Mustafa Semih Sadak, PhD
Assistant Professor and Researcher in AI, Aviation, and Safety-Critical Systems
I am Mustafa Semih Sadak, a researcher working on AI, aviation, and safety-critical operational systems. My work brings together machine learning, trustworthy AI, and real-world experience in air traffic control-related software and simulation systems.
I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Piri Reis University, Istanbul. Before joining academia, I worked for many years at TUBITAK, where I contributed to software and R&D projects related to air traffic control, simulation, assessment, and operational systems.
INFO
İstanbul, TÜRKİYE
@semihsadak
msadak@pirireis.edu.tr
semihsadak@gmail.com
semihsadak.com
experence
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Piri Reis University, İstanbul, Türkiye
Teaching:
- Fall 2025: ISE436 Design Patterns; ISE439 Internet Technologies; COMP452 Human-Computer Interaction
- Spring 2026: ELK222 Signals and Systems; ELK459 Pattern Recognition; EEE518 Machine Learning Methods and Applications
Project Manager/ Senior Software Engineer
TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye)
- Lead a team of six engineers to manage a project comprising of roster, distance learning, and personnel managing systems for air traffic con‑ trollers, ensuring successful delivery through effective collaboration and project management.
- Participated in all phases of the project, including requirement gathering, analysis, design, planning, development, unit testing, managing, monitoring, reporting, and delivery, utilizing agile methodology and interim evaluations from customers.
- Utilized various technologies such as JSF, Primefaces, Spring Boot, Java, Wildfly, MySQL, JavaScript, JQuery, Html, and CSS in the development of the project.
- Employed various tools including Bitbucket, Confluence, Jira, Sonarqube, Jenkins, Jmeter, and Acunetix throughout the project duration.
Senior Software Engineer
TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye)
- Software development for distributed system architecture.
- Developed a performance evaluation tool using Java, RTI, Hla, JasperReports, MySQL, and LuciadMap to evaluate the instantaneous activities of air traffic controller candidates. By seamlessly integrating with all modules of the air traffic management simulation system, the tool enabled real‑time monitoring and evaluation of candidates’ activities.
- Used IBM ClearCase for version control, IBM Clearquest for issue tracking, and Telelogic Doors for requirement management.
- Tested software for bugs and performance, fixed bugs and documented processes to increase efficiency.
Senior Software Engineer
TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye)
- Developed an aptitude test tool for hiring air traffic controllers, and a personnel management system and online exam system for rate exams of air traffic controllers using Java, JSF, Primefaces, Seam Framework, Jboss, MySQL, Javascript, JQuery, Html, and CSS.
- Utilized tools such as SVN, IBM Jazz, Confluence, Sonarqube, Jenkins, Jmeter, and Acunetix.
- Involved in design, development, unit testing, reporting, and delivering phases.
Sowtware Engineer
CETECH-ADTECH
- Developed web app using Java EE, JSF, Primefaces and HTML/CSS that allowed call‑center employees to manage issues.
- Developed software applications for Mobile Service Delivery Platform (VAS&CMS Infrastructure) in SOA concept using Java EE.
- Tested software for bugs and performance, fixed bugs and documented processes to increase efficiency.
PUBLICATIONS
M.S. Sadak, N. Kahraman and U. Uludag, "Dynamic and Static Feature Fusion for Increased Accuracy in Signature Verification", Signal Processing: Image Communication, vol. 108, 116823, October 2022.
A. Oncu, O. F. Arar, S. Akpinar, O. Yalcin, U. Mert, M. S. Sadak, S. Kosunalp, "Developing an Electronic Examination System for Aptitude Measurement and Application to Air Traffic Controller Selection” (In Turkish)", UYMS, 2014.
O. F. Arar, A. Oncu, S. Akpinar, O. Yalcin, U. Mert, M. S. Sadak, S. Kosunalp, "A flexible e-exam framework and air traffic controller selection system", Global Journal on Technology, vol. 3, June 2013.
(In Preparation) M.S. Sadak, N. Kahraman and U. Uludag, "A Robust Approach for Sound-Based Handwritten Signature Verification"
education
Yıldız Technical University , İstanbul
Ph.D., Electronics and Communication Engineering
Thesis Title:
"Fusion of Dynamic and Static Features for Handwritten Signature Verification"
Thesis Advisor: Prof. Nihan Kahraman
Thesis Co‑Advisor: Dr. Umut Uludağ
Courses: Computer Vision, Object Oriented Design and Modeling, Software Quality and Test Techniques, Signal and Image Processing for Re‑
mote Sensing, Machine Learning, Advanced Signal Processing, Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Optical Pattern Recognition, Cognitive
Aspects of Natural Language Processing, Two Dimensional Signal&Image Processing, Statistical Signal Processing, Microwave 1, Electromag‑
netic Wave Theory, Signals and Systems, Probability Theory
Yıldız Technical University , İstanbul
M.S., Mathematical Engineering
Thesis Title: "Performance Comparison of Numerical Algorithms Used in Solving Engineering Problems"
Thesis Advisor: Prof. Hülya Şahintürk
Courses:Mathematical Programming, Job Sequencing and Scheduling, Project Management Systems, Supply Chain and Logistics Manage‑
ment, Special Topics in Operations Research, Introduction to Graph Theory, Matrix Analysis, Image Compression Methods and Standarts
Yıldız Technical University , İstanbul
B.S., Mathematical Engineering
Foreign Language Preparation (Two semesters)
Courses: Programming Languages I‑II, Introduction to Computer Programming, Hardware of PC, Algorithms and Data Structures, Computer
Design, Object Oriented Programming, Data Management and File Structures, Image Processing, Theory of Games, Linear Programming, Statis‑
tics, Optimization Techniques, Time Series Analysis, Introduction to Control Theory, Operational Research, Finite Element Methods, Mechanics
of Fluids, Numerical Analysis, Partial Differential Equations, Complex Analysis, Dynamics, Materials, Statics and Strength of Materials, Linear
Algebra, Mathematical Logic, ...
REsearch ınterests
Hobbıes
Novels: I am an enthusiastic reader of novels, and enjoy exploring various genres and authors in my free time to expand my knowledge and imagination.
Piano: In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano and have been studying and practicing classical pieces for the past five years.
Horse Riding: I am also an avid horse rider, and enjoy spending weekends at the riding clubs where I have been taking lessons and honing my riding skills for the past two years.
Basketball: I also enjoy playing basketball as a way to stay active and engage in team sports, and regularly participate in pick‑up games with friends on weekends.