Habeeb Bashir: Advancing AI, Machine Learning, and Statistical Innovation — An Award-Recognised Contributor to the field of Data Science
In an era where artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics are redefining how decisions are made across industries, Habeeb Bashir has emerged as a data scientist whose work combines rigorous statistical foundations with practical, real-world applications. A Statistician, Data Scientist, and AI Researcher, Habeeb bridges theory, experimentation, and applied machine learning to address complex decision-making challenges at scale.
His contributions to AI and machine learning received national recognition in 2025 when he was honored with the Most Distinguished AI & Machine Learning Professional award at the Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA). The recognition reflects his work in applied machine learning, statistical innovation, and data-driven decision support, particularly within healthcare and analytics-focused environments.
Currently, a PhD researcher in Statistics & Data Science at the University of Kentucky. Habeeb continues to work on fair machine learning, treatment effect estimation, and applied data science. His research focuses on developing models that are interpretable and suitable for use in high-stakes, real-world contexts.
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Habeeb Bashir is a resourceful and highly analytical AI & Machine Learning Professional with strong expertise in:
- Statistical modeling and inference
- Machine learning algorithms (supervised & unsupervised)
- Fair AI and treatment effect estimation
- Data analytics, SQL, and dashboarding
- Statistical Software: R, Python, SAS and Julia
With a background that blends statistics, data science, cloud technologies, and research-driven AI, Habeeb is known for delivering accurate, interpretable, and impactful solutions. His work reflects precision, ethical awareness, and a strong commitment to advancing responsible AI.
AWARD & INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
- Most Distinguished AI & Machine Learning Professional of the Year
(Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA), 2025)
This award celebrates Habeeb’s excellent contributions to AI research, applied machine learning, and statistical innovation recognising his role as a rising leader shaping the future of intelligent systems.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
| Organization | Role / Position | Duration | Key Responsibilities & Achievements |
| University of Kentucky – College of Arts & Sciences | Research Assistant | Aug 2024 – Present | Conducts advanced research on fair machine learning algorithms and flexible statistical models for estimating treatment effects. Contributes to academic publications and experimental design in ethical AI. |
| University of Kentucky – Internal Audit | Data Analytics
(Internship) |
May 2025 – Aug 2025 | Performed compliance analytics using financial account schema data, achieving 85–90% anomaly detection accuracy. Built SQL pipelines for data extraction, reduced fraud false positives by 85%, and developed Tableau/Power BI dashboards for audit intelligence. |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | Research Assistant | Jun 2022 – May 2023 | Designed a robust supervised ML algorithm for quantile-optimal treatment across 20,000+ diabetes patients. Applied Rpart, Lasso, Boosting, and Random Forest models across 1,000 simulations to ensure interpretability and accuracy. Analysed 49,000-row Airbnb datasets to derive market and location insights. |
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
| Institution | Qualification | Field of Study | Duration |
| University of Kentucky | PhD | Statistics & Data Science | July 2024 – May 2028 |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | M.Sc. | Statistics & Data Science | Aug 2021 – May 2023 |
| Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto | B.Sc. | Statistics | 2012 – 2017 |
CERTIFICATIONS
- SQL: Data Reporting and Analysis
- Azure Machine Learning – Basic Concepts
- Data Science Foundations: Data Mining in R
CORE TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Programming & Analytics: Python, R, SQL
- Machine Learning: Random Forest, Boosting, Lasso, Rpart, Treatment Effect Models
- Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI
- Cloud & ML Tools: Azure Machine Learning
- Other Skills: Data Mining, Statistical Inference, Model Interpretability, Anomaly Detection
Habeeb believes that AI must be interpretable and fair. His work consistently reflects a commitment to ethical machine learning—where predictive power is balanced with transparency and social responsibility.
He approaches data science as a technical discipline and decision-support system that must earn trust through rigor and reproducibility.
Habeeb Bashir is a shining example of Africa’s next generation of AI and machine learning leaders—analytical, principled, and globally relevant. His recognition at the Nigeria Technology Awards (NiTA) 2025 is a combination of an accolade and a signal of the immense value his work brings to academia, industry, and society.
As he continues his PhD journey and expands his research footprint, Habeeb remains poised to influence how intelligent systems are designed, evaluated, and responsibly deployed across the world.
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
🔗 Connect with Habeeb Bashir:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habeeb-bashir-71885411b
