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For his PhD, Thanet explored ways to make artificial intelligence (AI) systems more understandable and trustworthy. He focussed on recommendation systems, a type of AI that suggests items to users. Examples of this include movies on streaming platforms and products on e-commerce websites.  

“I aimed to develop such systems that not only provide accurate personalised recommendations but also offer clear explanations of why those recommendations are made.” 

Thanet recognised that recommendation systems are useful for navigating through a potentially overwhelming number of choices. While commonly used in entertainment and retail, they also have applications to other domains such as education, healthcare, and finance.  

“Enhancing the transparency of these systems, allowing users to understand the reasoning behind the recommendations, can improve user trust and lead to better decision-making.” 

Thanet searched for available PhD projects in the UK and came across this opportunity at Reading. He reached out to the prospective supervisor and discussed the project with them. 

“I found the project interesting and felt a positive connection with the supervisor’s attitude. I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from my home country’s government which enabled me to fund my PhD studies.” 

For Thanet, collective support provided throughout his PhD was the highlight of studying at Reading.  

“By support, I don’t just mean academic guidance, but also help with administrative matters. As an international student, there was a lot of paperwork to handle. Everyone was incredibly helpful, making all the processes, before I was accepted, during my studies, and even after graduation, smooth and stress-free. Doing a PhD was challenging enough, so not having to deal with additional bureaucratic difficulties was a real blessing.  

In addition to that, I also enjoyed the beautiful campus with plenty of open spaces, and the international food market.” 

Thanet participated in a range of development opportunities during his PhD. He attended and presented at numerous conferences, worked as a teaching assistant and presented his work to fellow students in the Department.  

“Each year my supervisor encouraged me to participate in a competition-style event on Natural Language Processing in which participants have the opportunity to publish a paper – this was a real highlight.” 

To successfully complete a PhD, Thanet advises setting a series small, manageable goals that work towards the overarching goal of graduation. 

“Be consistent, keep achieving these small goals, and you will definitely reach your big goal in the end!” 

“I hope to pursue a career in research, where I can translate my work into real-world applications that have a meaningful impact.”