CV

Academic CV of Dr. Yaé Ulrich Gaba — education, experience, skills, and publications.

Contact information

Name Yaé Ulrich Gaba
Professional title Research · Teaching · Consulting
Email gabayae2@gmail.com
Location Cotonou, Benin

Professional summary

Topologist and AI researcher. I develop mathematical methods for machine learning, teach them at the graduate level, and consult with organizations that need rigorous thinking applied to hard problems. As Head of R&D at a technology startup, I lead applied research initiatives that bridge methodological innovation and operational deployment, with cross-industry experience in banking, energy, insurance, IT, and retail.

Experience

  • 2025 - present

    Cotonou, Benin

    Head of R&D · AI Research & Innovation Lead
    AIRINA Labs
    Leading a team of 5 researchers in applied AI across 6 African countries, bridging methodological innovation and operational deployment.
    • Leading a team of 5 researchers across 6 countries (Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon)
    • Deployed 6 end-to-end ML systems in production (health, telecom, logistics, finance)
    • Statistical modeling and ML across banking, energy, insurance, IT, and retail
    • Organized 10+ workshops reaching 200+ participants across Africa
    • Data Science Makers community: 500+ members, open-source ML teaching
  • 2020 - present

    Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Research Affiliate
    African Centre for Advanced Studies (ACAS)
    • Research in topology, data science, and machine learning
    • Mentoring African graduate students and early-career researchers
  • 2021 - 2024

    Kigali, Rwanda

    Research Associate
    Quantum Leap Africa (QLA) | AIMS-RIC
    Research at the intersection of topology, data science, and quantum computing.
    • Topological methods in machine learning and data analysis
    • Workshop on Computational Topology & Quantum Computing (WoComToQC) organizer
  • 2017 - 2019

    South Africa

    Postdoctoral Researcher
    North-West University
    • Research in fixed point theory and generalized metric spaces
    • Published in Topology and its Applications, JMAA, and Quaestiones Mathematicae
  • 2018 - 2020

    Dangbo, Bénin

    Assistant Professor
    IMSP (Institut de Mathématiques et de Sciences Physiques)
    • Teaching graduate courses in topology and analysis
    • Supervising MSc students in pure mathematics

Education

  • 2013 - 2017

    Cape Town, South Africa

    PhD
    University of Cape Town (UCT)
    Topology
    • Thesis on asymmetric topology and fixed point theory in generalized metric spaces
    • Quasi-pseudo metric spaces and η-cone metric structures
  • 2011 - 2013

    Abuja, Nigeria

    MSc
    African University of Science and Technology (AUST)
    Pure & Applied Mathematics
    • Advanced studies in pure mathematics, topology, and analysis

Publications

  •
    Publication metrics

    h-index: 12 · 584+ citations · 18+ peer-reviewed publications · See full list →

  • 2024
    The Shape of Data: Geometry-Based Machine Learning and Data Analysis in R
    No Starch Press

    A comprehensive guide to geometry-based machine learning, covering topological data analysis and geometric methods in R.

  • 2026
    Expansive homeomorphisms on complexity quasi-metric spaces
    arXiv preprint

    Exploring expansive dynamics on quasi-metric spaces with complexity-theoretic structure.

  • 2015
    Splitting metrics by T0-quasi-metrics
    Topology and its Applications

    Foundational work on decomposing metrics via asymmetric structures.

  • 2014
    Startpoints and (alpha,gamma)-contractions in quasi-pseudometric spaces
    Journal of Mathematics

    Fixed point theory for generalized contractive mappings in asymmetric settings.

  • 2024
    Topological foundations of reinforcement learning
    arXiv preprint

    Applying algebraic topology to RL state, action, and policy spaces.

Skills

Mathematics (Expert): Asymmetric Topology, Fixed Point Theory, Generalized Metric Spaces, Topological Data Analysis, Persistent Homology
Machine Learning & AI (Expert): Geometric Deep Learning, Deep Reinforcement Learning, Graph Neural Networks, TDA, Manifold Learning, Recommendation Systems, Predictive Analytics
Statistical Modeling & Analytics (Expert): Regression, Time Series, Bayesian Methods, Stochastic Modeling, NLP, Data Mining, Segmentation, Discrete Event Simulation, Optimization, Model Validation, Risk Modeling
Programming & Data (Advanced): Python, R, SQL, PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, GUDHI, Ripser, Pandas, NumPy, SciPy
Cloud & MLOps (Advanced): Microsoft Azure, Azure ML, AWS, Docker, MLflow, GitHub Actions, CI/CD, Power BI, Tableau
Tools & Platforms (Advanced): Git, LaTeX, Linux, Jupyter, Streamlit, Gymnasium, Stable-Baselines3
Industry Domains (Advanced): Banking, Energy, Insurance, IT, Retail, Quantitative Finance

Languages

French : Native speaker
English : Fluent

Interests

Research: Asymmetric Topology, Topological Data Analysis, Geometric Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Quantitative Finance
Community: Data Science Africa, Data Science Makers, AI for Africa, Mentoring, Workshop Organization

Projects

  • Workshop on Computational Topology & Quantum Computing (WoComToQC)

    Organized an interdisciplinary workshop bringing together researchers in computational topology and quantum computing.

  • The Shape of Data (No Starch Press)

    Co-authored a book on geometry-based machine learning and data analysis in R.

  • Data Science Makers

    Open-source ML teaching and outreach initiative for African universities and research communities.