Specialty
Quantum Computing
Agentic AI
Emerging Technologies
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Dr. Rodrigue Rizk is currently a professor and the Computer Science Graduate Program Director at the University of South Dakota. He also serves as the Chair of the IEEE Siouxland Section, and the Vice Director of Engineering at the Artificial Intelligence Research Lab. His interdisciplinary work bridges cognitive science, neural computation, and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Rizk’s research lies at the intersection of machine learning, cognitive science, and quantum computation, aiming to uncover the principles that make intelligent systems adaptive, explainable, and self-improving.
His work develops brain-inspired architectures and learning algorithms that autonomously discover abstractions, goals, and reasoning strategies, bridging neuroscience and AI to advance our understanding of learning itself.
At the heart of this effort lies a central question:
“How can an intelligent system continually refine not just what it knows, but the very process by which it learns?”
Current efforts explore world models, lifelong learning, and quantum-enhanced intelligence, integrating ideas from deep learning, reinforcement learning, and quantum computing to design the next generation of self-evolving intelligent agents.
Dr. Rizk has collaborated actively with researchers in several other disciplines of informatics, computer science, engineering, and medicine, ranging from theory to design to implementation, and has published several research papers in top-tier conferences and journals. As a researcher and advocate for innovation, he is constantly seeking new ways to apply cutting-edge technologies to solve real-world problems and improve the lives of people. Dr Rizk has made substantial contributions to the research community, serving as a reviewer for top-tier conferences, prestigious journals, and NSF/NIH grant panels
Dr. Rizk is a computer engineer by trade with a wide range of industry expertise and is a member of the Order of the Engineer in the United States. He is the recipient of the prestigious Richard G. and Mary B. Neiheisel endowed fellowship, a lifetime member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and ACM, and a professional member of IEEE. He is also a member of the IEEE Standards Association, IEEE Computer and Quantum Society, ACM-W, and Emerging Interest Groups (EIG) on Smart Connected Communities and Reproducibility and Independent Verification. Dr. Rizk is also the recipient of many prestigious awards including the President's Award for Educational Excellence and Outstanding Academic Achievement and the Ragin’ Leadership Academy Award.
In addition to his work in technology, Dr. Rizk has a deep interest in philosophy, ancient languages, and civilizations. He is a scholar of history and culture. He has made significant contributions to the field through his research and writing, as he explores the intersections between technology and human experience.
Outside the academic life, Dr. Rizk's community service efforts are distinctive and extensive. He serves as a volunteer with a number of state and non-profit organizations and was named a Goodwill Ambassador. He has traveled extensively, working with organizations and communities to promote education, technology, digital disruption, and workforce and economic development.
“The limits of machine intelligence are the limits of our imagination.”— Rodrigue Rizk, Ph.D.
https://rodriguerizk.github.io/
Deep Learning • Agentic AI • Reinforcement Learning • Quantum Computing
Artificial Intelligence • Deep Learning / Neural Networks • Agentic AI • Physical AI • Small / Large Language Models • Reinforcement Learning • Game Theory • Theory of Mind • Quantum Computing and Quantum Machine Learning • Neuromorphic Computing • Physics-Inspired Computing and Physical AI • Cognitive Modeling and Computational Neuroscience • Emerging Technologies
