About the Doctoral Degree in Data Science and Analytics

This degree will train individuals to translate and facilitate new innovative research, structured and unstructured, complex data into information to improve decision making. This curriculum includes heavy emphasis on programming, data mining, statistical modeling, and the mathematical foundations to support these concepts. Importantly, the program also emphasizes communication skills – both oral and written – as well as application and tying results to business and research problems.

Because this degree is a Ph.D., it creates flexibility. Graduates can either pursue a position in the private or public sector as a "practicing" Data Scientist – where continued demand is expected to greatly outpace the supply - or pursue a position within academia, where they would be uniquely qualified to teach these skills to the next generation.

 

Information Sessions for Ph.D. in Data Science and Analytics Fall 2026 Admission

Questions about the Ph.D. in Data Science and Analytics? In these virtual information sessions, program Director Dr. Herman Ray will discuss admission requirements, curriculum, and what to expect if you are accepted. Click your preferred date/time below to register for a session.

 

Data Science and Analytics PhD Curriculum

At the end of the program, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate their understanding of the research process
  • Demonstrate mastery of core concepts relevant to three key areas in mathematics, statistics and computer science
  • Develop themselves as professionals prepared for work as a doctoral-educated individual beyond graduation
    • Successful applicants will have completed a masters degree in a computational field (e.g., engineering, computer science, statistics, economics, finance, etc.)
    • Applicants are expected to have deep proficiency in at least one analytical programming language (e.g., SAS, R, Python). SQL and Java are helpful but not required.
    • Interested applicants who have earned an undergraduate degree are encouraged to apply to the Ph.D. Program with the embedded MS in Computer Science or with the MS in Applied Statistics.

  • The Ph.D. in Data Science and Analytics requires 78 total credit hours spread over four years of study. Example Program of Study: 

    Year 1

    Year 2

    • 21 credit hours of electives/concentration

    Students take up to 9 credit hours of 6000- or 7000-level courses in DS, STAT, or CS with permission of the program director. Students take any 8000- or 9000-level course in DS, STAT, MATH, CS or IT, or the HHS courses in the mHealth concentration.

    • Computer Science Concentration
      • at least 15 credit hours in CS courses at 8000 or 9000 levels (except CS 9900)
    • Statistics Concentration
      • at least 15 credit hours in STAT courses at 8000 or 9000 levels
    • mHealth Concentration
    • HHS 8000 - Introduction to mHealth
    • HHS 8010 - Ethical Issues in mHealth, Healthcare and Human Subjects Research
    • STAT 8235 - Advanced Longitudinal Data Analysis
    • HHS 8050 - Advanced Research in mHealth
    • HHS 8020 - mHealth Applications or HHS 8030 - Advanced Special Topics in mHealth
    • Develop Dissertation Research Proposal 

    Year 3

    • DS 9700 Doctoral Internship/Research Lab
    • DS 9900 Dissertation
    • Teaching
    • Dissertation Proposal Defense

    Year 4

    • DS 9900 DissertationFinal Dissertation Defense
  • Relevant, interdisciplinary research forms the foundation of the Ph.D. in Data Science and Analytics. While students are encouraged to engage in research from their first semester, the last two years of the program are structured to help students transition into becoming independent, lead researchers. In this last stage of the program, students will work with research faculty, including their advisor, in one of our data science research labs.

Admission Requirements and Application

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • This is a traditional Ph.D. Program. We expect that individuals will complete the program in 4-5 years. This will include completion of course work in years 1-3 and completion of Project work and Research/Dissertation work in Year 4-5.
  • This is a traditional, in-residence, STEM Ph.D. Program - not a professional doctorate. Therefore, qualified students will receive a tuition waiver and a research stipend.
  • Individuals who have an undergraduate/MS degree in a quantitative field (i.e. Engineering, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Finance) are particularly strong candidates. Successful applicants will have some previous experience with programming languages as well as have completed a calculus series.
  • The Ph.D. in Data Science and Analytics is a flexible degree which will enable graduates to work in the private sector as a senior executive in an analytics organization as well as pursue a career in academics - teaching the next generation of data scientists.
  • Successful completion of the program will require students to defend a doctoral research dissertation. Students, working with their faculty research advisor, will be expected to submit research papers to competitive conferences and to peer-reviewed journals. Student research projects should be aligned with their project engagement requirement.
    • Analytics
    • Applied Statistics
    • Biology
    • Biostatistics
    • Business Administration
    • Business Analytics
    • Computer Science
    • Data Science
    • Data Science and Analytics
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Forecasting and Strategic Management
    • Mathematics
    • Public Administration in Economic Policy Management
  • Successful completion of the program will require students to complete a minimum of 9 credit hours in Project Engagement, which will take the form of a research project (as approved by the director) with an external sponsor in the private or public sector. Kennesaw State University has relationships with dozens of organizations across a wide range of application domains to ensure that individuals have the opportunity to participate in a project engagement aligned with their research interests.
  • No. The program is a full-time traditional Ph.D. program. Students will engage in substantive project-based work, research, teaching, and internship/practicums. Students receive a research stipend to cover living costs.
  • Yes. The university provides on-campus housing at both our Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. There is also off campus student housing within a mile of the campus - most of which is on the bus line for the university.
  • No. The courses are face-to-face and in-class. Most courses have a student-faculty ratio of less than 15 students per faculty. All Ph.D. students will have a faculty advisor.
  • Most applicants have already successfully completed a masters degree in a computational discipline (e.g., engineering, computer science, statistics). Applicants without a masters degree can apply to the MS in Computer Science or the embedded MS in Applied Statistics. 
    • Auburn University
    • Bowling Green State University
    • California State University Fullerton
    • Columbia University
    • Eastern Illinois University
    • George Washington University
    • Georgia College and State University
    • Georgia Southern University
    • Georgia State
    • Georgia Tech
    • Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh
    • Kennesaw State University
    • Kwara State University, Nigeria
    • Lewis University
    • Marshall University
    • Mercer University
    • North Carolina State University
    • St. Petersburg State University, Russia
    • Syracuse University
    • Texas A&M University
    • University of Cincinnati
    • University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
    • University of Louisiana, Lafayette
    • University of Toledo
    • VIT-AP University, India

Ph.D. in Data Science and Analytics Student Cohorts

  • Timur Abdugulov

    Timur Abdygulov

    Bachelor's Degree: Economics, American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan

    Master's Degree: Data Science, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

    Professional Objective: I aim to use natural language processing and data science to solve economic and policy problems. My focus is on building tools that support better decisions in finance, healthcare, and public services.

    Chad Bishop

     
    Vineetha Burugupalli

    Vineetha Burugupalli

    Bachelor's Degree: Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India

    Master's Degree: Data Science and Analytics, Georgia State University

    Work History: 

    • Data Scientist, Walmart
    • Data Scientist, Dun & Bradstreet
    • Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia State University
    • Business Data Analyst, OYO, India

    Professional Objective: In the short term, I aim to deepen my expertise in AI, data mining, and multimodal data science through advanced coursework and collaborative research, with a focus on responsible AI, causal inference, and generative models. In the long term, I aspire to lead impactful research, mentor future scholars, and develop adaptive and responsible AI systems that address complex real-world challenges.

    LinkedIn

    Nnenna Ifeanyi

    Nnenna Ifeanyi

    Bachelor's Degree: Biology, with a Minor in Psychology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH

    Master's Degrees: 

    • Biostatistics, University of Cincinnati 
    • Business Analytics, Mercer University 

    Work History:

    • Lab Technician - Procter & Gamble
    • Quality Laboratory Assistant - Kutol Products Company
    • Biostatistician - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
    • Data Operations Analyst Intern - K-12 Data Solutions
    • Cloud Cost Optimization Intern - GE Appliances, a Haier company

    Professional Objective: To become a data science leader who integrates business insights, clear communication, and critical thinking to drive AI-powered solutions across industries. I aim to bridge the gap between advanced analytics, strategic leadership, and real-world impact—especially in healthcare and emerging technologies.

    LinkedIn

    Saddam Hossain Irfan

    Saddam Hossain Irfan

    Bachelor's Degree: Applied Statistics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Master's Degree: Applied Statistics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Work History:

    • Data Scientist, Insightin Health via Insightin Technology BD Ltd
    • Statistician, Eusuf and Associates

    Publication: Knowledge, attitude, practices, and determinants of them toward tuberculosis among social media users in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

    Professional Objective: To pursue advanced research in data science with a focus on analytics, while developing innovative solutions that bridge academic research and industry applications. My long-term objective is to contribute to both academia and industry by leading impactful research, mentoring future data scientists, and collaborating with organizations to drive data-driven decision making.

    LinkedIn

    Brandi Jones

    Brandi Jones

    Bachelor's Degree: Psychology, Georgia College & State University

    Master's Degrees:

    • Biology, Georgia College & State University
    • Data Science & Analytics, Kennesaw State University

    Work History: 

    • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Kennesaw State University
    • Biology Professor, Georgia Military College

    Courses Taught: Biology 1, Biology 2, Anatomy & Physiology 1, Anatomy & Physiology 2, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Elementary Statistics

    Publications: 

    • Impact of necrotizing enterocolitis on preterm infant growth in the NICU: A longitudinal analysis of weight trajectory, APHA 2025
    • Stratifying traditional birthweight classification to enhance mortality risk assessment for preterm infants in U.S. NICUs, APHA 2025
    • Dent, B. M., et al. “A DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST INSTAR OF MATUS OVATUS (COLEOPTERA: DYTISCIDAE).” The Florida Entomologist, vol. 94, no. 3, 2011, pp. 439–42. 

    Professional Objective: I am pursuing a PhD in Data Science & Analytics with the goal of advancing research in biostatistics and human health. I hope to contribute to research that informs clinical decision-making and public health policy. Whether in academia or industry, my aim is to lead and develop interdisciplinary data-driven research that improves health outcomes through innovative statistical modeling, and predictive analytics methodologies.

    LinkedIn

    Github

    Param Venkat Vivek Kesireddy

    Param Venkat Vivek Kesireddy

    Bachelor's Degree: Technology, Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, India

    Master's Degree: Computer Science, California State University Fullerton 

    Work History:

    • Teaching Associate (CSUF)
    • Data Analyst (N9 IT)
    • Data & Analytics Intern (Sixpep)
    • Project Intern (TCS iON) 

    Courses Taught: Compilers & Languages (Automata Theory) 

    Publications: 

    • K. P. Venkat Vivek, J. Vandana, K. Sripooja, and A. Choubey, “A smart wearable guiding device for the visually impaired people,” International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET), vol. 10, no. VI, Jun. 2022. doi: 10.22214/ijraset.2022.44153 
    • K. P. Venkat Vivek, A. Choubey, and S. B. Choubey, "Vibration powered wireless sensor networks—harvesting energy from good vibrations," in Advances in Modern Sensors: Physics, Design, Simulation and Applications, Chapter 13, IOP Publishing, 2020, pp. 13-1 to 13-14.

    Professional Objective: To advance data science research with real-world impact, foster collaboration across disciplines, and keep learning while contributing to both academia and industry.

    LinkedIn

    Nong Ming

    Nong Ming

    Bachelor's Degree: Management in Business Administration, Jilin University, China

    Master's Degree: Computer Science, Kennesaw State University

    Work History: Graduate Research Assistant, Kennesaw State University

    Courses Taught: Big Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Machine Vision, Advanced Algorithms


    Publication:Nong Ming, Sachin Sharma, Jiho Noh "YouLeQD: Decoding the Cognitive Complexity of Questions and Engagement in Online Educational Videos from Learners' Perspectives.", International Conference on Semantic Computing 2025 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=11036279

    Professional Objective: I aim to explore the potential of LLMs and AI agent systems to develop robust, interpretable AI solutions that drive real-world impact. In the short term, I seek to contribute to innovative, data-driven projects, and in the long term, to lead the development of responsible, scalable AI technologies that advance industry and society.

    anil-vallepu

    Anil Vallepu

    Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science and Engineering with Data Analytics Specialization, Hindustan University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu State India

    Master's Degree: Data Science, Texas A&M University

    Work History:

    • UI development Intern, Verzeo, Bengaluru, India
    • Software development Intern, HCL technologies, Chennai, India
    • Android development Intern, Talent Takeaways Infotech PVT LTD, Chennai, India
    • Associate Faculty, Softcore Technologies, Hyderabad, India
    • Full Time Software Engineer, Mindsprint, Chennai, India
    • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA

    Courses Taught: C, C++, Core Java, Python and Python for Data Science, MySQL, Data Structures, Engineering Design, Cal-1, College Algebra, Data Analysis Lab using JMP, Python Programming

    Paper Patent: Dr. Antonidas, Anil Vallepu, Manoj kg, Arunachalam "Drinking Water Quality Prediction Using XG-Boost Approach and comparing accuracy of the model with other ML models" at intellectual property of India

    Awards: 

    • Rank holder of class of 2022 at Hindustan university
    • Best Individual Outstanding Performance Employee of Mindsprint Award 2023

    Professional Objective: I would like to become a professor at a university so that I will get a chance to share my knowledge with students and ill get an opportunity to work on real world problems through my research.

    LinkedIn

  • Sharanya Dv

    Sharanya Dv

    Bachelor's Degree: Physics, Computer Science and Mathematics, St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, India

    Master's Degree: Data Science, VIT-AP University, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Work History: Data Modernization Team Intern, Google Cloud Partner, Niveus Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

    Professional Objective: My goal is to contribute effectively to data-driven decision-making processes and to continuously develop my expertise in the ever-evolving field of data science.

    LinkedIn

    Charles Fanning

    Charles Fanning

    Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics, Lewis University

    Master's Degree: Data Science from Lewis University

    Professional Objective: to make meaningful contributions to a wide breadth of interdisciplinary fields through the medium of data science, both in academia and industry. Right now, I am interested in the applications of deep learning on medical imaging data across various modalities and in topological data analysis.

    LinkedIn

    Mohsin Karim

    Mohsin Md Abdul Karim

    Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Master's Degrees: Mathematics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh;  Mathematics, Eastern Illinois University; Mathematics, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

    Work History: Export Officer, Jamuna Bank Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh; Business Intelligence Team, Nagad Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Professional Objective: Create a distinct value for myself in an organization so that I can be treated as an asset to them.

    Faruk Muritala

    Faruk Muritala

    Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State Nigeria

    Master's Degrees: Mathematics, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria; Data Science and Analytics, Kennesaw State University

    Work History: 

    • Graduate Research Assistant and Teacher of Record, Kennesaw State University
    • Mathematics Instructor, Al-Ihsan Group of School, Offa Kwara Nigeria
    • Data Entry Officer, National Examination Council (NECo), Niger State Nigeria

    Courses Taught: Introduction to Data Science

    Publications: 

    Award: J. Stephen and Jennifer Lewis Priestley Doctoral Endowed Scholarship, Kennesaw State University. August 2024.

    Professional Objective: to utilize my mathematics, data science, and educational skills to become a leading data scientist and researcher and make a positive impact. I am open to exploring opportunities in academia and industry and eager to learn, relearn, and grow in a dynamic research environment.

    LinkedIn

    Joseph Richardson

    Joseph Richardson

    Bachelor's Degree: Actuarial Science (Statistics), University of West GA

    Master's Degree: Analytics, Georgia Tech

    Professional Objective: I aim to teach and conduct research at an academic institution while also consulting privately.

    LinkedIn

    Qiuyuan Zhang

    Qiuyuan Zhang

    Bachelor's Degree: Electronic Information Engineering, Xidian University, China

    Master's Degree: Data Science, Georgia State University

    Work History: Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia State University

    Professional Objective: to evolve into a research-oriented professional contributing significantly to academia or industry

    LinkedIn:

  • Caleb Greski

    Caleb Greski

    Bachelor's Degree: 

    Master's Degree: 

    Work History: 

    Courses Taught: 

    Publications: 

    Professional Objective: 

    LinkedIn

    Qiaomu Li

    Qiaomu Li

    Bachelor's Degree: Civil Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

    Master's Degree: Business Analytics, Syracuse University

    Work History: 

    • Credit Modeling Analyst, Agricultural Development Bank of China
    • Research Assistant, Changjiang Securities
    • Graduate Assistant, Syracuse University

    Courses Taught: Calculus I, Marketing Analytics, Data Mining

    Awards: Merit-Based Scholarship, Syracuse University

    Professional Objective: To secure a challenging position in a reputable organization to expand myself within the field of Artificial Intelligence.

    LinkedIn

    Promi Roy

    Promi Roy

    Bachelor's Degree: Statistics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Master's Degree: Mathematics (Statistics Concentration), University of Toledo, Ohio

    Work History: 

    • Analytics Engineer Intern, Cooper Smith, Toledo, Ohio
    • Business AnalystAkij Food and Beverage Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Courses Taught: Introduction to Statistics

    Professional Objective: I am interested to work as a data scientist in the industry

    LinkedIn

    Github

  • Ayomide Isaac Afolabi

    Ayomide Isaac Afolabi

    Bachelor's Degree: Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology 

    Master's Degree: Data Science, Auburn University 

    Work History: Graduate Research Assistant, Auburn University 

    Courses Taught: Python Programming 

    Publications: Larson EA, Afolabi A, Zheng J, Ojeda AS. Sterols and sterol ratios to trace fecal contamination: pitfalls and potential solutions. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jul;29(35):53395-53402. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-19611-2. Epub 2022 Mar 14. PMID: 35287190

    Professional Objective: To work as a research data scientist in the industry

    Dinesh Chowdary Attota

    Dinesh Chowdary Attota

    Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK), India

    Master's Degree: Computer Science, Kennesaw State University

    Work History: Associate Consultant, SL Techknow Solutions India Pvt Ltd, India  2018 - 2020

    Publications: 

    Professional Objective: I'd like to be a faculty member at a university so that I can continue to do research.

    LinkedIn

    Nzubechukwu Ohalete

    Nzubechukwu Ohalete

    Bachelor's Degree: Mathematics,University of Nigeria, Nsukka

    Master's Degree: Applied Statistics, Bowling Green State University

    Work History: Graduate Assistant/Data Analyst, Federal University of Technology, Owerri - Mathematics Department

    Courses Taught: Elementary Mathematics, Mathematical Methods

    Awards: James A. Sullivan Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Applied Statistics and Operations Research Department, April 2022

    Professional Objective: To use data science techniques to solve problems which makes our lives better and also makes our world a better place

    LinkedIn

    Ryan Parker

    Ryan Parker

    Bachelor's Degree: Microbiology, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

    Master's Degree: Integrative Biology, Kennesaw State University

    Work History: Instructor of Biology, Kennesaw State University

    Courses Taught: Nursing Microbiology Lectures and Labs, Introductory Biology Labs, Biotechnology Lectures and Labs

    Publications: 

    • Parker RA, Gabriel KT, Graham K, Cornelison CT. Validation of methylene blue viability staining with the emerging pathogen Candida auris. J Microbiol Methods. 2020 Feb;169:105829. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105829. Epub 2019 Dec 27. PMID: 31884053.
    • Parker RA, Gabriel KT, Graham KD, Butts BK, Cornelison CT. Antifungal Activity of Select Essential Oils against Candida auris and Their Interactions with Antifungal Drugs. Pathogens. 2022 Jul 22;11(8):821. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11080821. PMID: 35894044; PMCID: PMC9331469.

    Awards: Best Graduate Poster: Symposium for Student Scholars hosted by Kennesaw State University (Fall 2018) for Poster: "Antifungal Activity of Select Essential Oils and Synergism with Antifungal Drugs against Candida auris"

    Professional Objective: To apply Data Science techniques to large scientific datasets, such as genomic and astronomical data, and to help bridge the gap between disparate fields by working in an interdisciplinary space to offer integrative and data-driven solutions to the increasingly complex problems presented to the traditional Sciences.

    LinkedIn

    Askhat Yktybaev

    Askhat Yktybaev

    Bachelor's Degree: Forecasting and Strategic Management, Saint-Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance, Russia

    Master's Degree: Forecasting and Strategic Management, Saint-Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance, Russia; Public Administration in Economic Policy Management, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

    Work History:

    • from Data Analyst to Head of Research Unit, Central Bank of Kyrgyz Republic
    • Sr. Data Scientist in OJSC, Aiyl Bank, Kyrgyzstan
    • Consultant, The World Bank, Washington D.C.

    Courses Taught: Financial Programing in the Central Bank, Monetary Policy Transmission Mechanism

    Service and Awards: Winner of the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, National Bank Silver Medal for Best Forecast

    Professional Objective: I want to found a successful Fintech startup one day.

    LinkedIn

  • Sanad Biswas

    Sanad Biswas

    Graduation Date: Summer 2025

    Dissertation: Feature Significance and Explainability in Neural Networks

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Sherry Ni

    Current Position: Assistant Professor of Data Science, Sam Houston State University

    Mallika Boyapati

    Mallika Boyapati

    Graduation Date: Spring 2025

    Dissertation: BalancerGNN: Balancer Graph Neural Network for Imbalanced Datasets 

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ramazan Aygun

    Nina Grundlingh

    Nina Grundlingh

    Graduation Date: Summer 2025

    Dissertation: Quantifing Uncertainty in Image-generative Models

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Herman Ray

    Current Position: Lecturer of Data Science and Analytics, KSU

    Namazbai Ishmakhametov

    Namazbai Ishmakhametov

    Bachelor's Degree: Specialist in Mathematical Methods in Economics, Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University

    Master's Degree: Analytics, Institute for Advanced Analytics at North Carolina State University

    Work History: 

    • Expert at the Centre for Economic Research, National bank of the Kyrgyz Republic
    • Consultant in World Bank project dedicated to strengthening the regulatory practices in Kyrgyz Republic
    • Consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP, Science Based Services group, Analytics & Cognitive offering
    • Macroeconomic modeling expert in the Economic Department, National bank of the Kyrgyz Republic

    Courses Taught: Introductory statistics and econometrics (cross-sections, times series and panels) lecturer at Ata-Turk Alatoo International University, Kyrgyzstan

    Publications:

    Professional Objective: To apply my quantitative skills in the field of biotech either in corporate or government sector

    LinkedIn

    Symon Kimitei

    Symon Kimitei

    Bachelor's Degrees: Mathematics, Kennesaw State University, and Computer Science,  Kennesaw State University

    Master's Degree: Mathematics (Scientific Computing Concentration), Georgia State University 

    Work History: Senior Lecturer and Math Department Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction, Kennesaw State University

    Courses Taught: Calculus 1, Precalculus, Applied Calculus & College Algebra 

    Publications:

    Poster Presentations:

    • Kimitei, Symon & Sammie Haskin. "Nadaraya-Watson Kernel Regression Longitudinal Analysis of Healthcare Risk Factors of African American and Caucasian American Girls."
      Kennesaw State University R Day Presentation.  11 Nov. 2019. Poster presentation.
    • Kimitei, Symon. " Social Network Analysis in Supreme Court Case Rulings by Precedence Using SAS Optgraph/Python." 23rd Annual Symposium of Scholars. Kennesaw State University.  19 April. 2018. Poster presentation.

    Professional Objective: As a Ph.D. student in Analytics & Data Science, I hope to gain skills in the program that will propel me into a Data Scientist / Machine Learning Engineer with a specialization in the design and implementation of deep learning & machine learning algorithms.

    LinkedIn

    GitHub

    Jitendra Sai Kota

    Jitendra Sai Kota

    Graduation Date: Summer 2025

    Dissertation: Enhancing Off-Angle Iris Recognition Performance

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Mahmut Karakaya

    Current Position: Limited Term Assistant Professor of Data Science and Analytics, KSU

    Catrice Taylor

    Catrice Taylor

    Bachelor's Degree: Economics, Clemson University 

    Master's Degrees: Applied Economics and Statistics, Clemson University, and Applied Statistics, Kennesaw State University 

    Professional Objective: To work as an industry data scientist in a corporate environment 

    LinkedIn

    Sahar Yarmohammadtoosky

    Sahar Yarmohammadtoosky

    Graduation Date: Summer 2025

    Dissertation: Enhancing Credit Path Planning with LLM_Based Multi-Agend Systems

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: Data Scientist, Equifax

  • Martin Brown

    Martin Brown

    Graduation Date: Spring 2024

    Dissertation: A Holistic and Collaborative Behavioral Health Detection Framework Using Sensitive Police Narratives

    Dissertation Advisors: Dr. Dominic Thomas and Dr. Md Abdullah Al Hafiz Khan

    Current Position: Limited Term Assistant Professor, KSU

    Inchan Hwang

    Inchan Hwang

    Graduation Date: Summer 2024 

    Dissertation: Next-Generation Medical Imaging Dataset Management Leveraging Deep Learning Frameworks in Breast Cancer Screening

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. MinJae Woo

    Current Position: Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity, Montreat College

    Duleep Prasanna Rathgamage Don

    Duleep Prasanna Rathgamage Don

    Bachelor's degree: Physics and Mathematics, The Open University of Sri Lanka

    Master's degree: Mathematics, Georgia Southern University

    Work History:

    • Graduate Teaching Assistant, Georgia Southern University, 2016 - 2018
    • Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Wyoming, 2019 - 2020

    Courses Taught: Trigonometry, and Calculus I & II

    Publications/Presentations:

    • Don, R. D. and Iacob, I. E., ‘DCSVM: Fast Multi-class Classification using Support Vector Machines’, International Journal of Machine Learning and Cybernetics.
    • Rathgamage Don, D., Iacob, E., ‘Divide and Conquer Support Vector Machine for Multiclass Classification’, Research Symposium (2018), Georgia Southern University.
    • Rathgamage Don, D., Iacob, E., ‘Multiclass Classification using Support Vector Machines’, MAA Southeastern Section Meeting (2018), Clemson University.

    Professional Objective: To work in big data analytics, and research and development of machine learning in engineering, and medicine

    Linkedin

    Linglin Zhang

    Linglin Zhang

    Graduation Date: Summer 2024

    Dissertation: Innovative Approaches for Identifying and Reducing Disparity in Machine Learning Model Performance –
    Bridging the Gap in Binary Classification for Health Informatics

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. MinJae Woo

    Current Position: Data and Analytics RDP Associate, Equifax

    Yihong Zhang

    Yihong Zhang

    Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology Mathematics Interdisciplinary, Chatham University

    Master’s Degree: Mathematics and Statistics Allied with Computer Science, Georgia State University

    Work History:

    • Research Assistant - Collaborated with biomedical department to analyze and visualize microarray gene expression data, Facilitated in data pre-processing and machine learning modeling of clinical liver cirrhosis image data, Assisted in feature engineering of image analysis in deep learning for pathology diagnosis with Mayo Clinic’s pilot project.
    • Graduate Lab Assistant - Tutored students with statistics and math subjects.

    Professional Objective: Make better use of data in healthcare and bioinformatic industry as a data scientist.

  • Trent Geisler

    Trent Geisler

    Graduation Date: Summer 2022

    Dissertation: Novel Instance-Level Weighted Loss Function for Imbalanced Learning

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Herman Ray

    Current Position: Deputy Director, Analysis Group, U.S. Army Materiel Command

    Srivatsa Mallapragada

    Srivatsa Mallapragada

    Graduation Date: Spring 2024

    Dissertation: Multi-Modality Transformer for E-Commerce: Inferring User Purchase Intention to Bridge the Query-Product Gap

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: Data Scientist, The Home Depot

    Sudhashree Sayenju

    Sudhashree Sayenju

    Graduation Date: Spring 2023

    Dissertation: Quantification and Mitigation of Various Types of Biases in Deep NLP Models

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ramazan Aygun

    Current Position: AI Engineer, fundamental.ai

    Christina Stradwick

    Christina Stradwick

    Bachelor’s Degree: Music Performance and Mathematics, Marshall University

    Master’s Degree: Mathematics with Emphasis in Statistics, Marshall University

    Courses Taught: Prep for College Algebra at Marshall University

    Selected Presentations:

    • Stradwick, C. Exploring the Variance of the Sample Variance. Spring Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America Ohio Section, University of Akron, 2019.
    • Stradwick, C., Vaughn, L., Hanan Khan, A. Data Modeling on Insurance Beneficiary Dataset. College of Science Research Expo 2018, Marshall University, 2018. Poster Presentation.
    • Stradwick, C. Disease modeling on networks. The 13th Annual UNCG Regional Mathematics and Statistics Conference, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2017. Poster Presentation.

    Professional Objectives: To work as a researcher in industry or in a laboratory setting. I would like to use my background in mathematics and statistics to develop novel solutions that address limitations in current data science techniques and to apply known data science methods to solve real-world problems.

    LinkedIn

  • Md Shafiul Alam

    Md Shafiul Alam

    Graduation Date: Fall 2022

    Dissertation: Appley: Approximate Shapley Values for Model Explainability in Linear Time

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: AI Framework Engineer, Intel Corporation

    Jonathan Boardman

    Jonathan Boardman

    Graduation Date: Fall 2022

    Dissertation: Ethical Analytics: A Framework for a Practically-Oriented Sub-Discipline of AI Ethics

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: Senior Data Scientist, Equifax

    Tejaswini Mallavarapu

    Tejaswini Mallavarapu

    Bachelor’s Degree: Pharmacy, Acharya Nagarjuna University, India

    Master’s Degree: Computer Science, Kennesaw State University

    Work History:

    • Graduate Research Assistant, Kennesaw State University, 2017-present
    • Research Analyst, Divis Laboratories, 2013-2014

    Selected Publications:

    • T. Mallavarapu, Y. Kim, J.H. Oh, and M. Kang, "R-PathCluster: Identifying Cancer Subtype of Glioblastoma Multiforme Using Pathway-Based Restricted Boltzmann Machine," Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics & Biomedicine (IEEE BIBM 2017), International Workshop on Deep Learning in Bioinformatics, Biomedicine, and Healthcare Informatics, Accepted, 2017.
    • M.R. Shivalingam, K.S.G. Arul Kumaran, D. Jeslin, Ch. MadhusudhanaRao, M. Tejaswini, "Design and Evaluation of Binding Properties of Cassia roxburghii Seed Galacto mannan and Moringa oleifera Gum in the Formulation of Paracetamol Tablets," Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology(RJPT). 3(1): Jan.-Mar. 2010; Page 254-256.
    • M.R. Shivalingam, K.S.G. Arul Kumaran, D. Jeslin, Y.V. Kishore Reddy, M. Tejaswini, Ch. MadhusudhanaRao, V. Tejopavan, "Cassia roxburghii Seed Galacto manna— a potential binding agent in the tablet formulation," Journal of Biomedical Science and Research(JBSR), Vol 2 (1), 2010, 18-22

    Professional Objective: To be a data scientist in the field of health care or bioinformatics where I can leverage my analytical skills and knowledge towards the advancement of the research field.

    LinkedIn

    Seema Sangari

    Seema Sangari

    Graduation Date: Summer 2022

    Dissertation: Debiasing Cyber Incidents - Correcting for Reporting Delays and Under-reporting

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Michael Whitman

    Current Position: Principal Modeler, HSB 

    Srivarna Janney

    Srivarna Settisara Janney

    Bachelor’s Degree: Mechanical Engineering, Visveswaraiah Technological University, India

    Master’s Degree: Computer Science, Kennesaw State University

    Work History:

    • Graduate Research Assistant, Kennesaw State University, 2016-2018
    • Senior Software Engineer, Torry Harris Business Solutions (THBS), United Kingdom, 2010-2012 and India, 2012-2014
    • Software Engineer, Torry Harris Business Solutions (THBS), India, 2007-2010

    Selected Publications/Presentations:

    • S.S. Janney, S. Chakravarty, “New Algorithms for CS – MRI: WTWTS, DWTS, WDWTS”, One-page research paper, 40th International Conference of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (IEEE EMBC), Jul 2018
    • Master thesis presented at Southeast Symposium on Contemporary Engineering Topics (SSCET), UAH Engineering Forum, Alabama, Aug 2018
    • Master thesis poster is accepted to be presented at Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) 2018 Annual Meeting, Oct 2018
    • Submitted draft copy for book chapter contribution on “Bioelectronics and Medical Devices”, Elsevier Publisher, May 2018
    • Showcased 3MT, Georgia Council of Graduate Schools (GCGS), Apr 2018
    • Master thesis presented in workshop for “Medical Signal and Image Processing” at Department of Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, NIT Rourkella, Feb 2018
    • S.S. Janney, I. Karim, J. Yang, C.C Hung, Y. Wang, “Monitoring and Assessing Traffic Safety Using Live Video Images”, GDOT project showcase, 4th Annual Transportation Research Expo, Sept 2016

    Service and Awards:

    • 1st Place Winner, Graduate Research Project, C-day Poster Presentation, Kennesaw State University, Spring 2018
    • People's Choice Award, 3 Minute Thesis (3MT), Apr 2018
    • CCSE Dean’s 4.0 Club, Jan 2018
    • 3rd Place Winner, Hackathon 2017 - HPCC Systems Big Data
    • Foundation of Computer Science, Certified by Kennesaw State University, Jun 2016
    • Fundamental of RESTful API Design, Certified by APIGEE, Nov 2014
    • Member of HandsOnAtlanta, since 2014
    • SOA Associate, Certified by IBM, Jun 2008

    Professional Objective: I would like to be a researcher in Data Science and Analytics in medical imaging technologies contributing to advancements that would help medical and healthcare professionals provide value-based and personalized health care. I would like to look at career opportunities in industry and academia that fuel my interest in research.

    LinkedIn

  • Sanjoosh Akkineni

    Sanjoosh Akkineni

    Bachelor’s Degree: Computer Science, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India

    Master’s Degree: Computer Science (Concentration in Data Analytics), Kennesaw State University

    Work History: 

    • Data Science and Analytics Graduate Intern, Equifax, 2017 – 2021
    • Graduate Research Assistant, Kennesaw State University, 2015-2017

    Selected Publications/Presentations: 

    • KSU Analytics Day 2018
    • Computing Showcase 2016, 2017

    Service: 

    • President - Graduate Student Association (GSA) 2016-2018, Kennesaw State University
    • Treasurer - IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS) 2016-2017, Kennesaw State University
    • Secretary - Robotics & Automation Society 2017, Kennesaw State University
    • Peer Leader - International Orientation (2016-2017), Kennesaw State University
    • Law Enforcement Training, Citizens Police Academy, KSU Police Department 2017

    Awards: 

    • Won 3rd Prize for Bert’s Big Adventure driving research project – KSU Analytics Day 2018
    • Awarded Udacity Google Developer Scholarship 2018
    • Student of the Year - Division of Student Affairs, Kennesaw State University 2017
    • Graduate Student Involvement Award - International Student Association, Kennesaw State University 2017
    • Golden Key International Honor Society Member 

    Professional Objectives: To be a data scientist with a demonstrated ability to deliver valuable insights via data analytics and advanced data-driven methods. Primary research interests are in Machine learning, algorithms for massive datasets, large scale optimization, and recommender systems. I want to work in Health Care and Government (not finite to these as I am still exploring my research interests) to build an appropriate data framework that can utilize advanced analytic means to aggregate data effectively to gain in depth insights.

    LinkedIn 

    Andrew Henshaw

    Andrew M. Henshaw

    Bachelor’s Degree: Electrical Engineering, Georgia Tech

    Master’s Degree: Electrical Engineering, Georgia Tech

    Master’s Degree: Business Administration, Georgia State University

    Work History: 

    • Georgia Tech Research Institute, Sr. Research Engineer, 2001-
    • APower Solutions, Vice President, 1999-2001
    • Georgia Tech Research Institute, Research Engineer II, 1990-1999
    • Georgia Tech, School of Electrical Engineering, Research Engineer I, 1986-1990

    Courses Taught: Software-Defined Radio Development with GNU Radio: Theory and Application, Georgia Tech Professional Education

    Selected Publications/Presentations: Python Cookbook, Vol 1, 2002, “Sorting Objects Using SQL’s ORDER BY Syntax”

    Triangulation Clustering

    Lyrical: Complexity Analysis of Pop Song Lyrics

    Service and Awards: International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA) Atlanta Chapter, President, 1995

    LinkedIn

    Liyuan Liu

    Liyuan Liu

    Graduation Date: Summer 2021

    Dissertation: Incentive-based Data Sharing and Exchanging Mechanism Design

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Meng Han

    Current Position: Assistant Professor, Saint Joseph's University - Erivan K. Haub School of Business

    Mohammad Masum

    Mohammad Masum

    Graduation Date: Summer 2021

    Dissertation: Integrated Machine Learning Approaches to Improve Classification Performance and Feature Extraction Process for EEG Dataset

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Hossain Shahriar

    Current Position: Assistant Professor, San Jose State University

    Lauren Staples

    Lauren Staples

    Graduation Date: Fall 2021

    Dissertation: A Distance-Based Clustering Framework for Categorical Time Series: A Case Study in the Episodes of Care Healthcare Delivery System

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Joseph DeMaio

    Current Position: Senior Data Scientist, Microsoft

  • Shashank Hebbar

    Shashank Hebbar

    Graduation Date: Fall 2021

    Dissertation: Tree-BERT - Advanced Representation Learning for Relation Extraction

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: Data Scientist, Credigy

    Jessica Rudd

    Jessica Rudd

    Graduation Date: Summer 2020

    Dissertation: Quantitatively Motivated Model Development Framework: Downstream Analysis Effects of Normalization Strategies

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Herman Ray

    Current Position: Senior Data Engineer, Intuit Mailchimp

    Yan Wang

    Yan Wang

    Graduation Date: Spring 2020

    Dissertation: Data-driven Investment Decisions in P2P Lending: Strategies of Integrating Credit Scoring and Profit Scoring

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Sherry NI

    Current Position: Applied Scientist II, Amazon

    Lili Zhang

    Lili Zhang

    Graduation Date: Spring 2020

    Dissertation: A Novel Penalized Log-likelihood Function for Class Imbalance Problem

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Herman Ray

    Current Position: Senior AI and Machine Learning Engineer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise

    Yiyun Zhou

    Yiyun Zhou

    Graduation Date: Spring 2020

    Dissertation: Attack and Defense in Security Analytics

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Selena He

    Current Position: NLP Data Scientist, NBME

  • Edwin Baidoo

    Edwin Baidoo

    Graduation Date: Spring 2020

    Dissertation: A Credit Analysis of the Unbanked and Underbanked: An Argument for Alternative Data

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Stefano Mazzotta

    Current Position: Assistant Professor, Business Analytics, Tennessee Technological University

    Bogdan Gadidov

    Bogdan Gadidov

    Graduation Date: Summer 2019

    Dissertation: One- and Two-Step Estimation of Time Variant Parameters and Nonparametric Quantiles

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Mohammed Chowdhury

    Current Position: Data Scientist, Atlanticus

    Jie Hao

    Jie Hao

    Graduation Date: Summer 2019

    Dissertation: Biologically Interpretable, Integrative Deep Learning for Cancer Survival Analysis

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Mingon Kang

    Current Position: Assistant Professor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College

    Linh Le

    Linh Le

    Graduation Date: Spring 2019

    Dissertation: Deep Embedding Kernel

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: Lead Data Scientist, State Farm

    Bob Vanderheyden

    Bob Venderheyden

    Graduation Date: Fall 2019

    Dissertation: Ordinal Hyperplane Loss

    Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Ying Xie

    Current Position: Principal Data Scientist, Microsoft

Meet the Director

Herman Ray headshot

"We launched the first formal PhD program in Data Science in 2015.  Our program sits at the intersection of computer science, statistics, mathematics, and business.  Our students engage in relevant research with faculty from across our eleven colleges.  As one of the institutions on the forefront of the development of data science as an academic discipline, we are committed to developing the next generation of Data Science leaders, researchers, and educators. Culturally, we are committed to the discipline of Data Science, through ethical practices, attention to fairness, to a diverse student body, to academic excellence, and research which makes positive contributions to our local, regional, and global community."

Herman Ray, Ph.D.
470-578-3648
hray8@kennesaw.edu