In this edition of Cosmographer Corner, we highlight the work of former University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate and cosmographer Dr. Recep Erol. We are extremely proud of Dr. Erol’s accomplishments! 

Dr. Erol—who is now an HPC admin and AI facilitator at the University of Arkansas—started his graduate education at UA Little Rock in 2015, studying first for Applied Computing, and then went on to study and receive a PhD in Computer and Information Sciences in 2024. We interviewed Dr. Erol on where his career is now and what his work at COSMOS entailed, with his responses below.

How did COSMOS fit into your university/secondary education career? How did you come across COSMOS, and what were you studying when you joined?

I moved to Little Rock in 2015 and began searching for opportunities to work on social media analysis. I reached out to over 20 individuals across various departments on campus, asking if they knew of anyone engaged in this field. More than 90% of them recommended Prof. Agarwal. Although a few students mentioned he is mentoring a lot of PhD students, so he may not be available, they still encouraged me to pursue an opportunity with him.

I knew one of his current students at the time and asked if he could help set up a meeting. We visited Dr. Agarwal’s office and had a detailed conversation about my interests. COSMOS was already a large and dynamic research group, and I saw it as an excellent opportunity to gain experience. Today, the group is even more expansive and impactful.

I was admitted to the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), though initially placed on academic probation for two semesters. Within four semesters, I had achieved a 4.0 GPA and was awarded multiple scholarships—three of them from the Arkansas Academy of Computing, one of the state’s most prestigious scholarship programs. These experiences allowed me to demonstrate my skill set and potential at UCA. Through various meetings, Prof. Agarwal learned of my intention to pursue a PhD and continue working with COSMOS, and he welcomed the idea without hesitation.

How did COSMOS contribute to your career and academic program at UALR? What role did Prof. Agarwal play during and after your time there?

I spent about three and a half semesters working with Prof. Agarwal. Initially, I applied my technical skills across various tasks. After two semesters, I gained a deeper appreciation for the meaning behind the algorithms—not just how they worked, but what the results revealed about human behavior, especially on social media. This understanding significantly deepened my interest in the work.

It became clear that data science is not just about applying algorithms, but also about interpreting the results and understanding their social implications. This shift in perspective motivated me to take on more complex projects recommended by Prof. Agarwal. His mentorship played a critical role in helping me connect the technical aspects of data analysis to real-world behavioral insights.

How would you describe the “research pipeline” you worked on while at COSMOS? What specific areas did you focus on (e.g., knowledge graphs, Indo-Pacific studies, disinformation/misinformation)?

My research journey at COSMOS evolved over time. I started with web crawlers in 2015 and 2016, then transitioned to movie barcodes in 2019. After that, I worked on video transcription technologies and emotion analysis in video and audio data.

I also analyzed various forms of social media content—video comments, Instagram and TikTok posts—and examined the conversations they generated. I used network and graph analysis to understand the structure and dynamics of those conversations.

Later, Prof. Agarwal encouraged me to develop a fusion technique that integrated all these data types. His idea was to move beyond analyzing each format in isolation and instead combine them for a more comprehensive picture. That project helped me understand how to synthesize diverse datasets and analytical methods into a unified research pipeline.

Since leaving COSMOS, what roles or jobs have you held? What is your current position? How did COSMOS and your coursework at UALR prepare you for these roles?

While still in my master’s program, I received work authorization through a J1 visa, which allowed me to engage in academic work before completing the degree.

In my third semester at UCA, I began working full-time at Walmart. Over 18 months there, I contributed to several major projects, two of which were patented—where I was listed as one of the inventors. That was a major milestone in my career.

After Walmart, I joined a startup in New York focused on detecting deepfake content on YouTube and Instagram. I later worked at another startup tackling counterfeit products in online marketplaces—such as fake sneakers and purses. Following that, I took on a role as a computer vision consultant at Norfolk Southern, and I’ve also worked with Arvest Bank.

Throughout my career, I’ve tried to balance academia and industry. While academia can sometimes lead the way in innovation, industry can also be ahead in real-world application. This dual engagement has allowed me to apply state-of-the-art techniques in practical settings and bring back industry insights to academic research.

After completing my PhD, I focused on opportunities in high-performance computing environments. I’m particularly passionate about computational optimization—minimizing processing time and energy use. I still actively support faculty and graduate students at the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, helping them optimize their code and solve complex problems. In my current position, I continue to follow this passion every day.

What was the most momentous event you experienced at COSMOS? (For example, a key conference, a notable paper or project, etc.)

One of the most memorable moments was when international delegates visited our offices. It was an incredible experience to meet prominent figures from around the world and share our research without needing to attend an external conference. I had the chance to explain my work, build new connections, and gain insights directly from global leaders in the field.

Another invaluable experience was the weekly meetings with Prof. Agarwal. Despite his busy schedule and the large number of students he mentored, he consistently made time to provide guidance. These meetings weren’t just about technical updates; we also discussed broader social and research topics. They were truly enriching and shaped much of my thinking.

What advice would you give to current Cosmographers? (For example, guidance on presenting at conferences, applying for jobs, or choosing research fields.)

The work being done at COSMOS closely mirrors real-world applications. Whether it’s following the data science life cycle, engaging in machine learning tasks, or developing tools like BlogTracker and VTracker, these are all skills that transfer directly to industry.

Students should think carefully about their career goals. If they aim to stay in academia, they can focus on the theoretical and research aspects of their work. If they’re leaning toward industry, they should emphasize technical development, such as algorithms, tool creation, and applied data science.

It’s important to first understand your own interests—whether in data analysis, system design, or algorithm development—and then pursue tasks aligned with those interests. Prof. Agarwal has built a fantastic environment at COSMOS – one that stimulates not only to learn and apply new skills, but also to develop a strong portfolio of published and practical work.