Mentors & Collaborators
Dr. Birhanu Bulcha
Research Collaboration Journey
Dr. Birhanu Bulcha is a Research Engineer and Principal Investigator at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the United States. After I presented my Blind Tech project at the national science and engineering competition, he noticed my work and began mentoring me. Dr Birhanu guided me in improving the design of my project and encouraged me to continue developing affordable technology for visually impaired people in Ethiopia. His mentorship helped me think about how engineering solutions can be made accessible for communities that do not have access to expensive technology.
Dr. Birhanu Bulcha believed in my Blind Tech project and helped me improve it further. His guidance gave me the confidence to continue building technology that can truly help my community.
Professor Jelani Nelson
Algorithmic Excellence Journey
Jelani Nelson is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at University of California, Berkeley, where he became Chair of the Computer Science Division in 2024 and Department Chair in 2025. Before joining UC Berkeley, he served as an Associate Professor at Harvard University. He is also a Research Scientist at Google, applying algorithm research to real world systems used by billions of people. I learned from Professor Jelani during the AddisCoder program at Addis Ababa University, where he taught advanced algorithms with great clarity and patience. His lectures helped me understand complex algorithm ideas while I was still in high school. He also supported my academic journey by covering my SAT examination fee and encouraging me to continue learning computer science at a deeper level.
Professor Jelani Nelson helped me understand algorithms at a very young age and showed me that Ethiopian students can compete in the best universities in the world. His support and encouragement changed the way I see my future in computer science.
Adama Science and Technology University
Educational Innovation Partnership
Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) is one of the leading science and technology universities in Ethiopia. The university supported my work by allowing me to use its ICT facilities and learning environment to teach programming and algorithms to talented Ethiopian students through the EAGLOPEN AlgoLab program. With their support, students from different parts of the country were able to access computers, internet, and structured training that many of them could not find in their local schools.
Adama Science and Technology University gave me the environment and infrastructure to teach young Ethiopian students programming and algorithms. Their support helped expand the impact of my work through EAGLOPEN.
Professor Daniel Kang
Machine Learning Excellence
Daniel Kang is a Professor at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) who works in computer systems and artificial intelligence. During the AddisCoder program at Addis Ababa University, he taught me Python programming through lectures and daily exercises. Professor Daniel spent many hours helping students understand programming step by step, and his teaching helped me build strong confidence in writing code and solving computational problems.
Professor Daniel Kang helped me build a strong foundation in Python programming. His lectures and exercises greatly improved my programming skills and confidence.
Professor Huy Nguyen
Machine Learning Excellence
Huy Nguyen is a Professor at Northeastern University who works in computer science and data systems. During the AddisCoder program, he taught Python programming with strong emphasis on visualization and practical exercises. His teaching style made programming very engaging and helped me deepen my understanding of coding and computational thinking. His lectures motivated me to continue improving my programming abilities and explore more advanced topics.
Professor Huy Nguyen helped me understand programming in a deeper and more practical way. His lectures increased my motivation to continue strengthening my coding skills.
Professor Huacheng Yu
Programming Excellence
Professor Huacheng Yu is a Professor at Princeton University specializing in theoretical computer science. During the AddisCoder program, he introduced me to the fundamentals of algorithms and computational problem solving. His lectures helped me understand the basic algorithmic ideas that later allowed me to follow more advanced topics taught by other professors. Learning these concepts while still in high school was a very important step in my academic development.
Professor Huacheng Yu was the first person who introduced me to algorithms in depth. His teaching built the foundation that later helped me understand more advanced algorithm topics.
Engineer Fesseha Atlaw
Machine Learning Excellence
Fesseha Atlaw is widely respected as the father of Ethiopic computing because of his pioneering work in digitizing the Ethiopian alphabet and developing early Ethiopic word processing systems. After learning about my Blind Tech project, he advised me to expand the system by including local languages and artificial intelligence. His advice helped me see how technology can better serve Ethiopian communities.
Engineer Fesseha Atlaw encouraged me to expand my project by including local languages and artificial intelligence. His advice helped me see how technology can better serve Ethiopian communities.
Hana Sheto
Machine Learning Excellence
Hana is an engineer working at Google who was introduced to me through the STEMpower Organization after I won the STEM Science and Engineering Competition. She served as one of my first mentors and helped guide my early work on the Blind Tech project. Even though our mentorship period was not very long, her encouragement and advice played an important role in motivating me to continue improving my project and developing my skills in technology.
Hana was one of the first mentors who encouraged me after my STEM competition. Her support motivated me to continue working harder on my project and technology journey.
Featured Student Mentors
Amazing students who inspire and collaborate with me
Biniyam Aschalew
KAIS - Korea Advanced Institute of Science
Alexandeer Cai
Harvard University
Biniyam Lombe
Yale University
Param Nagda
UC Berkeley
Saba Zerefa
Harvard University
Sonika Vuyyuru
UC Berkeley
Bontu Fufa
A2SV
Daniel Neito
Polytechnic University of Valencia
Abdishakur Yusuf
Pharo Foundation