Mom & PhD Holder! Dr. Loretta Bortey Kubate Wins Best Thesis Award

Dr. Loretta Bortey Kubate, a Ghanaian mother who earned a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from Birmingham City University while caring for her newborn, won the Best PhD Thesis Pitch award for her groundbreaking research on machine learning for highway risk prediction.

Dr. Loretta Bortey Kubate, a brilliant African woman, earned a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from Birmingham City University (BCU), UK, while caring for her newborn. Her thesis, “Machine Learning for Highway Risk Prediction,” won the Best PhD Thesis Pitch award.

Loretta’s journey began in Ghana, where she earned a Computer3 Science (2008) and later earned a Master’s in Big Data Technology (2020) from Glasgow Caledonian University. Her research focuses on applying machine learning to improve highway safety.

Despite facing childcare challenges, Loretta delivered her thesis pitch with her baby strapped to her back, impressing the panel with her clarity and depth. Her supervisor, Professor David Edwards, praised her as a “fabulously talented researcher” with potential to become a Professor or national leader.

Now a Research Fellow at BCU, Loretta develops predictive models for highway safety and mentors young girls in data science and AI. Her message to mothers: “Motherhood is the most reasonable excuse to abandon your dreams. But change the narrative”.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION