We are excited to announce the creation of a new group on Alumniportal Deutschland: the DAAD AIMS Alumni Group!

Alumniportal Deutschland is a dynamic space designed for networking, collaboration, and continuous learning. It is aimed at people who are studying or conducting research in Germany, those supported by German organizations abroad, and alumni of these programs. Our DAAD-AIMS Alumni group offers a platform for connecting current and former scholarship holders from the DAAD-AIMS program, sharing insights, and exploring collaborative opportunities.

By joining the Alumniportal Deutschland and the DAAD-AIMS Alumni group, you will get:

• Access to a diverse global community of professionals
• Opportunities for mentoring and networking with alumni sharing your background and interests
• Exclusive events, webinars, and workshops
• Job and internship listings tailored to your field
• Resources for professional growth and ongoing education
• And much more!

Your participation not only enriches your own professional journey but also contributes to the vitality and expansion of our alumni network and the DAAD-AIMS community.

How to Join: You can join the Alumniportal Deutschland and the DAAD-AIMS Alumni group by following these steps:

1. Register on Alumniportal Deutschland if you are not a member yet.
2. Select the affiliation "Alumnus/Alumna" and choose "DAAD-AIMS (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences)" from the drop-down menu.
3. After your registration is confirmed, join the group DAAD-AIMS Alumni.
4. Once accepted, you can start being active and access the group.

Watch this video for an overview of the most important functions and offers on the Alumniportal Deutschland, which we will also introduce during the info sessions. For technical questions, please contact apd@daad.de.

We're eagerly looking forward to your active participation in our community!

Welcome Event 

The GRC team at AIMS Senegal and the group of Prof. Martina Hofmanova have organized a presentation workshop at Bielefeld University on May 23rd, 2024. This activity took place during the first annual stay of the research team at the German partner university. Mr Longmou Filone Gilson as PhD researcher and Dr Abdellahi Soumare as a postdoc have presented their earlier works and ongoing project. Dr Sebastian Eckert as project coordinator has presented the overall academic program, and Prof. Mouhamadou Sy as GRC has presented the scientific project. 

DAAD conducted an exclusive interview with project partners from AIMS Senegal and the Bielefeld University at the welcome event. Please find the link below to learn about their experiences.

Link for full version: Interview with AIMS Senegal and Bielefeld University 

A DAAD research cooperation between the Universitätsklinikum Bonn (UKB) and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana has been established. The research cooperation, on “Signalling Dynamics in Cells and Tissues” is led by Professor Kevin Thurley (UKB and Professor Nick Monk (CRS AIMS Ghana). The Research Cooperation will use mathematical modelling to understand the principles that regulate the spatio-temporal dynamics of cells in the complex processes of immune responses and embryonic development.

The cooperation was launched with a three-day opening symposium held at the University of Bonn in December 2023 which brought together around 30 established and early career researchers. The meeting focused on presentations of existing research work in mathematical biology in Ghana and Germany, together with round-table discussions on the opportunities for enhanced interactions through the DAAD programme.
 

The following persons gave research presentations:

Millicent Afrifa Opoku (AIMS Ghana)
Christian Fleck (University of Freiburg, Germany)
Elfriede Friedmann (University of Kassel, Germany)
Pau Formosa-Jordan (Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Köln, Germany)
Frederick Graw (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany)
Franca Hoffmann (Caltech and AIMS Rwanda)
Rosa Kreider (UKB, Germany)
Lisa Li (UKB, Germany)
Philip Maini (University of Oxford, UK)
Simon Merkt (University of Bonn, Germany)
Stephen Moore (University of Cape Coast, Ghana)
Nicholas Opoku (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana)
Baba Seidu (C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Ghana)
Juan Velazquez (University of Bonn, Germany)
Eric Wiah (University of Mines and Technology, Ghana)

The symposium was organised by Dr Nissrin Alakhar and Prof. Kevin Thurley (UKB) and Prof. Nick Monk (AIMS Ghana). The visitors from Ghana also engaged in focused research discussions during their time in Bonn.

Promoting fundamental research and applications through the NMPC workshop

In the third year of the DAAD project “Systems Optimization for Sustainable Resources Utilization”, the project manager Prof. Pu Li in cooperation with the GRC at AIMS Rwanda Dr. Abebe Geletu organized the workshop “Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC)”, which took place in Ilmenau from 27 to 29 May 2024.

The aim of the workshop was to promote theoretical studies on model-based control and optimization. It started with an introductory session, followed by three days of presentations on NMPC. Guest speakers were invited from the Department of Mathematics including Prof. Worthmann, an MPC specialist, whose lecture dealt with the theoretical foundations of NMPC. From the same department, Dr. Schmitz spoke on "Data-Driven MPC" and Dr. Lanza on "MPC for Output Tracking with Time-Varying Output Constraints". Prof. Li talked about the “Numerical Implementation of NMPC” and Dr. Geletu about “Stochastic NMPC”. 

In addition to the scholarship holders from Rwanda, there were 15 other participants from different institutes of the TU Ilmenau. This gave the scholarship holders a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with other researchers from different fields. In addition to the lectures and discussions, the participants of the workshop went on an excursion to Fraunhofer IOSB-AST. They visited the laboratories of "Cognitive Energy Systems", "Intelligent Embedded Systems" and "Underwater Robotics" and learned about the practical application of theoretical methods.

Q: Can you share how your postdoctoral experience at AIMS, bridging both South Africa and Germany, contributed to your personal and academic development?

A: To address this question, my two years of postdoc position were full of adventures, especially the part of the collaboration between AIMS South Africa and Germany. Let me start with the scientific adventure. My stay at AIMS was at the beginning of my postdoc position so, at AIMS, it was a step of learning and cultivating about the Machine learning area. It was about communication with AIMS researchers about their different topics. It was exciting to see the part where research is used to solve real problems that exist in Africa like issue related to electricity / water / weather / environments /animals / African language - all of that using Machine learning. This way of thinking was completely new to me.

Later, I moved to Germany for the second part of my postdoc position. By then, my vision for my research activities had become clear. At the University of Tuebingen, I became part of the decision-making group, which was an exciting opportunity. I eagerly engaged in discussions and communication with colleagues. During this time, I realized that one of the key questions I was investigating was particularly challenging, so I focused intensively on my work.

On a personal level, at AIMS, it was a novel experience for me to be in an environment where students and professors lived together, sharing meals at the same table every day. It was a place where the entire world seemed to come together in one room, showcasing a harmonious blend of African and European cultures. There was no discrimination or racism; everyone accepted each other regardless of attire, language, or country of origin. It truly was an environment of inclusivity and mutual respect.

Q: As a woman in mathematics, what are some experiences and challenges you've faced throughout your career?

A: As a woman in mathematics, I have been surrounded by people who genuinely appreciate my contributions as a female researcher. Throughout my career, I have been recognized for my research excellence, and I am honored to have been awarded for the best female thesis in pure mathematics in 2020. I also participate as an organizer in many research days for women in mathematics at the occasion of the international women day.

Q: As a current scholarship holder, what advice would you give to prospective students considering applying for the AIMS program and the DAAD scholarship to benefit from the ongoing support and opportunities available?

A: As a current scholarship holder, my advice to students considering applying for the AIMS program and the DAAD scholarship is to understand that being a scholarship holder opens many doors and provides numerous opportunities. You simply need to express yourself and create your own unique experience: work without stress because you like what you do.

Q- Reflecting on your attendance at the Siyakhula, AIMS anniversary event (in South Africa, 17-22 March 2024) -How did participating in the event enhance your connection with the AIMS community and contribute to your overall experience as a scholarship holder?

A: Participating in the AIMS anniversary and the Siyakhula event was a unique and special experience for me. Attending the various activities, talks, and conferences was deeply emotional and intellectually stimulating. It was the first time I truly engaged in discussions about mathematics that revitalized the idea of transforming Africa and inspired projects aimed at creating a better future for the continent. During the Siyakhula event, I had the opportunity to connect with my colleagues and meet some of my distant collaborators in person. It was also a great chance to interact with scholarship holders from other AIMS centers, such as AIMS Rwanda and AIMS Senegal. Additionally, I gave a talk about my research during my postdoctoral position and presented a poster outlining the main idea of my project. This provided a valuable opportunity to receive feedback and comments from others working in similar areas.

Q: Were there any specific sessions or topics discussed during the AIMS anniversary event that sparked new interests or insights for you?

A: During the AIMS anniversary, I was particularly drawn to the session about the origin story of the company dedicated to developing AI for African languages. I found the idea truly exciting.

Q: Dear Sabrine, thank you very much! We wish you all the best for the future! 

(Questions: DAAD - P24; Answers: Dr. Sabrine Chebbi)