Verrah Otiende
Awards
About me
Dr. Verrah Otiende is an Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science at USIU-Africa and an Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science African Faculty Fellow at the University of Michigan. Her work sits at the intersection of computational statistics, AI, and global health, with a focus on equitable, data-driven solutions for Africa. She works on AI tools to help vulnerable communities adapt to extreme urban heat and has broader expertise in modeling infectious diseases and harmonizing health data across Africa. Beyond research, she leads the EmpowerHer MathGirl initiative and actively contributes to global communities such as Masakhane, ACM, OWSD, and DS-I Africa.
Dr. Verrah Otiende is an Assistant Professor of Statistics and Data Science at United States International
University–Africa (USIU-Africa). She works at the intersection of computational statistics, artificial
intelligence, and global health, with a focus on advancing equitable, data-driven solutions to Africa’s
pressing challenges. Currently an Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Sciences African Faculty Fellow based at the University of Michigan’s MIDAS, she is developing AI tools to help vulnerable communities in Kenya adapt to
extreme urban heat driven by climate change. Her research combines machine learning, Bayesian
modeling, and agent-based simulations to map heat risk, predict health impacts, and inform interventions
such as early warning systems, shaded areas, and cooling stations. Her broader expertise spans computational global health, including modeling Rift Valley Fever in Uganda, COVID-19 in Kenya, and harmonizing cohort health data frameworks across Africa. Beyond research, she leads outreach initiatives like EmpowerHer MathGirl. She is also an active member of Masakhane, ACM, OWSD, and DS-I Africa, championing collaboration, diversity, and capacity building across the continent.
