Issaka

Innovator of the Year 2025 | Founder & Head of Research @ African Languages Lab | PhD Loading... @ UCLA | AI/ML/NLP Expert | Entrepreneur & Innovator | Bridging People, Language & Technology for Global Impact

Role
Head of Research at African Languages Lab
Location
Los Angeles, CA, US
LinkedIn followers
500 followers
Research & DevelopmentView LinkedIn profile

About Issaka

Hi, I’m Sheriff Issaka, Founder and Head of Research at the African Languages Lab and a PhD student in Computer Science at UCLA. My passion lies at the intersection of AI, language, and social impact. A simple goal drives me: to make technology truly multilingual and inclusive. At the African Languages Lab, I lead an amazing team building LLMs and translation engines that support 40 African languages, helping millions of people connect and communicate in their own voices.My research focuses on multilingual AI, robustness, and fairness in low-resource settings. I enjoy solving complex problems, mentoring others, and collaborating across disciplines to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve for real-world communities. Always happy to connect with others passionate about language, technology, and building a more inclusive digital future. Feel free to reach out via email at i•••••@g.ucla.edu or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Experience

  1. Head of Research

    African Languages Lab

    May 2020 — Present

Education

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence

  • UCLA

    Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Computer Science

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Issaka — Head of Research at African Languages Lab in Los Angeles, CA, US | Unifers