Amazing Team Members
Paul A Agbodza, PhD
Chief Research Scientist
Paul is the Executive Secretary and Chief Research Scientist at Ghana R Users Community as a volunteer. He studied philosophy and theology in Catholic Seminaries in Ghana (1987 – 1994), University of Cape Coast (1997/1998), Institute of Statistics and Decision Support Systems of the University of Vienna, Austria (2002-2005), Catholic Theology Faculty of University of Vienna, Austria (2005-2007), Department of Statistics and Mathematics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria (2007 – 2009), and the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa (2012 – 2018).
His research interest is at the interface of Mathematics of Finance and computational modeling. He is a happy member of Ghana R having been working with R since 2002 under the tutelage of R giants like Prof Neuwirth (of R-Excel), Prof Friedrich Leisch (of e1071 package), Prof W. Grossmann and Prof K. Poetzelberger. His PhD thesis on modeling finance derivatives was done mainly with the yuima package of R. Presently he has done several projects on R in Bioinformatics, Spatial Analysis, Natural Language Processing, Text Mining and Religious Demography.
The great benefit of R is the statistical foundation of the packages. The ability to mine big or alt data or the ease with which one can scrape unstructured data and wrangle them is the reason he still works with R. Computing with R gives one the flexibility to define and create objects to suit one’s purpose.
Currently Paul is an independent PostDoc Researcher having taught a number of years. He is affiliated to Ghana R Users Community.
Mr Francis Mensah
Founder and Research Scientist
Francis is the Founder and Research Scientist at Ghana R Users Community. He is a Statistician, Programmer and Data Analyst with a strong background and experience in Project Management, M&E and Research. A co-founder of KIMS International Managing Partner with Research Consulting and Services (a firm that provides M&E, research and capacity building in the areas of education, public health, gender, water and sanitation and livelihood for Governmental and Non-Governmental Institutions).
Education and Dates:
- Kwame Nkrumah University and Science Technology (September 2019 – May 2021): BSc. Information Technology
- Tamale Technical University (September 2012 – May 2015): Higher National Diploma in Statistics
- Global Health eLearning Center (July 2017 – May 2019): Monitoring and Evaluation Certificate
- Currently studying for MSc Software Engineering (2022 to date)
Workspaces:
- R User Group Organizers: rusergroups.slack.com
- SoCal RUG: socalrug.slack.com
- R Contributors: r-contributors.slack.com
- R4DS Online Learning Community: rfordatascience.slack.com
Contributing member of
- the Global R community
- Leader of AfricaR and RForward community management page.
Mr Samuel Tandoh
Medical Laboratory Scientist
Mr Samuel Tandoh is a Medical Laboratory Scientist at at the University of Education Winneba Hospital. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Medical Laboratory Technology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and currently pursuing an MPhil in Molecular Medicine from the same University.
His passion for research and data analytics has led him to complete courses from Coursera, Udacity, and LinkedIn learning platforms.
While being successful in his role as Medical Laboratory Scientist, he finds the most rewarding aspects of his work to be in collaborating with others and problem-solving.
He is a co-founder of the Ghana R Users Community and has delivered talks and training for the R community of Ghana.
Gwynn Gebeyehu, PhD
Advisory Committee Member
Gwynn Gebeyehu (PhD) is passionate about revolutionizing the way we interact with data. She believes that modern methods, which primarily rely on visual connections, exclude individuals with low vision or blindness and overlook a range of technologically feasible interactions. Her goal is to bridge this gap by connecting statistical programming languages with accessible technology.
In addition to her work in data accessibility, Gwynn is dedicated to supporting community-led research that addresses entrenched inequalities. She is also committed to revamping introductory statistics courses to make them more inclusive.
Gwynn has an impressive background in statistics and mathematics, with a PhD from the University of Auckland, an MS from Northern Arizona University, and a BA from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She has also completed a post-doc at Harvard Business School’s Laboratory for Innovation Science and taught statistics at Wharton Business School.
Gwynn is a renowned International keynote speaker and has held various leadership roles, including co-founder of the Harvard Data Science Initiatives’ R User Group, administrator and accessibility team lead of R Forwards, and organizer of R-Ladies DC from 2018 to 2021. In 2023, she co-founded Perception Analytics with her husband Berhanu Gebeyehu, where she serves as CEO.
Ebenezer Senu
Researcher and Data Scientist
Ebenezer Senu is a Research and Data Scientist with multiple publications in top-tier journals and a reviewer. His research expertise spans the molecular and cellular immunology of infectious and chronic diseases, with a focus on diagnostic biomarkers. A recipient of several awards for research, leadership, and social impact.
Ebenezer is a member of various top scientific writing and data science organizations including being the founder of Elite Research and Data Science Institute (ERDSI).
He uses the R Programming Language as his core statistical and data science tool in his research and career projects.
George Kyei Agyen
Data scientist and R Training specialist
George Kyei Agyen is a dedicated and knowledgeable civil and environmental engineer. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering Management, he has developed a strong foundation in his field through various work experiences. An Enthusiast of the R software, George enjoys programming, machine learning and statistical analysis, continuously seeking new knowledge and skills.
George’s professional journey includes roles as site engineer, operations officer an assistant engineer across various civil engineering firms. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Coastal Engineering at the University of Cape Coast. His research focuses on applying machine learning and artificial intelligence t coastal structures, addressing challenges like erosion, accretion and sediment movement.
In addition to his academic and professional pursuits, George enjoys watching action movies and exploring new activities, reflecting his dynamic and adventurous spirit.
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam
Advisory Committee Member
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam is a distinguished Statistician, Biostatistician, Epidemiologist, and scholar at the Leaders of Africa Institute. Currently serving as a Senior Lecturer in Medical Research and Innovation at the School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, he also holds the esteemed positions of Head of Department in Medical Research and Innovation and Deputy Director of the National Institute of Health Research-Global Surgery Unit, Ghana Hub.
With a pivotal role as Manager of the Ghana Data Centre at the School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Dr. Napoleon contributes extensively to global health initiatives through his leadership as Head of the Education & Training Committee and the Data Management Working Group at NIHR-GSU, focusing on high-, low-, and middle-income countries.
In addition to his academic and research commitments, Dr. Napoleon plays an active role in community and religious organizations. He serves as the President of the Men’s Fellowship at Bethel Methodist Cathedral, Tamale, and holds patronage roles in the Ghana Methodist Students Union at both local and diocesan levels within the University for Development Studies. His past leadership includes roles such as Head of the Students Information Systems Unit at the university and secretary of the Tamale Diocesan Lay Movement Council.
Dr. Napoleon is also a member of Scripture Union and a US Certified family and Marriage Counselor. His commitment to spiritual growth extends to his candidacy for ministry in the Methodist Church Ghana. Married with three children, Dr. Napoleon embodies a holistic approach to leadership, combining academic excellence with community service and spiritual stewardship.
Kevin O'Brien
Advisory Committee Member
Kevin O’Brien was formerly a lecturer and a research software engineer at a university. He has transitioned into a successful career as a data science consultant in the food and agriculture sector in Ireland. Through his consulting business, Dragonfly Stats, Kevin has been helping clients unlock insights and drive decision-making with data-driven solutions. His specialties include high-performance data processing, ensuring fast and efficient analysis of complex data sets.
Uwakmfon Usen Paul
Graphic Designer
Uwakmfon Usen Paul is the Coordinator of ERDSI Media and Publications and the CEO/Founder of WACKY Groups. He has a BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology from KNUST. He has a strong interest in graphic design and frontend development. Currently an intern medical laboratory scientist at the KNUST hospital, Uwakmfon is passionate about advancing research in oncology, particularly prostate cancer. He is committed to contributing to the field through innovative approaches and a deep dedication to healthcare advancements.