Zakarya EL KHIYATI

Machine Learning Engineer

PhD in Mathematics seeking to apply Machine Learning, Mathematics and Programming skills to solve concrete industry problems.

Education

Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics

2021 - 2024

Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, France

  • Thesis: "Reinforcement Learning for Control of Active Matter Systems"
  • • Focus on developing machine learning techniques for complex physical systems

M.S. in Applied Mathematics

2019 - 2021

Paris Dauphine-PSL University & ENS Paris-PSL, Paris, France

  • Specialization: Mathematics of Machine Learning and Humanities (MASH)
  • Coursework: Optimization, Graphical Models, Machine Learning, Advanced Learning Theory, Computational Neuroscience, Monte-Carlo

B.S. in Applied Mathematics

2018 - 2019

Paris Dauphine-PSL University, Paris, France

  • Coursework: Measure Theory, Probability, Statistics, Differential Calculus, Topology, Game Theory, Linear Algebra, Complex Analysis

Experience

Research Assistant

Oct 2021 - Sept 2024

INRIA Sophia Antipolis, France

  • Collaborated closely with engineers and researchers to align project milestones with broader technical goals
  • Led development of high-performance software library using PyTorch for complex systems simulations
  • Optimized control strategies for active particle systems using reinforcement learning techniques
  • Integrated various ML algorithms within flexible simulation environments, reducing integration time significantly

Teaching Assistant

2022

Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France

  • Designed and delivered machine learning tutorials to healthcare professionals
  • Developed hands-on exercises to reinforce key ML concepts with improved student feedback

Projects

AI Educational Flashcard Generator

Built FastAPI application with Google Gemini LLM integration for AI-powered flashcard generation with structured JSON schema-based response parsing.

PythonFastAPIGoogle Gemini LLMVercel

Lattice Vicsek Model with Magnetic Control

Developed high-performance scientific simulation framework using PyTorch and NumPy for collective motion modeling with interactive GUI and real-time visualization.

PythonPyTorchNumPyHDF5

Lattice Physics Control System

Developed custom OpenAI Gymnasium environments for physics simulation with deep reinforcement learning algorithms (PPO, DQN) and comprehensive experiment tracking.

PyTorchStable Baselines3OpenAI GymnasiumWeights & Biases

American Options Pricing System

Developed Python-based financial modeling system for complex derivatives pricing using Monte Carlo simulations and Longstaff-Schwartz algorithms.

PythonNumPyMonte CarloFinancial Modeling

Publications

Steering undulatory micro-swimmers in a fluid flow through reinforcement learning

EL KHIYATI, Z., CHESNEAUX, R., GIRALDI, L., BEC, J.

The European Physical Journal E (2023)

Reinforcement learning with function approximation for 3-spheres swimmer

BERTI, L., EL KHIYATI, Z., ESSOUSY, Y., PRUD'HOMME, C., GIRALDI, L.

IFAC-PapersOnLine (2022)

Effects of collective patterns, confinement, and fluid flow on active particle transport

CALASCIBETTA, C., GIRALDI, L., EL KHIYATI, Z., BEC, J.

Physical Review E (2024)