About

I am an associate professor of Applied Mathematics in the Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. My research is primarily focused around applied machine learning. I have worked in the domains of probabilistic robotics and computer vision for many years, and have some recent experience also in computational linguistics, reinforcement learning and deep generative modelling. I like working on applications for nature conservation, social impact and public health, and I am passionate about building and serving machine learning communities all across Africa.

I completed an MSc in Applied Mathematics at Stellenbosch in 2005, and a PhD in Computer Science at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK in 2008. After a short postdoc at South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, I returned to Stellenbosch in 2009 where I have been developing and teaching a variety of undergrad and postgrad courses in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, and working with many inspiring grad students.

Community engagement

Deep Learning Indaba
The Deep Learning Indaba is an organisation whose mission is to strengthen machine learning and artificial intelligence in Africa. We work towards the goal of Africans being not only observers and receivers of ongoing advances, but active shapers and owners of these technologies. Visit our website to find out more!

Google DeepMind Scholarships
I coordinate the Google DeepMind scholarship programme at Stellenbosch University, and am proud to represent the first African university on this programme. There is not an open call for applications at the moment, but do keep an eye out for possible future opportunities. More information here.

Maties Machine Learning
Herman Kamper and I created MML in 2018, in an effort to bring together researchers and students from across departments and faculties of Stellenbosch University. It is primarily a seminar series and discussion forum, and anyone at the university interested in machine learning is most welcome to join us.

Teaching

Courses I am teaching in 2026:

• Probability Theory and Statistics 114
• Probabilistic Modelling and Reasoning 812
• Computer Vision 842

Other courses I've taught in the past:

• Modelling in Mechanics 144
• Applied Differential Equations 244
• Numerical Methods 262
• Numerical Analysis 324
• Applied Fourier Analysis 364
• Computer Vision 364
• Computer Vision 792
• Digital Image Processing 793
• Mathematics for Machine Learning 811

I am the programme director of a great one-year structured MSc in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at Stellenbosch University. Follow the link for more information!

I am also a visiting lecturer in the AI for Science Masters programme at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences.

Graduate students

•  Fred de Villiers (PhD, co-supervising with Benjamin Rosman)
• Katerine Sadie (PhD, co-supervising with Johan du Preez)
• Faith Neema Benson (PhD, co-supervising with Amina Abubakar)
• Evander Nyoni (PhD)
• Daniel Rajaonarivonivelomanantsoa (PhD, co-supervising with Arnu Pretorius)