Džejla Međedović

Džejla Međedović is a computer science professor and algorithms enthusiast who tries to infuse fun into everything she does. One of Džejla’s main interests is tackling challenging technical material and presenting it in a friendly, fun and approachable way to students, as well as researching cutting-edge algorithms and data structures for Big Data. She works as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at International University of Sarajevo, and has previously taught at Sarajevo School of Science and Technology.

During her PhD experience in the United States at Stony Brook University, Džejla learned how to work on scaling traditional algorithms and data structures to the massive and rapidly increasing amounts of data we process today. In line with that, she has published a number of research works both with her American colleagues and Bosnian students on external-memory algorithms and succinct probabilistic data structures at major European and world conferences. Her paper on Quotient filters is widely-cited and as a data structure has been implemented in industrial contexts and patent application is being submitted.

Džejla believes today’s engineer should be versatile and algorithmically savvy. In line with that, she has developed a course and is writing a book called Modern Algorithmic Toolbox, whose goal is to teach primarily the students who aspire to work in the industry and already-working engineers about the most modern algorithms and data structures used today and where they can be applied in the real-world context to help large-scale systems run more efficiently.

Mentorship is important for Džejla and she enjoys working with students, with whom she regularly publishes, and it is this aspect of her work that Džejla is particularly proud of. Džejla also participates in various STEM student-engagement camps and activities
that foster interest in science and engineering fields for highschool students, such as STEM Camp and IT Challenge.