Jasin Machkour with Prof. Palomar at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Jasin Machkour visited Prof. Palomar at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to work on the development of false discovery rate (FDR) controlling methods for dependent variables. To address this challenge, the recently developed T-Rex framework was extended to handle large-scale data sets with highly dependent variables. The developed methods have been applied to various domains, including financial engineering, genomics research, and radar applications.

The expertise of Prof. Palomar, a world-renowned expert in convex optimization, has been invaluable for the development of fast localization methods that allow users to control the FDR while maintaining high statistical power. These methods are currently undergoing testing using through-the-wall radar data from the emergenCity rescue robot. Our objective is to empower the rescue robot to identify all individuals in crisis situations while significantly reducing false detections. This will enable rescue teams to allocate their resources effectively to locations where people are in danger.

In addition to the collaborative research work, Jasin experienced the great hospitality of Prof. Palomar and his group and also got the opportunity to explore Hong Kong, a large and vibrant city that is well-known for its many skyscrapers, delicious Cantonese cuisine, and iconic hiking trails. All in all, the stay of several months in Hong Kong is one of his most memorable academic and personal experiences. This would not have been possible without the organizational and financial support of emergenCity.