Services
Scientific responsibilities, academic expertise, and initiatives serving research communities and society.
PhD thesis evaluation
Participation in the evaluation of doctoral research in artificial intelligence, computer science, and their application domains.
- A robust and interpretable AI framework for the histopathological diagnosis of infectious skin diseases: the SINDI approach validated on mycetomaMerveille Santi Zinsou · Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, Senegal · 2026
Thesis reviewer - Topic modeling for viewpoint detection in a Wolof–French corpusAbdoulaye Déthié Sarr · Alioune Diop University of Bambey, Senegal · 2026
Examiner - Advanced modelling and search techniques for routing and scheduling problemsCharles Thomas · UCLouvain — Louvain School of Engineering, Belgium · 2023
Jury member
FRIARE Foundation
From 2023 to 2026, I served as president of the Ratheil Foundation for Responsible and Efficient Artificial Intelligence (FRIARE), dedicated to awareness, research, public dialogue, training, and project support in Africa.
Benin Workshop on Artificial Intelligence
I am general co-chair of the Benin Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and have contributed to five editions since 2018. This national conference brings together researchers, students, professionals, and public-sector stakeholders around artificial intelligence in Benin.
ACP Summer School 2025
I served as general chair of the 20th ACP Summer School in 2025, the first African edition of this international constraint programming school.
Mify Artificial Intelligence Contest
From 2017 to 2022, I chaired the competition committee for six editions of the Mify Artificial Intelligence Contest, an international competition designed to develop practical skills in artificial intelligence and problem solving.
Expertise and scientific service
- 2026 : AI and digital expert to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for the development of the national digital education strategy;
- 2025 : development of a guide and training for evidence-ecosystem stakeholders on the use of AI;
- 2024 : contribution to the feasibility study for Benin's national artificial intelligence and big data strategy;
- 2022–2023 : contribution to the national AI and big data strategy and mapping of Benin's artificial intelligence ecosystem;
- member of the Association for Constraint Programming and scientific committees including CP, JFPC, and CARI.
Other responsibilities
- Head of IFRI’s software engineering department since 2022 and coordinator of bachelor’s and master’s programs in software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, embedded systems and the internet of things, and internet and multimedia;
- Contribution, since 2015, to the design, drafting, and validation of several academic programs: IFRI bachelor’s and master’s programs in artificial intelligence, software engineering, cybersecurity, and internet and multimedia, as well as the National Water Institute’s master’s program in hydroinformatics;
- Participation in PhD progress reviews and doctoral monitoring committees;
- Member or chair of numerous bachelor’s, master’s, and engineering thesis defense committees since 2014;
- Coordinator of master’s programs in software engineering, cybersecurity, and information systems and computer networks, January 2019–July 2022;
- Founder and coordinator of Startup Grind University of Abomey-Calavi, 2020–2021;
- Coordinator of third-year software engineering and cybersecurity teaching groups, January–December 2018;
- Contribution in 2018 to drafting and validating the project to create a center of excellence in water and sanitation, as IFRI’s representative for Hydroinformatics;
- Curator of the Cotonou Hub of the Global Shapers Community, 2018–2019;
- Co-founder and chief executive officer of Machine Intelligence For You (MIFY), August 2017–September 2018.