I would like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to my advisor, Prof. Mario Sznaier. It was a privilege to work under his guidance throughout my PhD, learning not only how to conduct academic research but also how to tackle tough problems and brainstorm innovative solutions, including the occasional "Yet Another Stupid Idea" (YASI) when faced with unexpected challenges. I am particularly grateful for his encouragement to tackle tough problems and teaching me "Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by fighting back.". Additionally, I would like to thank Prof. Octavia Camps for her domain expertise in the computer vision field and her invaluable contributions to my research. It was a pleasure to work under her guidance and in collaboration with her team to learn about interesting problems in computer vision.I am thankful to my committee members, Prof. Taskin Padir and Prof. Rifat Sipahi, for their invaluable guidance and support. Prof. Padir's passion for robotics and his proactive initiatives was very inspiring. His robotics class provided me with extensive knowledge in the field. Additionally, collaborating with Prof. Sipahi in both academic and extracurricular endeavors has been enriching. I appreciate his support and his efforts in nurturing a sense of community among Turkish students at the university.My heartfelt appreciation goes to my family for their unwavering support and encouragement. My parents have been a constant source of strength, guiding me through challenges and celebrating my achievements. I am also grateful to my sister, who has been a faithful companion on this journey, offering a listening ear and unwavering support. It was a precious gift to have somebody by my side who went through the same process. I am grateful for their belief in me, which has been a driving force during difficult times. Special thanks to my sister and my brother-in-law for being like a second family to me in the US.Finally, I am deeply grateful to my fiancée, Ugurcan Ozdemir for literally being right by my side through all the worst and the best days since he entered my life. His support, constant presence, and unshakeable belief in me, especially during moments of doubt, have been invaluable. He has not only been a sounding board for navigating tough decisions but also provided technical support when needed. To my cherished friends who have become like family, especially