The Expert Board

Chief AI Specialist at narya.ai, focused on blockchain cybersecurity. Former Chief Science Officer at BallerTV and founder of MOCAP Analytics, acquired by Sportradar in 2017. Experienced in applied mathematics, machine learning, AI, blockchain, green technologies, and sports analytics. MIPT graduate, Caltech PhD (2015), and member of the Board of Trustees of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation. LinkedIn

Chair of the Expert Council in Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating, expert of Higher Education Development National Center on the development of educational programs, ambassador of the ETF (European Training Foundation), expert of the NCSTE (National Center of Science and Technology Evaluation), expert of BTS-education, ex-rector of the Financial Academy, consultant on the development of innovative educational programs, Candidate of Pedagogic Sciences, associate professor. LinkedIn

Co-Founder and CTO at Atarino, leading real-time voice AI development. Previously Lead Data Scientist at Sportradar, Principal Member of Technical Staff at Oracle Health, and founding engineer at MOCAP Analytics, acquired by Sportradar in 2017. Expertise includes applied mathematics, machine learning, AI, computational fluid dynamics, sports analytics, healthcare software, and conversational AI. MIPT graduate with PhD studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. LinkedIn

Нe graduated from the International University of Information Technology, Almaty, Kazakhstan (2013, Bachelor’s degree), the University of California, San Diego (2016, Master’s degree), the University of California, Merced (2021, PhD in Computer Science). He is engaged in scientific research in the field of numerical optimization in neural network compression and other machine learning tasks. Author of many articles (15+) and patents (2). In his career as a scientist he worked/trained at Facebook (Meta), Google, Nvidia, Amazon.
LinkedIn

Currently serving as a Data Science Manager at Meta Reality Labs, Prior to this, worked as a Data Scientist at CCC Information Services, a Chicago-based insurance technology company. In 2015, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Nazarbayev University. Subsequently, in 2016, completed Master’s degree in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University. The winner of the “Scientific Internships in the world laboratories” program of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation, completed an internship in California Institute of Technology. LinkedIn

Senior Engineer and founder of the POWR company office in Kazakhstan (2019–2025). In 2008, she graduated from the Kazakh National Research Technical University named after K. I. Satbayev with a degree in Information Security and earned a Master’s degree in Information Technology Management from the University of Technology Malaysia in 2010. She worked in fintech at ForteBank and Home Credit Bank and is a Bolashak scholarship recipient. LinkedIn

Senior Machine Learning Engineer in a Kazakhstani company applying AI for business optimization, and professor at the International Information Technology University (IITU). His expertise includes computer vision, speech technologies, and classical machine learning. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Satbayev University (2011) and completed doctoral studies at the University of Genoa (2018). Winner of the “Internships in IT startups in USA” program and co-author/lecturer of Yessenov Data Lab 2020 Summer School. LinkedIn

Entrepreneur and inventor with strong technical background in low carbon technologies. PhD with 10+ years of R&D experience at Caltech, Stanford and UCSD. LinkedIn

Trained in internal medicine with clinical and research interests in nephrology. He graduated from Kazakh National Medical University (Bachelor’s degree and internship) and worked as a lecturer at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He holds an MSc in Infectious Diseases and One Health (Université de Tours, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, University of Edinburgh). Winner of the “Research Internships in the World Laboratories” program, with an internship at Colorado State University. LinkedIn

Previously a research fellow in Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic and UCSF, and a research scientist at Tsinghua University. She is the founder of WeDocs Future TM (2019) and an expert at IQAA. Winner of the First President of Kazakhstan Scholarship, Amgen Scholarship, and the “Scientific Internships in World Laboratories” program (Yessenov Foundation). Her research focuses on clinical decision support systems, cardiovascular effects of smoking and e-cigarettes, and preventive medicine. She trained at Mayo Clinic and UCSF. LinkedIn

MD, PhD (candidate), Assistant at the Department of Gastroenterology of S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, gastroenterologist–hepatologist at INTERNA CLINIC, Director of Gastroenterology Educational Programs at Interna Academy, and Advisor for External Relations at the Kazakh Association for the Study of the Liver (QASL). Graduated from Astana Medical University and KazNMU, and completed international training at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, NYU Langone Health, and Open Medical Institute. Winner of the “Research Internships in Laboratories Around the World” program. Member of APASL, EASL, and AASLD, author of 12 scientific publications, and contributor to national clinical guidelines and protocols. LinkedIn

PhD candidate in Molecular Biology at Harvard University, where she studies melanoma progression and therapy resistance. She previously earned an MPhil in Biological Sciences from the University of Cambridge, focusing on molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopment. Prior to her doctoral studies, she conducted research at Harvard Medical School and MIT on cancer immunotherapy and therapy resistance. Her expertise spans developmental biology, stem cells, immunology, oncology, gene editing, and translational medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Biological Sciences from Nazarbayev University and is a recipient of the Research Internships in World Laboratories Fellowship. LinkedIn

He earned bachelor’s and MD degrees from Nazarbayev University with distinction and has authored more than 10 publications in immunology, molecular biology, and medicine. He completed research training at cardiology institutes in the USA and Japan and was a recipient of the “Scientific Internships” program, through which he trained at the Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh. LinkedIn

Lead developer at Toptal, founder of TodoChat, and leader of the Kazakhstani Toptal community. Experienced in React Native development for iOS and Android. Began his career at Quintiq, a global software company. Holds bachelor’s degrees in Information Systems Development (Eurasian National University) and Software Development (Multimedia University, Malaysia). Winner of the “Internships in IT Startups in USA” program. LinkedIn

Instructor at the Department of Computer Science, Nazarbayev University. She holds a PhD in Science, Engineering and Technology from Nazarbayev University, where she developed predictive models for Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) technology. She earned her bachelor’s (2016, with distinction) and master’s (2018) degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Nazarbayev University. Her research focuses on BCI, machine learning, and deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks. She also served as Senior Lecturer at Astana IT University in 2024 and participated in Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation programs, including a research internship at Rochester Institute of Technology and the Yessenov Scholarship. LinkedIn 

The doctoral thesis is aimed at studying human evolution based on the analysis of transposons in ancient DNA. He is a graduate of the undergraduate and graduate programs at Nazarbayev University (2017 and 2019) and a three-time scholarship holder of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation programs on scientific internships in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Sultan advocates for equality, inclusivity, diversity, and enlightenment through his creative and scientific work. He is one of the recipients of Brock University’s 2021-2022 Horizon Graduate Student . LinkedIn

Докторант Pennsylvania State University по специальности «Химия». Исследует инновационные материалы для применения в оптике, энергетике и квантовых технологиях. Выпускник Nazarbayev University (2024), победитель программы «Научные стажировки в лабораториях мира» Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation, в рамках которой прошёл стажировку по неорганической и органометаллической химии в Ohio State University (США). LinkedIn

PhD student and researcher at MBZUAI (Abu Dhabi), focusing on AI-based catalyst modeling for applied chemistry. He previously worked as an engineer at Nazarbayev University Fab Lab, a technical consultant for startup teams, and a senior researcher at S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University. He holds a master’s degree in Radio Engineering from Bonch-Bruevich St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications (2017). Regularly competes in athletic events, including marathons and open-water swimming races. LinkedIn 

MS student in Statistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in computational statistics and data science. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with honors from Nazarbayev University. She participated in the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) program in 2022 and is a recipient of the Yessenov Scholarship (2022) and Yessenov Data Lab (2023). LinkedIn

PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She is engaged in Scopus-indexed research and has been involved in projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan since 2020 as a junior researcher. She is pursuing a PhD in Mathematical and Computer Modelling and specializes in nonlinear mechanics of deformable media, particularly modeling drilling equipment dynamics in complex conditions. She combines research with teaching at the Department of Mathematical and Computer Modelling. LinkedIn

He is a lecturer at Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) and Almaty Management University (AlmaU), and an employee of the Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling. In 2024 he graduated from KBTU (bachelor’s and master’s degree in applied mathematics). LinkedIn

PhD student and graduate research assistant at MIT Nuclear Science and Engineering, specializing in nuclear waste disposal and environmental modeling under Professor Haruko Wainwright. His work includes reactive transport modeling, heat and mass transfer, and data analysis, with a focus on energy recovery from high-level nuclear waste and groundwater assessment for long-term environmental impact. He completed internships at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2022, 2024) and continues collaboration there. LinkedIn

Technical expert, PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant at Texas A&M University, studies ecological tipping points in U.S. coastal wetlands under Professor Rusty A. Feagin as part of a NASA-supported project, using satellite remote sensing and ecosystem resilience analysis. He develops early-warning approaches to support coastal protection, climate risk reduction, and long-term planning in vulnerable U.S. regions. Recipient of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation’s “Scientific Internships in World Laboratories” program, with a research internship at the APSU GIS Center, Austin Peay State University, USA. LinkedIn

Research Lab Specialist at the University of Michigan, where she studies glioblastoma and pediatric brain glioma in the Department of Neurosurgery. She helped establish a new laboratory and received the Research Staff Innovator Award in 2025. Previously, she conducted research at Nazarbayev University on breast cancer, microfluidics, and chemical engineering. She holds BS and MS degrees from Nazarbayev University in Chemistry and Pharmacology & Toxicology and completed an internship at the University of Michigan through the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation. LinkedIn

Asem is an automotive industry specialist with over eight years of international experience in program management, sustainable mobility, hydrogen technologies, and battery systems. She has held leadership roles in automotive companies in Germany and Japan, managing cross-functional teams and strategic projects. Her expertise includes program and portfolio management, commercial strategy, market analytics, and sustainable mobility solutions. Asem holds an MBA from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Engineering from Nazarbayev University. She actively promotes innovation and sustainable technologies in transportation. LinkedIn

Senior Researcher at the National Laboratory of Astana (NLA). Winner of the 2017 “Research Internships in World Laboratories” program at the University of Bath. He earned a BSc in Chemical Engineering with distinction from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (2018) and later obtained a PhD in Chemistry from KAUST. His expertise includes organic synthesis, transition-metal catalysis, photo- and electrochemistry, with research interests at the intersection of chemistry, data science, AI, and laboratory automation. He has international experience in Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, and Japan and worked with Johnson & Johnson at the University of Michigan on PROTAC drug development. Linkedin

Researcher at the Vodafone Chair, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, TU Dresden (Germany), specializing in neural processor microarchitecture and energy-efficient AI accelerators for Edge AI. He holds an MSc in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from KU Leuven and TU Dresden through the Erasmus Mundus program, and a Bachelor of Engineering from Nazarbayev University. Previously, he worked at Fraunhofer IIS/EAS, completed an R&D internship at imec, and held research positions at Nazarbayev University and EPFL. He is a recipient of the Yessenov Foundation’s “Research Internships in World Laboratories” program. LinkedIn

IT Project Manager and Software Developer with over three years of commercial experience. She transitioned from software development into project management while maintaining strong expertise in system architecture and technical evaluation. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science at the University of Genoa on a full Italian Government scholarship and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Lomonosov Moscow State University. She also works as an educational consultant helping students apply to European universities. In 2022, she received the Yessenov Launch Pad grant. Linkedin

Neurology Resident at University Medical Center and graduate of S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University. Her clinical and research interests focus on neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. She has contributed to the Kazakhstan ALS Registry and is currently involved in research on early detection of mild cognitive impairment using machine learning. A recipient of the “Research Internships in Laboratories Around the World” program, she completed a research internship at the University of Innsbruck. She is the author and co-author of scientific publications, an ALS textbook, and presentations at international conferences.

Physician and Ph.D. candidate in Medical Sciences at the University of Cambridge and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. She is a Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and a Visiting Researcher at Seoul National University. Previously, she participated in research projects at Nazarbayev University and the National Center for Biotechnology. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and a recipient of several academic fellowships, including the Shahmardan Yessenov Foundation Fellowship. Her research focuses on oncology, tumor imaging, radiology, nanomedicine, clinical trials, and cancer epidemiology. LinkedIn

A Master of Molecular Medicine and a researcher in the field of molecular biology and biomedicine. She has experience in laboratory work, participation in scientific projects, and academic conferences. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms of diseases and modern biomedical approaches. She serves as an expert on the academic fund committee. Winner of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation Research Internships Program. LinkedIn

PhD student at New York University, researching soft robotics, biomimetics, and Embodied Intelligence. Currently a Research Scholar at NYU’s PREMA Lab; previously worked at ISSAI and completed an internship at the CREATE Lab (EPFL, Switzerland) on a Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation grant. Founder of “Beyond Robotics,” producing 50+ video lessons reaching 1,000+ students across Kazakhstan. Author of IEEE publications, mentor to WRO and FIRST medalists. Holds a BSc in Robotics Engineering from Nazarbayev University (2025). LinkedIn

Research Assistant and undergraduate student in the Department of Computer Science at Nazarbayev University. He specializes in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing, and has contributed to research projects at ISSAI and the Internet of Things Laboratory. He is a recipient of the “Research Internships in Labs Around the World” and Yessenov Launch Pad programs and is currently conducting research on AI-assisted interview evaluation. LinkedIn

(Рус) Директор R&D во Freedom AI Labs, основатель ТОО «Neckarwiese» — компании по разработке программного обеспечения и AI-продуктов. Доктор технических наук Гейдельбергского университета (Германия), где проработал 4 года; далее — разработчик в SAP (Германия, 2 года) и преподаватель ADA University (Азербайджан, 2 года), приглашённый лектор Da Vinci University (Франция). В Казахстане возглавлял кафедры в КазНУ им. аль-Фараби (5 лет) и КБТУ, преподавал в Almaty Management University (7 лет) и Нархозе. Специализируется на искусственном интеллекте, разработке ПО и прикладной математике. Имеет профессиональные сертификаты Microsoft, Oracle, IBM и SAP. LinkedIn

(Рус) AI Learning Designer во Freedom AI Labs и ассоциированный профессор AlmaU. Имеет PhD по математике (КазНУ, University of Wisconsin–Madison). Возглавлял Школу цифровых технологий AlmaU (2018–2025), ранее заведовал кафедрой в КБТУ. Член Национального научного совета РК по ИККТ, с 2025 года — председатель ННС по передовому производству и цифровым технологиям. Специализируется на машинном обучении, анти-фрод системах и прикладном ИИ, руководил AI Lab. Стажировался в NUS и UIUC (программа «Болашак»). Автор более 15 научных публикаций (h-index 5, Scopus/WoS). LinkedIn