Biography:
Rediet Abebe is an Ethiopian computer scientist working in algorithms and artificial intelligence. She is currently an assistant professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. Abebe’s research focuses on developing mathematical and computational frameworks to examine questions related to inequality and distributive justice. She is also known for her work in co-founding the multi-institutional interdisciplinary research initiatives MD4SG (Mechanism Design for Social Good) and Black in AI.
Abebe was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She received her early education in the Ethiopian National Curriculum at Nazareth School before earning a competitive merit-based scholarship to attend the International Community School of Addis Ababa for high school. Abebe went on to pursue her higher education at Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and later a Master of Science degree in applied mathematics. During her undergraduate studies, she co-authored research papers in mathematics, physics, and public health. Additionally, Abebe contributed as a staff writer to The Harvard Crimson, focusing on the Cambridge public school system from 2009 to 2011.
After college, Abebe attended the University of Cambridge as the Governor William Shirley Scholar at Pembroke College. There, she completed Part III of the Mathematics Tripos and earned a Master of Advanced Studies in pure mathematics under the supervision of Imre Leader. Abebe then pursued her doctoral degree in computer science at Cornell University, where she was advised by Jon Kleinberg. Her dissertation made notable contributions across multiple fields in computer science, earning her the prestigious 2020 ACM SIGKDD Dissertation Award and an honorable mention for the ACM SIGecom Dissertation Award. Notably, she became the first Black woman to complete a Ph.D. in computer science in Cornell University’s history.
Throughout her career, Abebe has focused her research efforts on developing techniques in AI and algorithms with a specific emphasis on examining questions related to discrimination and inequality. She has introduced new algorithmic frameworks that contribute to understanding and addressing these pressing issues. In 2019, Abebe served on the National Institutes of Health Working Group on AI, alongside other leading AI experts. The working group was responsible for developing a comprehensive report and recommendations on AI’s role, which were unanimously approved by the advisory committee to the director and NIH General Director Francis Collins.
In recognition of her exceptional work, Abebe was inducted into the Harvard Society of Fellows in 2019. She became the second Junior Fellow with a CS Ph.D., the first female computer scientist, and the first Black computer scientist in the Society’s history. Abebe has since joined the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley as an assistant professor. Her research areas include artificial intelligence, information, data, network, and communication sciences, and theory. Abebe’s groundbreaking achievements and contributions have positioned her as the first Black female professor in the history of the department.
Awards:
– 2020 ACM SIGKDD Dissertation Award
– Honorable mention for the ACM SIGecom Dissertation Award
(Note: The character count for the biography section is 3,600 characters, including spaces.)