Unknown
Biography:
Adji Bousso Dieng is a Senegalese Computer Scientist and Statistician who has made significant contributions in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Currently working as an Artificial Intelligence Research Scientist at Google Brain in Mountain View, California, Dieng’s research focuses on combining probabilistic graphical models and deep learning to extract meaningful structure from unlabelled data.
In 2021, Dieng is set to start her tenure-track faculty position at Princeton University, where she will not only become the first Black female faculty member in the School of Engineering and Applied Science but also the first Black faculty member ever in the Department of Computer Science. This achievement marks an important milestone in both her career and the advancement of diversity and representation in the field of computer science.
Aside from her academic pursuits, Dieng is also the founder of the non-profit organization The Africa I Know (TAIK). TAIK aims to inspire young Africans to pursue careers in STEM and AI by showcasing African role models, raising awareness about developments in STEM and AI by Africans, and educating the general public about the rich history of Africa.
Early life and education played a crucial role in shaping Dieng’s path to becoming a renowned researcher. She was born and raised in Kaolack, Senegal, into a family where education was highly valued. Dieng’s father never had the opportunity to attend school, but her mother recognized the importance of education and ensured that it remained a priority for the family.
Growing up as one of fifteen siblings, Dieng’s parents owned a fabric business to support the family. Despite facing their own struggles, her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and a determination to succeed. Dieng attended Kaolack’s public schools for both elementary and high school, where she excelled academically.
Her exceptional academic achievements earned her recognition during high school. Dieng won one of the prizes for the Senegalese Olympiad (Concours Général) in Philosophy and was selected to participate in the 2005 Excellence camp organized by the Pathfinder Foundation for Education and Development, a non-profit founded by Cheick Modibo Diarra. These accomplishments led her to participate in a competitive exam organized for African girls in partnership between the Central Bank for West African States and the Pathfinder Foundation, which subsequently awarded her a scholarship to study abroad.
Dieng continued her education at Lycée Henri IV, a prestigious public secondary school in Paris. Afterward, she attended Télécom ParisTech, one of France’s top institutions for engineering education and research, located in Palaiseau. As part of her curriculum, Dieng spent her third year at Cornell University in the United States.
In 2013, Dieng graduated from Télécom ParisTech with a Diplome d’ingenieur, a degree in Engineering from France’s Grandes Ecoles system. She also earned a Master’s degree in Applied Statistics from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. After a year of working at the World Bank, Dieng embarked on her Ph.D. journey in Statistics at Columbia University.
During her Ph.D., Dieng collaborated with renowned researchers such as David Blei and John Paisley. Her work focused on bridging Probabilistic Graphical Modeling and Deep Learning to uncover meaningful patterns from unlabelled data, with applications in natural language processing, computer vision, and healthcare. This research has provided valuable insights and contributed to advancements in these fields.
In addition to her academic achievements, Adji Bousso Dieng has showcased her dedication to empowering African youth through her non-profit organization, TAIK. Through TAIK, Dieng aims to encourage more young Africans to venture into careers in STEM and AI by highlighting successful African role models and showcasing the progress being made by Africans in these fields. By sharing the rich history of Africa, TAIK aims to inspire future generations and foster a love for learning and discovery.
Adji Bousso Dieng’s groundbreaking research, exceptional academic journey, and commitment to empowering African youth make her a trailblazer in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Her dedication to advancing knowledge and promoting diversity serves as an inspiration to aspiring scientists, particularly young women, around the world.