Joseph Oche Agada

I am conducting my research under Dr. Arpan Biswas in the Automation and Steering section of Independent Research Group 1 (IRG1) at the NSF-funded UT-MRSEC Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (CAMM). My work focuses on developing AI systems for the autonomous, high-throughput discovery and characterization of materials with frustrated magnetism. These materials are of fundamental scientific interest and hold significant promise for applications such as quantum computing due to their complex emergent behaviors. However, their properties are highly sensitive to structural defects, necessitating extremely precise structural refinement to capture even the most subtle imperfections. To address these problems, I am building a novel AI framework for modeling defect signals in frustrated magnets and refining their structure parameters to a state-of-the-art level of precision. This research will contribute significantly to AI methodological development and the lifting of the bottlenecks in the application of frustrated magnets in quantum computing

While at the Air Force Institute of Technology, I: Taught undergraduate statistics courses, delivering lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions. Designed and administered coursework, assignments, examinations, and performed grading and assessment of students. Oversaw academic scheduling, including the allocation of courses to faculty members. Represented the department in university senate meetings, contributing to institutional policy and decision-making processes. Participated in faculty board meetings, actively engaging in academic governance and strategic planning at the faculty level. Chaired various departmental committees and academic boards. Coordinated the academic and administrative activities of all departmental staff. Prepared and presented students' academic results to the Faculty Academic Board, Senate Business Committee, and the University Senate for approval

Data and Machine Learning Academy is a pioneering online training institute committed to empowering the next generation of tech enthusiasts across Africa. At our academy, we take pride in our mission to bridge the skills gap by providing comprehensive education in data science and machine learning. Our focus is not only on imparting technical knowledge but also on mentoring and guiding young Africans as they embark on a transformative journey into the dynamic field of technology. With a dedicated team of industry experts, a cutting-edge curriculum, and a commitment to fostering innovation, we strive to prepare our students for success in the ever-evolving world of data and machine learning. Our programs are tailored to meet the needs of professionals looking to transition into the data-driven decision industry, recent graduates seeking cutting-edge analytics and ML/AI skills for a successful career, scholars aspiring to enhance their profiles for competitive applications to fully funded Ph.D. programs worldwide, individuals from Africa with ambitions to migrate to technologically advanced countries as well as those keen on pursuing remote job opportunities globally, and more.

In my role within the Nigerian Air Force's Intelligence Branch, I led the integration of machine learning, AI, and geospatial intelligence into the Service’s counter-terrorism and intelligence operations. Recognizing that the most complex challenge in counter-terrorism was locating adversaries, I focused on leveraging intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data—particularly spaceborne and airborne imagery—to extract actionable insights. The Nigerian Air Force maintained access to extensive ISR data through satellite imagery (via Maxar Technologies) and full-motion video from manned and unmanned aerial platforms. I pioneered the application of computer vision techniques—including image segmentation, feature detection and matching, motion tracking, object detection, and scene classification—to automate target identification and threat analysis from this high-volume image stream. These tools significantly enhanced the situational awareness and precision of operations, contributing to strategic successes in combating terrorist groups. Beyond image intelligence, I also spearheaded a broader AI initiative to extract operational intelligence from structured and unstructured textual and tabular data collected across multiple operational theaters. I developed the analytical roadmap and implemented ML workflows for processing this data—supporting daily, weekly, monthly, and annual intelligence reporting cycles. These pipelines powered predictive and real-time models that remain actively deployed across various mission-critical decision-making systems within the Nigerian Air Force

Prepared and regularly updated standardized training materials and lecture content for undergraduate courses. Taught undergraduate-level courses in statistics, probability, linear algebra, and calculus. Designed and administered classwork, assignments, tests, and final examinations; graded scripts and provided feedback to students. Organized and participated in departmental board meetings, including the documentation of meeting minutes. Coordinated and moderated departmental seminars and undergraduate oral project defenses. Collaborated with crop scientists on the domestication of Gongronema latifolia Benth., a medicinal plant of regional importance. Designed and analyzed agricultural experiments to determine the optimal storage duration and initial planting method for enhancing seed performance of Gongronema latifolia Benth. Supervised final-year undergraduate research projects across statistics and applied fields. Provided statistical consulting services to students and faculty from other departments on a walk-in basis.

Prepared and continuously updated standardized training materials and lecture content for undergraduate coursework. Assisted faculty in teaching core mathematics and statistics courses, including statistics, probability, linear algebra, and calculus. Administered and graded classwork, assignments, tests, and final examinations for undergraduate students. Participated in departmental board meetings and recorded official minutes. Organized and moderated departmental seminars and undergraduate oral project defenses. Collaborated with crop scientists on the domestication of Gongronema latifolia Benth., contributing to applied interdisciplinary research. Designed and analyzed agricultural experiments to determine the optimal storage duration and initial planting method for improving seed performance of Gongronema latifolia Benth. Supported faculty research by sourcing literature, conducting statistical analyses, and assisting with technical report writing. Proposed an alternative to the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) for time series model selection, contributing to methodological innovation in statistical modeling. Provided statistical consulting and tutoring services to students and academic staff across various departments on a walk-in basis.

Completed Course Work with Grades: 1. COSC 522 Machine Learning - A 2. DSE 511 Intro to Data Science and Computing - A 3. MATH 525 Statistics - A 4. ECE 692 Computer Vision - Yet to be published 5. DSE 697 Large Lang Model and Generative AI - A 6. MSE 572 X-Ray Diffraction - A 7. ESE 697 Professional Writing in STEM - A 8. ENT 550 Technology Commercialization - A

Took courses in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, and other related fields