Ronny Mabokela | NLP and AI | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Ronny Mabokela | NLP and AI | Best Researcher Award

PHD at University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Koena Ronny Mabokela is a South African computer scientist with a diverse background in technology and education. Currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, he has built a career focused on speech technology, system integration, and tech innovation. With years of experience as an educator, lecturer, and researcher, he also holds a leadership role at the University of Johannesburg, where he serves as Acting Deputy Head of Department and Head of the Technopreneurship Centre. Koena is passionate about fostering technological advancements, particularly in education and enterprise systems.

Profile

Scholar

πŸŽ“ Education

Koena Ronny Mabokela holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (2020-2024). He earned a Master of Science in Computer Science with a focus on Speech Technology at the University of Limpopo (2012-2014). His academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science Honours in Computer Science (2011) and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics (2008-2010), both from the University of Limpopo.

πŸ’Ό Experience

Mabokela’s career spans various leadership and academic roles. He is currently the Acting Deputy HoD for CEPs/SLPs and Online at the University of Johannesburg. Previously, he served as the Head of the Technopreneurship Centre, managing strategy, projects, and research. He has taught various programming modules and supervised postgraduate students while conducting research and engaging in community development. His professional experience also includes roles at Vodacom and Telkom in business systems integration and product development.

πŸ† Awards and Honors

Mabokela has received numerous accolades, including being a session chair for SATNAC 2014 and a peer reviewer for prestigious conferences like IEEE and SATANC. He has also contributed to the scientific community with his published research in areas such as sentiment analysis and AI for under-resourced languages. His leadership skills and contributions to innovation have been recognized throughout his academic and professional career.

πŸ”¬ Research Focus

Koena Mabokela’s research interests revolve around speech technology, AI, and multilingual sentiment analysis, particularly for under-resourced languages. He focuses on enhancing language identification and sentiment analysis systems for South African languages. His work includes exploring distant supervision approaches and applying AI to tackle social challenges, as seen in his published papers and presentations at international conferences. His research aims to bridge technological gaps in underrepresented languages and communities.

Conclusion

Koena Ronny Mabokela is an outstanding researcher with a diverse and impactful portfolio that bridges academia and industry. His extensive experience, leadership in academic development, and commitment to advancing knowledge in computer science and technology position him as a top candidate for the Best Researcher Award. While there are opportunities to expand his interdisciplinary work and enhance the practical impact of his research, his contributions to the academic community and the field of technology are significant. His future work promises to continue shaping the landscape of digital innovation and research.

Publications πŸ“š

ABEL YU HAO CHAI | DEEP LEARNING | BEST RESEARCHER AWARD

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Mr. ABEL YU HAO CHAI | DEEP LEARNING | BEST RESEARCHER AWARD

PHD at SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SARAWAK CAMPUS Malaysia

Abel Chai Yu Hao is a PhD candidate at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, specializing in computer vision, machine learning, and deep learning. His research focuses on developing interpretable deep learning models for plant disease identification, collaborating with CIRAD and INRIA on innovative agricultural projects. With a Master’s degree in wireless communication, Abel has contributed to improving rural connectivity in Sarawak through cost-effective wireless solutions. He has co-authored numerous journal articles and conference papers on topics ranging from unseen plant disease recognition to wireless data transmission. Abel is a recipient of multiple awards, including the Gold Award at the Innovation Technology Exposition 2023, and is an active IEEE member.

scholar

πŸŽ“ Education

Doctor of Philosophy (2022 – Present) Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus Research focus: Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, AI. Master of Engineering (2019 – 2021) Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus Research focus: Wireless communication, Wi-Fi, Rural connectivity. Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Electrical & Electronics Engineering (2014 – 2018) Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus CGPA: 3.97/4 (High Distinction)

🏫 Professional Experience

Teaching Assistant (2019 – Present) Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus Assisting in course delivery, tutorials, and research guidance

πŸ† Awards & Scholarships

Gold Award in Innovation Technology Exposition (2023). Best Paper Award at International UNIMAS Engineering Conference (EnCon) (2020). Sarawak Energy External Scholarship (2015-2018). Swinburne Entrance Scholarship (2014)

🌱 Research Projects

Plant Disease Identification with Deep Learning (2022 – ongoing) Collaborating with experts from CIRAD, INRIA, focusing on AI-based plant disease detection. Rural Internet Connectivity Solutions (2019 – 2021) Conducted cost-performance analysis for wireless solutions in partnership with Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA)

Publication

  • Pairwise Feature Learning for Unseen Plant Disease Recognition
    Conference: International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP)
    Year: 2023
    Pages: 306–310
    Contributors: Hao Chai A.Y., Han Lee S., Tay F.S., Bonnet P., Joly A.

 

  • Unveiling Robust Feature Spaces: Image vs. Embedding-Oriented Approaches for Plant Disease Identification
    Conference: Asia Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association Annual Summit and Conference (APSIPA ASC)
    Year: 2023
    Pages: 666–673
    Contributors: Ishrat H.A., Chai A.Y.H., Lee S.H., Then P.H.H.

 

  • Development and Application of Outdoor Router Cost Estimation with Parametric Modelling Technique
    Conference: IEEE International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Virtual Environments for Measurement Systems and Applications (CIVEMSA)
    Year: 2022
    Contributors: Chai A.Y.H., Lai C.H., Tay F.S., Lim N.C.Y., Vithanawasam C.K.

 

  • Model Study for Outdoor Data Transmission Performance
    Conference: IEEE International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Virtual Environments for Measurement Systems and Applications (CIVEMSA)
    Year: 2022
    Contributors: Chai A.Y.H., Then Y.L., Tay F.S., Lim N.C.Y., Vithanawasam C.K.

 

  • Parametric Model Study for Outdoor Routers Cost Estimation
    Conference: 13th International UNIMAS Engineering Conference (EnCon)
    Year: 2020
    Contributors: Hao Chai A.Y., Hung Lai C., Su H.T., Siang Tay F., Yong L.

πŸ† Conclusion:

Abel Chai Yu Hao is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given his solid academic background, impactful publications, international collaborations, and ongoing contributions to the field of AI and wireless communication. With continuous focus on expanding his research and increasing engagement, his profile can only continue to rise.