I am an assistant professor of computational linguistics at King Abdulaziz University. I am the director of the AILLA Lab and ASAS AI. My research interests lie at the intersection of NLP, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interactions (HCI), and Ethical AI.

I am co-leading the Arabic effort to build an open source dataset for Arabic in the C4AI community and I am also a core member in the ARBML research community where I contribute to open research and tool development

I hold a PhD in computational linguistics from the University of Melbourne. My PhD was awarded the University of Melbourne Chancellor’s Prize for excellence in PhD thesis. I was a member of the HCI Interactive Technologies Lab (IxT) at the School of Computing and Information System.

I love community building and talent management. Before starting my PhD, I was the founding director of KAUx, a MOOC platform at King Abdulaziz University, and the founding CEO of dropzin (instant-shipping and delivery startup).

Contact Info
Email
Linkedin
Google Scholar
Twitter
Github
Office
Office 271, First Floor
Bld 534
King Abdulaziz University

Awards & Scholarships

Work Experience

Founding Director
ASAS AI

An AI research lab and consultancy

2023 - Present
Founding Director
AILLA Lab

The AI in Language Learning & Assessment Lab

2022 - Present
Assistant Professor
King Abdulaziz University

2021 - Present
Data Scientist Intern
Melbourne Data Analytics Platform (MDAP)

I implemented weak supervision for sentiment analysis on a large corpus of texts related to sustainable energy

Nov 2019 - Feb 2020
Founder and CEO
Dropzin On-Demand Shipping

I founded the startup, administered day-to-day operations, and recruited early employees.

2016 - 2017
Director of e-training Unit
King Abdulaziz University

I founded KAUx, a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform, and designed two MOOCs.

2014 - 2016
Lecturer
King Abdulaziz University

I taught English courses for Uni students

2013 - 2021
Head of Distance Learning Unit
King Abdulaziz University

I administered two distance online programs (8K students) and trained instructors in using several education technologies

2013 - 2016
Teacher Assistant
King Abdulaziz University

2009 - 2013

Education

University of Melbounre
PhD
Computational Linguistics

2017 - 2021
Missouri State University
Masters of Science
Educational Technology

GPA: 4/4

2012 - 2014
Missouri State University
Master of Arts
English Linguistics

GPA: 3.97/4

2010 - 2013

Publication

  • Shivalika Singh, Freddie Vargus, Daniel D’souza, ... Alghamdi, E.A , … Sara Hooker. "Aya Dataset: An Open-Access Collection for Multilingual Instruction Tuning. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2402.06619.pdf
  • Mina Lee, Katy Gero, John Chung, Simon Buckingham Shum, Vipul Raheja, Hua Shen, Subhashini Venugopalan, Thiemo Wambsganss, David Zhou, Alghamdi, E.A , Roy Pea, ... Pao Siangliulue. A Design Space for Intelligent and Interactive Writing Assistants. CHI 24. https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.14117
  • Alghamdi, E.A . J Zakraoui, FA Abanmy (2023). Domain Adaptation for Arabic Machine Translation: The Case of Financial Texts. https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.12863
  • Alghamdi, E.A . (2023). Leveraging ensemble machine learning and multimodal video complexity for better prediction of video difficulty in second language.
  • Yousef Altaher, Ali Fadel,... Alghamdi, E.A , ... Raed Alharbi, Maraim Masoud, Zaid Alyafea (In review). Masader Plus: A New Interface for Exploring+ 500 Arabic NLP Datasets
  • Nawaz, S, Alghamdi, E.A , Srivastavac, N., Lodge, J., & Corrin, L. (2022). Understanding the role of AI and learning analytics techniques in addressing task difficulties in STEM education. Artificial Intelligence in STEM Education.
  • Matthews, J., Masrai, A., Lange, K., McLean, S., Alghamdi, E. A. , Kim, K., Shinhara, Y., Tada, S. (2023). Using meaning recall to explore links between aural lexical knowledge and L2 listening: A replication and extension study. TESOL Quarterly
  • Alghamdi, E. A. (In review). What makes video difficult for language learners?
  • Alghamdi, E. A. Book review: Computational psychometrics: new methodologies for a new generation of digital learning and assessment.
  • Alghamdi, E. A. , Gruba, P., Marsi, A., & Velloso, E. (2023). The use of lexical complexity for assessing difficulty in instructional videos. Language Learning & Technology.
  • Alghamdi, E. A. , Gruba, P., & Velloso, E. (2022). The relative contribution of verbal complexity to second language video lectures difficulty assessment. The Modern Language Journal. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/modl.12773
  • Alghamdi, E. A., Velloso, E. & Gruba, P. (2021). AUVANA: An automated video analysis tool for visual complexity. Preprint.
  • Alghamdi, E. A. (2021). Automated video difficulty assessment. [PhD Thesis] https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/279376?show=full
  • Alghamdi, E. A. (2018). Effects of Using Multimodal Glosses in Video Games to Enhance Incidental Vocabulary Learning and Retention. Handbook of Research on Integrating Technology into Contemporary Language Learning and Teaching Chapter: 21
  • Alghamdi, E. A., Fahad Otaif, and Paul Gruba. (2018) Designing a video playing interface for second language learners. ASCILITE: Open Oceans: Learning Without Borders (298).
  • Alghamdi, E. A. , Shah, S. R. (2018). Exploring the Effects of Mobile-Based Audience Response System on EFL Students’ Learning and Engagement in a Fully Synchronous Online Course. International Journal of English Linguistics https://doi.org/10.5539/ijel.v8n3p92
  • Alghamdi, E. A. , Rajab, Hussam & Shah, S. R. (2016). Unwatched Online Students Self-created WhatsApp Group in Distance Education: A Collaborative Learning Tool or Cheating Technique. International Research in Education,4(1).133-148.
  • Alghamdi, E.A. (2016). Untangling multimedia affects via playing an online hidden-object game. International Journal of Computer Assisted Language Learning and Teaching. 6(1), 24-39. DOI: 10.4018/IJCALLT.2016010102.
  • Alghamdi, E. A., Aljohani, N. R., Alsaleh, A., Bedewi, W., & Basheri, M. (2015). CrowdyQ: A Virtual Crowdsourcing Platform for Question Items Development in Higher Education. The 17th International Conference on Information Integration and Web-based Applications & Services (iiWAS2015).
  • Alghamdi, E. A. (2015). The representation of Islam in western media: The coverage of Norway terrorist attacks. International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature. 4(3), 198-204.
  • Alghamdi, E. A. (2014). Discourse Markers in ESL Personal Narrative and Argumentative Papers: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 4(4), 294-305. Retrieved from http://www.ijhssnet.com/journal/index/2319.
  • Alghamdi, E. A. (2014). Gulf pidgin Arabic: A descriptive and analysis of stability. International Journal of Linguistics, 6(6), 110-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v6i6.6846

    • Personal Development