CV

An interactive version of my CV, generated from the PDF.

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Education 3

  • Universität des Saarlandes

    Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Computer Science.

    Sept 2024 - Aug 2027 Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany

    • Part of the CS@Max Planck Doctoral Program

  • Koç University

    Master of Science, Computer Science and Engineering.

    Sept 2021 - Sept 2023 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Funded by KUIS AI Center and Newton Advanced Fellowship (Royal Society UK)

  • Koç University

    Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering.

    Sept 2017 - June 2021 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Full scholarship funded by Al Ghurair Foundation (AGFE).

Research interests

  • Generative Modeling
  • World Modeling
  • Uncertainty
  • Multi-Modality

Publications

  1. N. Nayal, C. Wewer. J. E. Lenssen ”MixFlow: Mixed Source Distributions Improve Rectified Flows” in ICLR 2026 2nd DeLTa Workshop
  2. N. Nayal, Y. Shoeb, F. Güney ”A Likelihood Ratio-Based Approach to Segmenting Unknown Objects” in IJCV 2025
  3. Y. Shoeb, N. Nayal, A. Nowzad, F. Güney, H. Gottschalk ”Segment-Level Road Obstacle Detection Using Visual Foundation Model Priors and Likelihood Ratios” in VISAPP 2025
  4. N. Nayal, M. Yavuz, J. F. Henriques F. Güney ”RbA: Segmenting Unknown Regions Rejected by All” in ICCV 2023.
  5. Y. Hassanzadeh-Nazarabadi, N. Nayal, S. Sameh Hamdan, Ö. Özkasap, and A. Küpçü, “A containerized proof-of-concept implementation of lightchain system,” in ICBC. IEEE, 2020.
  6. Y. Hassanzadeh-Nazarabadi, N. Nayal, S. Sameh Hamdan, A. Utkan Şahin, Ö. Özkasap, and A. Küpçü, ”Demo: Skip Graph Middleware Implementation”, in SRDS 2020.

All publications with abstracts and links

Experience 9

  • Max Planck Institute of Informatics (MPI-INF)

    Doctoral Researcher

    Sept 2024 - Present Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany

    • Working with the Computer Vision and Machine Learning Group

  • Visual Geometry Group (VGG), University of Oxford

    Graduate Short Term Student Visitor

    Sept 2023 - Oct 2023 Oxford, United Kingdom

    • Visited VGG as part of our project collaboration with João F. Henriques.

  • Koç University & İş Bankası Artificial Intelligence Center (KUIS AI)

    Research Fellow

    Sept 2021 - Sept 2024 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Worked on detection of rare events and unknown objects in Autonomous Driving scenarios.

  • Unvest R&D Center

    Research Engineer

    April 2022 - Sept 2024 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Explored the potential of deploying uncertainty estimation models for autonomous driving.

  • Syrian Youth Empowerment (SYE)

    Grad Student Mentor

    July 2021 - Present Remote

    • Mentoring and providing support to Syrian students applying for graduate degrees abroad.

  • Hospital on Mobile (now CareX.ai)

    AI Engineer

    Jan 2021 - June 2021 Remote

    • Conducted research and developed AI models for vital signs prediction.

  • Invent Analytics

    Software Engineering Intern

    July 2020 - Sept 2020 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Implemented a machine learning forecasting model based on supermarket products sales data.

  • Distributed Systems and Reliable Networks Laboratory (DISNET)

    Research Intern

    Mar 2019 - Jan 2021 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Implemented Proof of Concept for LightChain, and an augmented version of Skip Graph Data Structure.

  • Dapper Labs (Based in Vancouver, Canada)

    Software Engineering Intern

    Aug 2019 – Dec 2019 Remote

    • Contributed to the implementation of the first version of the networking layer of Flow Blockchain.

Achievements 4

  • Al Ghurair Foundation for Education STEM Scholarship (AGFE)

    Recipient

    Sept 2017 - Sept 2021 Istanbul, Turkey

    • A merit-based award for highly achieving Arab students to pursue a degree in STEM.

  • Vehbi Koç Scholar Award

    Award Recipient

    2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Received this award for 4 consecutive years for maintaining a semester GPA of 3.5+.

  • IEEEXtreme 13.0 Programming Contest

    Contestant

    Oct 2019 Online

    • Ranked 67th globally and 2nd among teams participating from Turkey.

  • Turkish Programming Contest (TPC)

    Contestant

    Sept 2019 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Represented Koç University and ranked 12th among teams participating from all over Turkey.

Skills

Technical
  • C++
  • Python
  • PyTorch
  • Deep Learning
  • Agile Development
  • Algorithms & Data Structures
  • Competitive Programming
  • Data Analysis
  • Blockchain
Languages
  • Arabic (native)
  • English (fluent)
  • French (intermediate)
  • Turkish (intermediate)

Projects

For list of projects you may visit project page in my website. Explore projects

Extracurricular activities 4

  • Koç University Programming Championship (KUPC)

    Problem Setter & Chief Judge

    Jan 2020 - Sept 2020 Istanbul, Turkey

    • KUPC is an ACM-ICPC style programming competition for Koç University students.
    • Created and tested problems, and prepared competition system.

  • Koç University ACM Student Chapter (KUACM)

    Vice President

    May 2019 - Aug 2020 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Managed and organized programs and activities carried out under that chapter’s supervision.

  • Koç University Algorithms Program (KUAP)

    Founder & Coordinator & Instructor

    Jan 2019 - Sept 2020 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Created a curriculum that covers basics of problem solving using algorithms and data structures.
    • Led discussions and problem solving sessions demonstrating concepts and solutions to problems.

  • inzva Algorithmic Competition Winter Camp 2019

    Participant & Contestant

    Jan 2019 Istanbul, Turkey

    • Ranked 1st in final day contest after a week long intensive training on algorithms and data structures.
Contact details in the PDF

Nazir Nayal

Campus E1 4, 66123 Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany

(+49)152 10834366 ⋄ nnayal@mpi-inf.mpg.de ⋄ GitHub ⋄ LinkedIn ⋄ Personal Website