Education
- Master of Applied Science (ECE — Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence), University of Waterloo, Canada (2016–2020) — Dissertation: Anomaly Detection using iMondrian Forests; Supervisor: Dr. Mark Crowley
- Master of Engineering (Computer Architecture & Design, CGPA 3.78), NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan (2012) — Dissertation: Heuristic Based Cache Replacement Policy; Supervisor: Dr. Muhammad Ali Ismail
- Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Systems, with Distinction), Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada (2003) — 4th Year Project: DSP System Simulation of a Mitel VoIP Phone
- Minor in Mathematics (High Distinction), Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada (2003)
Research Interests
- Anomaly detection using Isolation Forest and Mondrian Forest techniques
- Heuristic-based simulation
- Computer architecture
Biography
Maria Samad has been Lecturer II in the Department of Computer Science at Habib University since 2021, teaching Programming Fundamentals, Data Structures and Algorithms, Computer Architecture, and Database Systems, among others.
She completed her Master of Applied Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo (2016–2020) under Dr. Mark Crowley, researching anomaly detection using Isolation Forest and Mondrian Forest techniques, following an earlier Master of Engineering in Computer Architecture & Design at NED University (2012) and a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems (with Distinction) from Carleton University, Ottawa (2003). Between her master’s degrees, she spent a decade (2006–2016) as a Lecturer at NED University’s Department of Computer & Information Systems Engineering, teaching across Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronics, and related departments, and was a Teaching Assistant at the University of Waterloo (2016–2019). She also worked as a Computer Programmer at Bank Al-Habib, developing Islamic and Trade Finance software, and as a Database Administrative Assistant at Health Canada, Ottawa.
Ms. Samad holds a full scholarship for her graduate studies at the University of Waterloo and has supervised numerous undergraduate final-year projects across cloud computing, computer vision, and forecasting applications, most recently a 2025–26 Vehicle Repair Management System.
Selected Publications
- Ghojogh, B., Samad, M. N., Mashhadi, S. A., Kapoor, T., Ali, W., Karray, F., and Crowley, M. “Feature Selection and Feature Extraction in Pattern Analysis: A Literature Review.” arXiv preprint, 2019.
- Rizvi, A. H., Jamil, A., Sadiq, M. T., Samad, M., Rizvi, S., and Abbas, Z. “Low-Cost IP Camera for Traffic Monitoring.” International Journal of Computer Applications, 2015.
Honors & Awards
- Full Scholarship, Graduate Studies, University of Waterloo
- 3rd Position, M.Eng., NED University of Engineering & Technology
- Nortel’s Scholarship, undergraduate tuition, Carleton University
- Ontario Scholar Certificate; Award of Academic Excellence, high school graduation
Explore More DSSE Faculty Profiles
A
Program Director, and Assistant Professor, Integrated Sciences and Mathematics
BS Integrated Sciences and Mathematics
B
F
H
Faculty Director, Dean's Fellowship Program and Assistant Professor
BS Integrated Sciences and Mathematics
I
Associate Dean Academic Systems and Registrar and Associate Professor
BS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering
J
M
Interim Vice President Academic Affairs and Professor
BS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering
Faculty Director, Academic Planning and Governance and Associate Professor
BS Computer Science
Director, Industrial Engagement and Applied Learning (IEAL) and Assistant Professor
BS Computer Engineering
N
Program Director, and Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
BS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering
R
S
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
BS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering