AI · Machine Learning · Research Computing

Ermal Toto, PhD

PhD, Computer Science · MBA — Director, Scientific Data & Applications, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Holden, Massachusetts, United States

I leverage data to drive informed decision-making and meaningful innovation. With a multidisciplinary background spanning data science, computer science, academic research, business, and IT, I bridge technical insight with strategic vision to build impactful, data-driven solutions.

Focus areas

Machine Learning & Deep Learning Applied AI & LLMs Data Science Research & Scientific Computing Digital Health / ML for Mental Health Multimodal Learning Data-Driven Leadership & Strategy

Selected publications

203cites

Leveraging Educational Data Mining for Real-Time Performance Assessment of Scientific Inquiry Skills within Microworlds

Gobert, Sao Pedro, Baker, Montalvo · Journal of Educational Data Mining · 2012

106cites

AudiBERT: A Deep Transfer Learning Multimodal Classification Framework for Depression Screening

Tlachac, Rundensteiner · CIKM · 2021 · CIKM Best Applied Research Paper

100cites

Automated Detection of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Using Digital Images: A Systematic Review

Marka, Carter, Toto, Hassanpour · BMC Medical Imaging · 2019

75cites

Moodable: On the Feasibility of Instantaneous Depression Assessment Using Machine Learning on Voice Samples

Dogrucu, Perucic, Isaro, Ball, Rundensteiner, Agu · Smart Health · 2020

45cites

StudentSADD: Rapid Mobile Depression and Suicidal Ideation Screening of College Students During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Tlachac, Flores, Reisch, Kayastha, Taurich, Melican · ACM IMWUT · 2022

37cites

PULSE: A Real-Time System for Crowd Flow Prediction at Metropolitan Subway Stations

Rundensteiner, Li, Jordan, Ishutkina, Claypool, Luo · ECML-PKDD · 2016

View all publications on Google Scholar ↗

820 citations · 14 h-index · 15 i10-index — via Google Scholar

Experience

Director, Scientific Data & Applications

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2023 — Present

Assistant Director · Interim Executive Director, Academic & Research Computing

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2021 — 2023

Research Data Scientist

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2016 — 2021

Senior Software Engineer

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2009 — 2015

Network Administrator

Worcester Public Schools

2005 — 2009

Education

Ph.D., Computer Science

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

MBA — Master of Business Administration

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

M.S., Computer Science

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

B.S., Computer Science (Minor, Mathematics)

Worcester State University

Honors & recognition

Awards

CIKM Best Applied Research Paper — 2021
1st Place, WPI Graduate Research Innovation Exchange — 2010 & 2016
1st Place, National Olympiad in Informatics, Albania — 2000 (3rd Place, 1999)

Patents & languages

US Patents 9,230,221 & 9,317,115 — Instruction system with eyetracking-based adaptive scaffolding
English, Albanian, Spanish (native / bilingual); Italian (working)

Contact

Google Scholar

Consulting