Verrah Otiende earned her cotutelle doctorate degree in Mathematical Sciences (Statistics) conferred by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI). She is currently an Assistant Professor of Data Science at USIU-Africa.
As an Eric and Wendy Schmidt African Faculty Fellow, Verrah is developing AI-based tools to help vulnerable communities in Kenya adapt to extreme heat driven by climate change. Her research integrates machine learning, Bayesian modeling, and agent-based simulations to map heat risk, predict health impacts, and inform local interventions such as early warning systems, shaded areas, and cooling stations.
Verrah is committed to building AI systems that are explainable, fair, and responsive to the needs of low-resource settings. She addresses challenges of limited data and social bias by incorporating community feedback, validating models across varied contexts, and embedding transparency into decision-making tools.