the mechanisms behind diseases and disorders.Ìý
As a young and early career scientist, Dr Rokny has published 80 publications, including 10 as first & 45 as senior author. HeÌýhas also been able to secure several national and international grants/fellowships. Throughput his career, he has received 28 prizes, honours, awards and also was able to secure multiple national and international awards and grantsÌýincluding highly competitive tenure-track Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Program Fellowship, CSIRO Next-Generation Graduate Program (leading CI), Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) IDEAS grant,ÌýAustralian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA 2023), two NHMRC MERIT awards, two international awards for his work on Autism from the International Quebec Autism Research Training (QART) program and the International Fellowship Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS), two awards from Â鶹Éçmadou Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, four external and one internal travel grants to present my research at national and international conferences and workshops. He has also received the best presentation prize in prestigious international conference Human Genome Meeting (HUGO) 2019. Dr Rokny also awarded highly competitive international PhD scholarship from Â鶹Éçmadou. Additionally, He has been invited to serve as Keynote Speaker and program committee members of national and international conferences including prestigious International HUGO 2020 (HUGO ECR symposium organization team), Pasteur Institute (invited talk), Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Dr Rokny received extensive research funding support relative to career stage (total of $2.75M as sole/leading Chief Investigator (CI) and $10.6M as co-CI), demonstrating an impressive upward research career trajectory. These include:
- GESA Paediatric Research Grant (CIB, Nov, 2024)
- Â鶹Éçmadou GRIP Award (CIA, Nov, 2024)
- Â鶹Éçmadou-SJTU Collaborative Research Grant, (CIA, Nov, 2024)
- Trustworthy Digital Society Grant, (CIA, Oct, 2024)
- Garvan Cellular Genomics Futures Institute Award (CIA, Sep, 2024).
- Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Program Fellowship (variation award) (sole CI), ($800K, Sep 2023).
- CCFA LITWIN IBD Pioneers Program Grant (leading CIB),Ìý($400K, Feb 2023)
- Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) IDEAS grant (CIB), ($600K, Dec 2022)
- CSIRO Next-Generation Graduate Program (leading CI), ($1.7M including $700K for my Lab, Nov 2022)
- GROW Funding (CIA), a competitive internal funding form USNW SYDNEY, Jun 2022, ($40K)
- Tyree Foundation Institute of Health Engineering Catalyst Awards 2021 (sole CI), Nov 2021, ($30K)
- Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA 2022 – sole CI), ($462K)
- The Minor Research Equipment Grant-in-Aid Program Fund (sole CI), Â鶹Éçmadou SYDNEY, July 2021, ($61K)
- GROW Funding (sole CI), a highly competitive internal funding form USNW SYDNEY, Jun 2021, ($20K)
- MERIT award offered for NHMRC Investigator Grant (sole CI), WA Dept of Health, Jun 2020, ($95K), declined because of moving to Â鶹Éçmadou
- Â鶹Éçmadou Cellular Genomics Futures Institute grant (CIB), in collab with Garvan Institute, May 2020, ($50K)
- Â鶹Éçmadou Cellular Genomics Futures Institute grant (CIC), in collab with Â鶹Éçmadou BABS, May 2020, ($50K)
- Highly competitive tenure-track Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Fellowship Program (sole CI), Â鶹Éçmadou, Oct 2019, ($680k)
- Academic Start-up Funding (sole CI), Faculty of Engineering, Â鶹Éçmadou, Dec 2019, ($90K)
- Highly competitive International Quebec Autism Research Training Fellowship (sole CI), collab with U of Montreal, Nov 2019, ($120K)
- Highly prestigious Int. Fellowship Fonds de recherche du Québec Santé (FRQS) (sole CI), Oct 2019, ($90K)
- MERIT award for NHMRC Investigator Grant Application (sole CI), WA Dept of Health, Sep 2019, ($50K)
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Dr. Rokny has been named on several industry funding in collaboration with Macquarie University),ÌýThese include:
- Industry research partnership funding (CID), from PORSPA advance company, 750K for my Lab, May 2024, ($4.7M).
- Industry research partnership funding (CID), Australian Digital Domains Group, 600K for my Lab, Nov 2022, ($3.6M).
- Industry research partnership funding (CIE), from Australian digital companies Truuth/Locii, May 2022, ($3.2M).
- Industry research partnership funding (CIC), from PORSPA advance company, May 2021, ($2.1M).
As a very young early career researcher, Dr Rokny has an exceptional track record in securing a range of national and international awards and prizes, despite my early career status. These include:
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýAdjunct Research Scientist, CSIRO, Aug 2022-2023
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHonorary Lecturer Fellow, University of Macquarie, Oct 2020-2023
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýTravel support award from Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Iran, invited speaker, ($1.9K), Feb 2020
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHealth Data Analytics Program Leader, AI-enabled Processes (AIP) Research Centre, Dec 2019-curent
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýMBSJ2019 (42nd Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology) Travel support award, Japan, ($1K), Dec 2019
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýRIKEN-HUGO award for best oral presentation in Human Genome Meeting 2019, South Korea, ($0.2K), Oct 2019
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHighly competitive tenure-track Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Fellowship Program award in Aug 2019 ($680K)
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýVice-chancellor fellowship award from RMIT, ($350K), May 2019 (declined in favour of Â鶹Éçmadou Scientia Program).
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýHDR conference support award from Â鶹Éçmadou Sydney, ($3K), Jul 2015
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýTravel support award from University of Tehran as invited speaker, Tehran, ($2K), Feb 2015
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýPh.D scholarship from Â鶹Éçmadou Sydney, ($87.5K for 3.5 years), Mar 2013
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýTop-up scholarship from the faculty of medicine, Â鶹Éçmadou Sydney, ($30K for 3 years), Mar 2013
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýPh.D Scholarship award from The University of Newcastle, Australia, Jul 2012
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýTravel award from Faculty of Engineering, The University Newcastle, Australia, ($1K), Jul 2012
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýGovernment scholarships for Bachelor and Master degrees, (tuition fee waived)
- ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýDean’s award as ranked 1 student (out of 700 Master students), Science and Research University of Tehran, Sep 2010
Dr Rokny’s research focuses on using cutting-edge systems biology and advanced health data analytics techniques in conjunction with genome-wide data to understand the impact of genomic variants on genetic diseases and disorders. He is also interested to develop novel machine learning techniques, in particular, deep convolutional neural network, clustering, clustering,Ìýclassification, feature selection, and evolutionary algorithms.
Dr Rokny has extensive experience in the analysis of next generation sequencing (NGS) data from different platforms (Roche, SOLiD, Illumina, and Helicos) and protocols (Hi-C, Structural variants, Single point mutations, GWAS, RNA-seq, CAGE, small RNA, ChIP-seq, and Single-cell).ÌýThe move to Â鶹Éçmadou Biomedical Engineering school has allowed him to translate his engineering and medicalÌýresearch on mammalian systems onto clinically relevant questions such as identification of novel biomarkers, drug targets.
Dr. Rokny is currently looking for Research Associate/Assistant, Ph.D/Master/Honours students to join his BML Lab. The research projects will mainly focus on using cutting-edge Medical Artificial Intelligence, Systems Biology and Advanced Health Data Analytics techniques in conjunction with genome-wide data to understand biological and medical related problems.
There are several scholarships available for both international and domestic students. Please see the following links for more information:
- Key-dates: https://research.unsw.edu.au/key-dates
- Â鶹Éçmadou Post-Graduate Research Scholarship for international students,
- Â鶹Éçmadou Post-Graduate Research Scholarship for domestic students
- Australia awards and endeavour scholarships and fellowships
- Determine your eligibility for a scholarship: https://selfassessment.research.unsw.edu.au/
- Meet English requirement: /english-requirements-policyÌý
My Research Supervision
PhD &ÌýMPhil Students:
- Sally Chen,ÌýPhD student, 2025-2029, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Assoc. ProfÌýFatemeh Vafaee and Mr Mark Grosser (23Strands company).
- Yuheng Liang, PhD student, 2025-2029, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Prof Nigel Lovell and Dr Reza Argha.
- Caleb The-Tjoean,ÌýMaster by Research (MPhil),Ìý(administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with ProfÌýIrina Voineagu.
- Lucy Chhua,ÌýMaster by Research (MPhil), 2025-2028, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Assoc. Prof Ankur Sharma and Prof Nigel Lovell.
- Ellie Shalbafian,ÌýMaster by Research (MPhil), 2024-2027, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou), joint supervision with Prof Nigel Lovell and Dr Reza Argha.
- Jonathan Williams,ÌýMaster by Research (MPhil), 2024-2028, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Dr Reza Argha and Prof Nigel Lovell.
- Coco Xiaoge Huang,ÌýPhD student, 2024-2028, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Dr Fatemeh Vafaee and Mr Mark Grosser (23Strands company).
- Rebecca Browne,ÌýPhD student, 2024-2028, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Prof Nigel Lovell and Dr Reza Argha.
- Tohid Ghasemnejad, PhD student, 2023-2027,Ìý(administered by Â鶹Éçmadou), co-supervision with Drs Fabrizzio Horta, Faezeh Marzbanrad, and Mr Mark Grosser (23Strands company).
- Roxana Zahedi Nasab,ÌýPhD student, 2023-2027, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou), co-supervision with Prof Nigel Lovell,ÌýDr Reza Argha, and Dr Mo Lotfollahi.
- Ivan Bakhshayeshi,ÌýPhD student, 2023-2027, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Prof Nigel Lovell and Dr Reza Argha.
- Mona (Sedigheh) Abedini, 2023-2027, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Dr Fatemeh Vafaee and A/Prof Orazio Vittorio.
- Md. Mushahidul Islam Shamim,ÌýMaster by Research (MPhil), 2023-2026, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with A/Prof Nadeem Kaakoush.
- Reza Ghamsari, PhD student, 2022-2026,Ìý(administered by Â鶹Éçmadou),Ìýco-supervision with Prof Nigel Lovell andÌýProf Matthew Ritchie (WEHI).
- Mehran Piran, PhD student, 2020-2024,Ìý(administered by Monash University), co-supervision with DrÌýAlex Combes.
- Afshar Shamsi, PhD student, 2023-2027,Ìý(administered by Concordia University), co-supervision with Assoc Prof Arash Mohammadi.
- Mahdieh Labani, PhD student, 2021-2025,Ìý(administered by Macquarie University), co-supervision with Prof Amin Beheshti.
- Ali Afrasiabi, PhD student, 2020-2024, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Ted Wong, PhD student, 2019-2025, (administered by University of Sydney), co-supervision with Dr. Boris Guennewig.
- Callum Macphillamy, PhD student, 2020-2024, (administered by University of Adelaide), co-supervision with Dr Wai Yee Low.
- Ning Liu, PhD student, 2019-2023, (administered by University of Adelaide), co-supervision with Dr James Breen.
- Zahra Rahaei, PhD student, 2018-2023, (administered by SUT).
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Master Students:
- Hannah Veitch,ÌýMaster student, 2025-2026, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Rejisa Becirovic,ÌýMaster student, 2024-2025, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
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Previous supervision and mentoring:
- Sunday Offor,ÌýPhD student, 2019-2023, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou), co-supervision with Assoc Prof Irina Voineagu.
- Yuheng Liang, Master by Research (MPhil), 2022-2024, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Sally Chen,ÌýMaster student, 2023-2024, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Michael De Francesco,ÌýMaster student, 2023-2024, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Gabrielle Younes,ÌýMaster student, 2023-2024, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Aryan Bhatla,ÌýMaster student, 2023-2024, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Ivy Lan Liu,ÌýMaster student, 2022-2023, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Aravind Venkateswaran,ÌýMaster student, 2022-2023, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Sascha Graham,ÌýMaster student, 2022-2023, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Weilin Wu, Master student, 2021-2022, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Anthony Xu, Master student, 2021-2022, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Hanwen Liang, MS student, 2019-2020, (administered by Â鶹Éçmadou).
- Rasaa Ghavami, Master student, 2017-2019. Scholarship awarded for PhD degree from SUT.
- Narges Rezaei, Honours student, 2018-2019. Scholarship awarded for Ph.D Degree from University of California, US.
- Masroor Bayati, Honours student, 2017-2018. Scholarship awarded for Ph.D Degree from University of Toronto.
- Hamed Dashti, Honours student, 2016-2018. Scholarship awarded for Master Degree from University of Zurich.
- Mahshid Khatami, Master student, 2018-2020, (administered by SUT).
- Fariba Raoufi, Master student, 2016-2017.
My Teaching
Biomedical Informatics (BIOM9540)
Biomedical Engineering (BIOM4951, BIOM4952, BIOM4953)