IBM Research Kenya is holding an Information Session on Tuesday, January 19, 4:30 PM, in the Gates Commons (CSE 691) in the Paul Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering. Dr. Kamal Bhattacharya (Lab Director), Dr. Skyler Speakman (Research Scientist) and Dr. Jay Taneja (Research Scientist) will lead the information session, which will consist of a short (20-minute) presentation about the labs activities, followed by a Q&A session. The research lab is IBM's 12th global research lab, and the 1st commercial IT research lab in sub-Saharan Africa. The research is strongly application-driven, with groups working on topics in energy and electricity (Jay Taneja leads this group), financial inclusion, health care, mobility/traffic, agriculture, education, government services, and public safety. The lab has a group working specifically on African-relevant HCI. The goal of putting the lab on the continent is to gain a deeper understanding of the real challenges faced on the ground and to collaborate with partners in Africa to conduct research and develop innovative technology solutions. The Nairobi lab was founded in 2013 and has about 50 research staff, hailing from many countries on the continent as well as Japan, India, Europe, and the US, including a large number of software developers from Kenya. IBM also founded a small lab earlier this year in South Africa. The labs publish, patent, work with partners and clients, and love to build systems. The research team is looking to grow the research team with people who are interested in living and working on the continent and have skills in computer vision, natural language processing, statistics and probability, systems, and machine learning, and other backgrounds as well. The lab hires at both the M.S. and Ph.D. level, and has full-time as well as summer internship positions available. IBM Research - Africa is IBM's 12th global research lab and the first industrial research facility on the continent of Africa. With facilities in Kenya and South Africa, IBM Research - Africa is driving innovation by developing commercially-viable solutions to transform lives and spark new business opportunities in key areas such as agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, and e-government. First announced by IBM's CEO Ginni Rometty in 2012, the Nairobi facility was officially inaugurated by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta in November, 2013. The Nairobi facility is supported by the Kenyan ICT Authority. The South African branch of IBM Research - Africa was announced in March 2015 and will be collocated with Wits University in the Tshimologong Precinct technology hub in Bramfontein, Johannesburg. IBM Research - Africa is actively engaging with Africa's innovation ecosystem to kick start new business opportunities and ensure the full commercial viability of its solutions and services. Entrepreneurs, developers and business partners are a key part of IBM's research programs and go-to-market strategy in Africa. [Your future made with IBM. What will you make with IBM?] Africa is poised to become a leading source of innovation in a variety of sectors, with an expected growth rate of 7% annually over the next 20 years. IBM recognizes the huge potential impact of research and smarter systems in helping to build Africa's future, and we looking for the next generation of IBMers who can lead this change! IBM Research - Africa is visiting the University of Washington and we'd love to discuss your future with us. Visit us on:- Date: January 19th, 2016 (Tuesday) Time: 4:30pm - 6pm Venue: Gates Commons (CSE 691), Paul Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington Our Africa Research labs are focused on technology applications in a range of industries and institutions at the core of Africa's growth: healthcare, financial services, agriculture, and government. We are collaborating with leading universities around the world and hiring top M.S. and Ph.D. candidates across a range of technical fields. At this information session, you will meet Dr. Kamal Bhattacharya (Lab Director), Dr. Skyler Speakman (Research Scientist), and Dr. Jay Taneja (Research Scientist) who will give an introduction to IBM Research - Africa, the teams and insight into projects at our Nairobi lab. Following this, there will be an informal networking session to explore career opportunities or discuss topics covered by our speakers. Please bring a business card if you have one. View open positions at IBM Research - Africa and [Apply now] What will you make with IBM? Join us to discover! [Meet IBMers and discover what you can make of this moment.] Watch this video to see the Inside of IBM Research - Africa: https://ibm.biz/BdHHHF or Discover Project Lucy: https://ibm.biz/BdHHHK To read more about IBM Research - Africa, visit our website: www.research.ibm.com/labs/africa/index.shtml<http://www.research.ibm.com/labs/africa/index.shtml> [IBM Your future made with IBM]