Overcoming the odds to make his mark in brave new world

Bullied by his own teacher and nearly kicked out of university, this researcher has beaten the odds to become a leader in the world of AI.

HE BATTLED a cruel teacher, was almost kicked out of university, and had to leave his home country, but Iranian-born researcher Seyedali Mirjalili has flourished to become one of the world’s top artificial intelligence researchers.

The 33-year-old Griffith College lecturer, who hails from the city of Yazd, said he was subject to a “nightmare experience” while studying in Iran after a rogue lecturer took a dislike to him.

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The teacher bullied and harassed Dr Mirjalili, then a young mathematics student, telling him he would never amount to anything and even describing him as a “cancer”.

“It was a terrible experience, and because of that I started failing that subject and others, so I was on probation and very close to exclusion,” he said.

He pushed on with his studies and received remarkable results, but Dr Mirjalili was dealt another blow when he felt forced to decline an offer at a top US university due to his Iranian nationality.

“Because I am Iranian, it was going to be too hard to go there,” he said.

“Even with a visa, you go years without being able to see your family.

“It was a great opportunity but that was the second biggest reality I had to face after dealing that teacher – that because of my nationality I had to say no to a great opportunity, something that had been my dream.”

Regardless, Dr Mirjalili did not let his circumstances stop him from pursuing his passion.

He ended up leaving Iran for Malaysia to study English and a Masters of Computer Science, before being offered a full scholarship to do his PhD in computer science at Griffith University.

Dr Seyedali Mirjalili has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Award for his research into AI. Picture: Claudia Baxter/AAP

Earlier this month, he celebrated becoming an Australian citizen at his official citizenship ceremony.

Dr Mirjalili has now authored or co-authored articles in more than 150 publications and has received more than 10,000 citations globally for his research work.

“I love my publications because they will live forever and keep adding value to the world, even when I’m no longer here,” he said.

Dr Mirjalili’s will to succeed has seen him nominated for a Pride of Australia award.

He also balances his extensive research and writing with up to 40 hours of teaching per week, and said his own experiences had influenced his methods and how he viewed his own impact on students.

“I forgive that teacher of course and I’m also grateful in a way,” he said.

“From my story, from my point of view, life throws at us a lot of difficulties and challenges but if we can get around them then we can climb even higher.

“I decided to be the kindest and most supportive teacher for my students because I do not want them to experience what I went through.

“We all remember our worst and best teachers, and I want to be the best teacher to my students.”