Biography
Dr. Saif Kifah is the Head of the Data Science Programme at the School of Computing and Data Science, Xiamen University Malaysia. He has over eight years of teaching experience at the university and more than a decade of research experience in the fields of combinatorial optimization and metaheuristics. His research interests also extend to machine learning and deep learning, where he explores the integration of intelligent optimization techniques with data-driven models. Dr. Saif has published several research articles, including papers in internationally recognized journals such as the Journal of Information Science. He continues to contribute actively to advancing research and education in data science and computational intelligence.
Research Interest
Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Pattern Recognition, Metaheuristic Algorithms, and Combinatorial Optimization Problems.
Educational Background
PhD (Computer Science), University Kebangsaan Malaysia (2017)
MSc (Information Technology & Computer Science), University Kebangsaan Malaysia (2011)
BSc (Software Engineering), Mansour University Collage (2005)
Working Experience
Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Data Science, Xiamen University Malaysia, Malaysia (2019 to present).
Lecturer, School of Computing and Data Science, Xiamen University Malaysia. Malaysia (2017 to 2019).
Research Assistant. (Information Technology & Computer Science, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia (2012 το 2015).
Project Manager Assistant. (Information Technology & Computer Science, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia (2011 to 2012).
Research Assistant, (Information Technology & Computer Science, University Kebangsaan Malaysia. Malaysia (2010 to 2011).
Research Experience
Involved in designing an Artificial Intelligence system for a data mining project focused on data filtering, search quality enhancement, and minimizing information loss.
Led and participated in the development of various systems, including a project for JAKIM and other initiatives under the School of Computer Science
Currently conducting research supported by three different research grants, in collaboration with international institutes, focusing on advanced topics in data science, optimization, and intelligent systems.
Representative Publications
Improving the Classification Performance of Asphalt Cracks after Earthquake with a New Feature Selection Algorithm, IEEE Access (2024). (Q1)
An adaptive non-linear great deluge algorithm for the patient admission problem. Information sciences. 295 (2015): 573-585. (Q1)
Solving Feature Selection Problem Using Intelligent Double Treatment Iterative Composite Neighbourhood Structure Algorithm. International Journal of Computational Vision and Robotics. 7.3 (2017): 255-275. (Q3)
Non-liner great deluge algorithm for handling nurse rostering problem. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research. 12.15 (2017): 4959-4966. (Q3)
Zhu, Zixuan, and Saif Kifah. "Exploring the Risk Posed by Adversarial Attacks on Face Recognition with CNN." In 2024 International Conference on Computing Innovation, Intelligence, Technologies and Education (CIITE), pp. 1-7. IEEE, 2024.
Deep convolutional neural network for enhancing traffic sign recognition developed on Yolo V5." 2024 International Conference on Advancements in Smart, Secure and Intelligent Computing (ASSIC). IEEE, 2024.
Intelligent Double Treatment Iterative Algorithm for Attribute Reduction Problems. Computational Intelligence in Information Systems: Proceedings of the Fourth INNS Symposia Series on Computational Intelligence in Information Systems (INNS-CIIS 2014). Springer International Publishing, 2015.
Variable Neighbourhood Iterated Improvement Search Algorithm for Attribute Reduction Problems. Simulated Evolution and Learning: 10th International Conference, SEAL 2014, Dunedin, New Zealand, December 15-18, 2014. Proceedings 10. Springer International Publishing, 2014
Honors / Awards
Outstanding publication award, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (2017)
The 16th Chunhui Cup, Gold medal award. (2021)
Blue Bridge Cup Competition (C/C++ competition), Xiamen University (2022)
ICM Competetion award top 2.36% worldwide, Finalist. (2024)
The 4th Annual Business Award under the Research Awards category at the institutional level, competing in the International Track with the project titled AquaRocket (2025).
National Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the Research Awards category at the institutional level within the International Track for the project Algae Rocket (2024)
In addition, the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, securing acknowledgment in the Research Awards category at the institutional level under the International Track with the project Aquabiotech (2025).