Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Publications
Awards
Timeline
Teacher
Hadiza Umar Yusuf

Hadiza Umar Yusuf

DEARBORN,MI

Summary

Passionate about leveraging AI for social impact, Hadiza Yusuf is a dedicated researcher and machine learning engineer. Currently pursuing a PhD and serving as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, she brings valuable experience from her time at Carnegie Mellon University Africa and the African Leadership Academy. Hadiza's expertise extends to AI-enabled cyber-physical systems, machine learning, and education, with a strong emphasis on serving underserved communities. Recognized for outstanding achievements and commitment to mentorship, excels at the intersection of research, innovation, and community development.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Graduate Student Research Assistant

University of Michigan-Dearborn
09.2024 - Current
  • Supervisor: Dr. Khouloud Gaaloul
  • Lab: AI and Software Engineering for Cyber-Physical Systems (AISE-CPS)
  • Research: My research focuses on verifying AI-enabled Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) by addressing the challenges posed by neural networks and reinforcement learning in high-dimensional, stochastic environments. I develop advanced falsification techniques that integrate robustness-guided optimization with reinforcement learning to improve fault detection efficiency and scalability. This work contributes to enhancing the reliability and safety of AI-driven CPS in high-stakes applications like autonomous vehicles and healthcare systems.

ALforEducation Apprentice Cohort 4

African Leadership Academy
05.2024 - 08.2024
  • Successfully completed The Nature of Learning, Theory of School, and Thinking at African Scale modules, providing a strong foundation in educational theory and its application within an African context
  • Developed a comprehensive entrepreneurship toolkit for primary school students of low-income communities for an eight-week project with Talent Mine Academy
  • Presented a comprehensive final report covering leadership journey, key learnings, and future aspirations to peers and network members at African Leadership Academy South Africa

Graduate Research Assistant

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
01.2024 - 05.2024
  • Supervisor: Moise Busogi
  • Computer Vision Project: Prosthetics Design for Low-Income Communities

Description of achievements:

  • Applied machine learning techniques to reconstruct the digital model of the residual limb using smartphone-captured data.
  • Developed methods to enhance the accessibility of digital limb representation for prosthetic design in resource-constrained settings.
  • Assisted in predicting mechanical functionality of 3D-printed prosthetics under varying printing conditions.
  • Contributed to a case study on designing customized prosthetic sockets, optimizing fabrication with low to mid-end 3D printers.
  • Supported efforts to streamline the 3D printing process, reducing reliance on specialized professionals and promoting accessible prosthetic solutions.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
08.2023 - 12.2023
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant for Applied Stochastic Processes course
  • I assisted with preparing and grading homework, holding weekly recitations, and answering questions about the course material and homework problems

Artificial Intelligence Graduate Summer Intern

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
05.2023 - 08.2023
  • Supervisor: Mike Perkins
  • Task: Assist in developing and enhancing labs for the Artificial Intelligence Systems Design course, specifically the EdgeML piece

Achievements:

  • - Designed and executed a comprehensive experiment to accurately decode DTMF signals using power spectral analysis
  • - Implementing precise DTMF tone identification through power spectral analysis and neural network training
  • - Successful capturing and processing real-time DTMF signals using Arduino Nano Sense BLE and Raspberry Pi

Human Resources Director

Ignite Research Academy
01.2021 - 05.2023
  • Managed every aspect of the volunteers' recruitment process, orientation, and training for the organization
  • Co-organized webinars on scholarship opportunities for African students which led to the creation of a community of over 266 undergraduate and graduate students and the mentorship of members of the community

Research Assistant

Advanced Engineering Innovation Research Group (AEIRG)
10.2020 - 08.2022
  • Supervised students on the first phase of the Accident Prevention Project, developing a Clean Energy Powered Autonomous Vehicle.
  • Contributed to research on safety mechanisms and autonomous system reliability for accident prevention.
  • Engaged in collaborative problem-solving and mentorship within an interdisciplinary research environment.
  • Participated actively in regular meetings with fellow researchers to discuss project updates, challenges faced, and lessons learned during ongoing activities.
  • Organized research materials, maintaining a well-ordered workspace conducive to productivity.

Program Administrator

Advanced Engineering Innovation Research Group (AEIRG)
02.2021 - 07.2022
  • Managed the Industry Immersion Program, connecting students with industry leaders for hands-on experience.
  • Planned and organized four AI and skill development conferences across different locations in Nigeria.
  • Facilitated collaboration between students, faculty, and industry experts to promote knowledge exchange and professional growth.
  • Oversaw event logistics, speaker coordination, and program execution to enhance learning opportunities.
  • Developed and maintained a comprehensive database of program participants, helping to track progress and ensure appropriate follow-up actions were taken as needed.
  • Managed budget allocations effectively, ensuring optimal use of resources and timely delivery of services.

e-tutor

Centre for Open Distance & eLearning FUTMINNA
02.2021 - 07.2022
  • Delivered best experience possible for scholars through facilitation of proven virtual educational curricula.
  • Mentored struggling students by providing targeted one-on-one tutoring sessions, resulting in marked improvements in grades and selfconfidence.
  • Managed online classroom environments effectively by setting clear expectations and maintaining consistent communication with students.
  • Adapted traditional lessons into engaging online modules using various multimedia elements like videos, animations, and infographics.
  • Designed interactive online quizzes to assess understanding and reinforce key concepts, promoting long-term retention of material.

Instructor

MerrionIT Limited
10.2020 - 03.2022
  • It was a great experience having to teach programming at the secondary school level (New Horizons College, Minna, Niger State)
  • Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and maintaining consistent classroom management techniques.
  • Tracked student progress, frequently checking in with struggling students and identifying root causes of problems.

Teaching Assistant

College of Education Katsina-ala
04.2019 - 03.2020
  • Assisted in teaching, evaluating, grading and mentoring students in the department of Computer Science in the following courses:
  • - BASIC Programming Language
  • - Effective Use of Microsoft Packages
  • - Numerical Analysis

Intern

Information Technology Services, Federal University of Technology
05.2017 - 10.2017
  • Sorted and organized files, spreadsheets, and reports.
  • Gained hands-on experience in various software programs like web design, increasing proficiency and expanding technical skill set.
  • Participated in workshops and presentations related to projects to gain knowledge.

Science Teacher

Talented Heros Academy
05.2013 - 08.2013
  • Taught high school students Chemistry, Basic Science, and Basic Technology
  • Delivered interactive lessons to help students comprehend complex concepts.
  • Participated in professional development workshops to stay updated on current research findings and best practices in science education.
  • Established clear expectations for behavior and academic performance; consistently enforced policies while maintaining fairness and respect toward all students.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Computer and Information Sciences

University of Michigan - Rackham Graduate School
05.2028

Master's degree - Engineering Artificial Intelligence | Mastercard Foundation Scholar

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Kigali City, Rwanda
05.2024

Bachelor's degree - Mathematics

Federal University of Technology Minna
Minna, Niger
01.2018

Skills

  • Strategic Planning
  • Positive Reinforcement Learning
  • Team Collaboration
  • Academic writing
  • Machine learning

Certification

  • Hubspot Social Media Certified
  • McKinsey Forward Program
  • Data Visualization Using Python
  • Build and Deploy Machine Learning Solutions on Vertex AI Skill Badge
  • Prepare Data for ML APIs on Google Cloud Skill Badge

Publications

  • Orientation and its Significance on Skill Development: A Case study of AcadoPreneurship Industry
  • Immersion Programme for Students (IIP4S)
  • Increasing Accessibility of 3D-Printed Customized Prosthetics in Resource-Constrained Communities
  • Inverse-Prediction of Material Property in Fused Filament Fabrication/Fused Deposition Modeling
  • Accessible Digital Reconstruction and Mechanical Prediction of 3D-Printed Prosthetics

Awards

  • Silver Medal - National Mathematics Competition for University Students
  • Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
  • Future Leaders Climate 2023
  • Lakshimi Subramanian CMU-Africa Student Excellent Award
  • Best Female Graduating Student

Timeline

Graduate Student Research Assistant

University of Michigan-Dearborn
09.2024 - Current

ALforEducation Apprentice Cohort 4

African Leadership Academy
05.2024 - 08.2024

Graduate Research Assistant

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
01.2024 - 05.2024

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
08.2023 - 12.2023

Artificial Intelligence Graduate Summer Intern

Carnegie Mellon University Africa
05.2023 - 08.2023

Program Administrator

Advanced Engineering Innovation Research Group (AEIRG)
02.2021 - 07.2022

e-tutor

Centre for Open Distance & eLearning FUTMINNA
02.2021 - 07.2022

Human Resources Director

Ignite Research Academy
01.2021 - 05.2023

Research Assistant

Advanced Engineering Innovation Research Group (AEIRG)
10.2020 - 08.2022

Instructor

MerrionIT Limited
10.2020 - 03.2022

Teaching Assistant

College of Education Katsina-ala
04.2019 - 03.2020

Intern

Information Technology Services, Federal University of Technology
05.2017 - 10.2017

Science Teacher

Talented Heros Academy
05.2013 - 08.2013

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Computer and Information Sciences

University of Michigan - Rackham Graduate School

Master's degree - Engineering Artificial Intelligence | Mastercard Foundation Scholar

Carnegie Mellon University Africa

Bachelor's degree - Mathematics

Federal University of Technology Minna
Hadiza Umar Yusuf