Komminist (Kommy) Sisai Weldemariam is a Research Scientist and Manager at IBM Research-Africa. Prior to joining IBM, he was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Computing, Queen's University (Canada) where he focused on designing tools and techniques for automated analysis, characterization, and detection of malicious activities on the Web. He was a Research Scientist (with a tenure-track title) at Fondaztione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Trento-Italy. At FBK, Kommy was involved in the development, evaluation and formal verification of security/safety-critical systems (such as Electronic Voting systems). In addition, he was involved in the development of novel ways of using technology to foster economic and social development, often targeting areas characterized by a low penetration of ICT. He was a contractual Professor at the University of Trento (Italy) and a visiting Researcher in the Security Labat the University of California, Santa Barbara CA (USA).

Komminist (Kommy) Weldemariam was born in Arba Minch, Ethiopia in a low-income family setting. Determined to get out of his harsh living conditions, he turned to education. His drive and an insatiable curiosity of how things worked led him to science. ^[0]

He completed his PhD in the Information Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Trento, Italy. He also received a BsC degree in Computer Science from Addis Ababa University , Ethiopia in 2003 and a Master's of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from Indian institute of technology, Bombay, India in 2006. ^[2]

Kommy’s education and research career in development is focused on creating innovative solutions that impact lives. He is developing evidence-based solutions that aim to transform education in Africa by individualizing its delivery to each child. Success in education will create future African scientists and create citizens that can compete and position the continent on a global level.

Kommy has co-authored more than 55 scientific articles based on projects in the areas of software systems, security and education technologies. He has served as scientific committee and organizer for various сonferences worldwide. He is a recipient of several awards including paper based awards, and the Experienced Level and Managerial Recognition awards from IBM.

Forbes recently profiled his work in their Wilds Duck podcast. Kommy believes that by deploying сognitive, mobile, and technologies in poor districts, educators can create early warning systems to identify which schools – and even which students – are most at risk to fail. He is currently a Research Staff Member and Research Manager at IBM Research Africa, managing a team of world class scientists focused on Cognitive and Artificial Intelligence technologies to solve Africa's grand challenges. ^[0]

His research interests include Software Engineering, Security, Cloud Computing and Electronic Voting Systems. He is also interested in the application of ICT for Good (ICT4G), with a particular emphasis in low-ICT penetration territories. ^[2]Kommy hopes to create intelligent systems that help shape the future of education and healthcare in Africa. ^[0]