A snapshot of my journey

Hey there! I’m Bilel, and here’s a little bit about my journey.

  • 2011-2015: I dived headfirst into my Ph.D. in Computer Science in the University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier (France). Those four years were jam-packed with learning, teaching, and coffee-fueled late nights. By 2015, I had my Ph.D. under my belt and was eager for more.

  • 2016-2017: I took the plunge into a postdoctoral role in the Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics of Montpellier (France), where I got to apply my skills in a real-world context. I developed machine learning methods to help assess suicide behaviors in social media. My work was part of the DontDoIt project, which was carried out in collaboration with the Psychiatric Emergencies and Post-Acute Care of Montpellier.

  • 2017-2018 I worked as a research engineer at the University of Montpellier (France). I was engaged in impactful projects like suicide prevention in social media networks. This experience was a turning point for me, because I think that I helped in creating something really useful. I developed a machine learning model for suicide prevention as well a mobile application that was being used by a group of patients at high risk of suicide. Although I enjoyed research and especially teaching, I really wanted to create solutions that had immediate practical applications. So, I had decided to stop applying for the position of associate professor, which was the plan I was primarily drawn to, and I began exploring opportunities within the industry. Looking back, it turned out to be the best thing I ever did.

  • Since then: I’ve been on a professional rollercoaster, working with companies like Acelys and Akio (France), doing everything from big data to NLP.

So, that’s a snapshot of my journey. Feel free to check out my CV for the nitty-gritty details.

Why am I here ?

It’s a blend of passion, purpose, and a bit of nostalgia.

  • Intention: I’ve gathered countless notes over time. A part of this space will centralize my vast collection of ‘how-tos’ and tutorials. I waited too long to transition from my scattered notes in Joplin and QOwnNotes to a unified, accessible platform.

  • Procrastination: I’ve been always inspired by the insightful blogs and courses of people like Jeremy Howard and Rachel Thomas. Rachel Thomas has frequently discussed the importance of blogging and how explaining something you’ve learned cements your knowledge. Each time I browse a good blog, a voice inside me echoed, “Why not create something like this yourself?” The intention had been there for the longest time, but procrastination often had the upper hand. No more.

  • A Learning Journal: I’m looking forward to writing about the concepts that have intrigued me over the years, explaining them in my own way. If I ever forget a concept, this will be my reference.

  • Sharing: Sharing my experiences actually helps me make sense of things better. By sharing, not only do I solidify my own understanding, but maybe, I might help someone else out there.

Finally, remembering my late brother, he was the one who first inspired me and introduced me to the world of computer science. So, who knows? Perhaps, one day, something here might pique the interest of my two daughters.