Dr. Adji Bousso Dieng is a distinguished scholar who has established herself as a pioneering force in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Born in Kaolack, Senegal, she pursued her academic journey with excellence across multiple continents, earning her engineering degree from Télécom Paris in France before advancing her studies in the United States. She completed her Master's in Statistics at Cornell University followed by a PhD in Statistics from Columbia University, where she was mentored by David Blei and John Paisley. In 2021, she made history at Princeton University by becoming the first Black female faculty member in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the first Black faculty member in the Department of Computer Science. Currently, she holds a dual appointment as Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University and Research Scientist at Google AI, leading the Vertaix research group at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the natural sciences.
Dr. Dieng's research bridges probabilistic graphical models and deep learning to discover meaningful structure from unlabeled data, with particular focus on incorporating uncertainty into automated decision-making systems. As an expert in probabilistic modeling and generative models, her work provides critical frameworks for understanding when AI systems can be trusted and why certain decisions are made, which has significant implications for real-world applications. Her doctoral research at Columbia University received widespread recognition, including the prestigious Savage Award from the International Society for Bayesian Analysis, which is awarded to outstanding doctoral dissertations in Bayesian statistics. Her methodological contributions have advanced the field's ability to derive knowledge from complex datasets while maintaining transparency in the decision-making process, positioning her at the forefront of responsible AI development.
Beyond her technical contributions, Dr. Dieng has emerged as a powerful advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, particularly through her founding of The Africa I Know (TAIK), a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring young Africans to pursue careers in STEM and AI by showcasing African role models and highlighting scientific advancements from the continent. Her advocacy work has been recognized with the Annie T. Randall Innovator Award of 2022 from the American Statistical Association, and she has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans of 2020. As an AI2050 Early Career Fellow by Schmidt Futures, she continues to expand her research into applications that address global challenges in science and healthcare, with particular focus on making meaningful impacts in Africa. Her vision integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence research with a deep commitment to social responsibility, ensuring that technological advances benefit communities worldwide while fostering the next generation of diverse scientific talent.
