Metin Sezgin

Summer 2025 Cohort @ StartX

About

Prof. Sezgin brings a unique blend of deep academic rigor, multi-modal AI expertise, and real-world product impact. I’m passionate about building intelligent systems that augment human capabilities — especially in high-stakes, real-time domains like healthcare, aerospace, and human-machine interaction. With over 100 publications in leading conferences and journals, Prof. Sezgin is recognized as a top 30-cited scientist in Intelligent User Interfaces research, underscored by an H-index of 28 on Google Scholar. He holds multiple patents, including European patents for gaze-based intention detection and mode inference. His commitment to nurturing talent is evident in the supervision of numerous postdocs, PhD and MS students, with alumni securing positions at top-tier companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Intel Labs, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and prestigious universities such as Harvard, John Hopkins, Nottingham, Oxford, Cambridge, and the University of Massachusetts. He has secured substantial national and international grants, including from the European Research Council and The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, supporting a total headcount of over 90 person-years for graduate students and postdocs. His insights are frequently sought after, leading to invited talks and keynotes at top venues such as IBM Research, Disney Research, Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. He also serves as an associate editor for prestigious journals including IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, IEEE Transactions on Multimedia, and Computers & Graphics. This remarkable blend of academic rigor, pioneering research, and impactful industrial application firmly establishes Prof. Sezgin as a visionary leader in the AI/ML landscape.

Country

Türkiye

City

Istanbul

Industry

Research

Skill

Machine Learning, Matlab, Image Processing, Algorithms, LaTeX, Computer Science, Mathematical Modeling, Signal Processing, Computer Vision, C++, C, Simulations, Pattern Recognition, Data Mining, Software Engineering, Natural Language Processing, Python, Java, Programming, Artificial Intelligence

Experience

Summer 2025 Cohort

StartX

2025-6 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

Co-Founder

Exin Health AI

2023-8 - Present · 3 yrs 2 mos

Palo Alto, California, United States

My team and I are using cutting edge machine learning, and computer vision to build world's first and most advanced AI Genie for ORs. Our flagship platform, ORGenie™, uses multimodal machine learning, computer vision, and large language models to create real-time, structured surgical records and context-aware digital assistants. These systems streamline workflows, enhance safety, and unlock deep insights into team dynamics and protocol adherence.

Full Professor

Koç University

2023-2 - Present · 3 yrs 8 mos

Istanbul, Turkey

AI Research & Innovation • Over 100 peer-reviewed publications in top AI/ML conferences and journals • Recognized among the top 30 most-cited scientists in Intelligent User Interfaces • H-index of 28 (Google Scholar) • Holder of multiple patents, including European patents in gaze tracking and intention inference • Secured significant funding from the European Research Council, DARPA, and TUBITAK, supporting 90+ person-years of graduate-level research

Associate Professor

Koç University

2016-5 - 2023-3 · 6 yrs 11 mos

Industry Collaborations • Arcelik – Developed AI-based authoring tools for next-gen smart TVs • Baykar – Led computer vision and AI teams in aerospace and defense systems • Ford Otosan & European Automotive OEM – Focused on human-vehicle interaction and behavioral AI • Is Bank – Deployed embodied AI agents and served on its Technology Advisory Board • Various Mobile / Telecom Cos – Created ASR and emotion-aware chatbot systems • Co-developed interactive pen-based AI applications (won Research Collaboration Award) 🌍 Global Tech Engagement • Contributed to DARPA’s “Deep Green” project (decision support in combat scenarios) • Collaborated with Toyota ITC on AI-driven user interfaces and driver behavior modeling

Asst. Prof.

Koç University

2008-1 - 2016-5 · 8 yrs 5 mos

iui.ku.edu.tr

Visiting Fellow

Yale University

2016-9 - 2017-9 · 1 yr 1 mo

New Haven, CT

Yale University, Computer Graphics Laboratory, Sabbatical leave

Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of Cambridge

2006-8 - 2011-3 · 4 yrs 8 mos

Postdoctoral research associate in the Computer Laboratory, Rainbow Group. Focusing on sensor fusion methods for intelligent human-computer interfaces.

Visiting Professor

Harvard University

2010-7 - 2010-9 · 3 mos

United States

PhD student

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1999-9 - 2006-6 · 6 yrs 10 mos

Conducting research in sketch recognition. My main goal is to build smart software that can recognize hand drawn sketches such as simple mechanical devices, ORG charts etc.