Ambassador Program
Sharing knowledge, building community.
Our Ambassadors are dedicated community members who are here to answer questions from potential students and even give virtual or in-person talks about our programs and their experience.
Ask about the student experience
Ambassadors can share their Academy experiences with clubs, universities, or community groups.
Understand what you'll learn
Ambassadors can guide you through what to expect and how to make the most of your learning experience.
Invite an Ambassador to speak
Host an Ambassador for an in-person or online session, tailored to your local context and preferred language.
Find an Ambassador to talk to
Connect with someone who has completed the program and can answer your questions directly.
Abdulrahman
Iremide Saliu
abdulrahman.iremide.saliu@neuromatch.io
Location: Prince Abubakar Audu Univeristy, Anyigba, Nigeria
Language: English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni)
Abdulrahman Iremide Saliu is a First Class graduate of Human Physiology with a strong research focus on neuroscience, particularly understanding brain disorders through mechanistic and circuit-level approaches. He served as the Chapter President for the Youth Neurosicence Association of Nigeria (YNAN) and is the current General Secretary YNAN. He participated in the Neuromatch 2024 Cohort. His interests lie at the intersection of human physiology, AI, and data science, where he applies machine learning and data analysis to interrogate complex biomedical and neural datasets. He is actively building expertise toward a career in computational and translational neuroscience, with a long-term goal of contributing mechanism-driven, impactful research.
Afeez
Oladokun
afeez.oladokun@neuromatch.io
Location: Elizade University, Nigeria
Language: English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni)
Afeez Oladokun is a neuroscience researcher and Assistant Lecturer at Elizade University in Nigeria. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Anatomy with a specialization in Neuroscience from Osun State University. A 2025 alum of Neuromatch Academy’s Computational Neuroscience course, Afeez gained hands-on experience in neural modeling and data analysis while collaborating with an international cohort of learners. He is passionate about promoting open, inclusive neuroscience education and helping students in underrepresented regions access global learning opportunities through Neuromatch.
Apollo
Yang
Location: Imperial College, London, UK
Languages: English, Chinese
Courses: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni), NeuroAI (Student Alumni)
Apollo Yang is an MEng student at Imperial College London with a passion for neuroscience and neurotechnology. Having completed two Neuromatch Academy courses, he has adapted NMA content into workshops, organized public science events, and facilitated neurotechnology hackathons. Apollo is eager to share his Neuromatch experience and resources with students and researchers across the UK and China. Read his Neuromatch Story.
Celestine
Ilo
celestine.ilo@neuromatch.io
Location: University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria
Languages: English, Igbo, Pidgin English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni)
Dr. Celestine Ilo is a medical doctor and graduate of the University of Nigeria and the National President of the Youth Neuroscience Association of Nigeria (YNAN). A 2025 alum of Neuromatch Academy’s Computational Neuroscience program, Celestine is passionate about showing other students that science can be done in a “dry lab,” using data and code to explore the brain. He is interested in NeuroAI, Robotics, and Computational Neuroscience. He now works to expand access to computational neuroscience education in Nigeria, inspiring others to see new possibilities in research and medicine.
Chathura
Ranasinghe
chathura.ranasinghe@neuromatch.io
Location: Florida, USA
Language: English
Courses: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni), Deep Learning (Former Mentor)
Chathura Ranasinghe is a former Neuromatch Academy Computational Neuroscience student whose experience in the 2021 program sparked his journey toward becoming a computational neuroscientist. Originally from Sri Lanka, Chathura faced limited opportunities to pursue this field locally but found encouragement and community through Neuromatch. His participation led to remote research collaborations in the U.S. and the Netherlands and inspired him to give back as a volunteer and Mentor with Neuromatch. Now based in Florida, he remains passionate about continuing his studies and helping others discover global learning opportunities in neuroscience. Read his Neuromatch story.
Gideon
Alex
Location: University of Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria
Language: English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni, Academy Support Staff)
Gideon Alex is a 2025 Neuromatch Alumnus and Research Associate at the University of Port Harcourt. He previously served as the National President of the Youth Neuroscience Association of Nigeria. Over the past five years, he has led more than 30 Neuroscience outreaches across both urban and rural communities in Nigeria, advancing brain literacy and STEM education. As an Ambassador, he aims to strengthen global participation and help students thrive in the Academy. Read his Neuromatch story.
Ignatius
Balayo
ignatius.balayo@neuromatch.ioLocation: Busitema University, UgandaLanguage: English
Ignatius Balayo is a Master’s student at Busitema University in Uganda and a graduate of the 2025 Computational Tools for Climate Science course. Ignatius is committed to helping students across African universities and underrepresented communities access life-changing opportunities, expand their skills, and join the global Neuromatch community.
Kareem
Taha
kareem.taha@neuromatch.io
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Language: Arabic, English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni)
Kareem Taha is a Systems and Biomedical Engineering student at Cairo University and an alum of Neuromatch Academy’s Computational Neuroscience program. His experience in the course strengthened his technical and communication skills and deepened his interest in AI and neuroscience. He is eager to share his insights on how to navigate and thrive in Neuromatch Academy’s collaborative cohorts and to help other students, especially in Egypt, discover and benefit from Neuromatch’s accessible, hands-on learning opportunities.
Karim
Hassan
karim.hassan@neuromatch.io
Location: Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Languages: Arabic, English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni)
Karim Hassan is an undergraduate student in Systems and Biomedical Engineering at Cairo University and an 2025 alum of Neuromatch Academy’s Computational Neuroscience program. He is passionate about sharing his NMA experience, helping students discover the program, and guiding them to maximize its resources and opportunities. As a Neuromatch Ambassador, Karim aims to expand the program’s reach across Egypt and connect students with the global computational neuroscience community.
Kuna
Fomboh
kuna.fomboh@neuromatch.io
Location: UK
Language: English
Courses: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni), NeuroAI (Student Alumni)
Kuna Fomboh is a Computer Science and AI professional and an alum of Neuromatch Academy’s Coputational Neuroscience and NeuroAI course. Having benefited directly from Neuromatch’s teaching model and community, Kuna credits her experience in Nueromatch’s NeuroAI with rekindling her interest in pursuing a PhD and sharpening her research direction. As a Neuromatch Ambassador, she aims to help more learners discover the Academy, feel welcomed into the community, and confidently navigate their learning journey.
Peter
Ohue
peter.ohue@neuromatch.io
Location: Expert Education Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria
Language: English
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Former Teaching Assistant, Former Lead Teaching Assistant)
Peter is a postdoctoral fellow at Queen's University in Kingston, ON, Canada, where his research uses artificial neural networks for motor control, obstacle avoidance, and neuroAI. Formerly the Director of Studies at Expert Education Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, he holds a Ph.D. in Computational Statistics and brings a strong background in mathematics, statistics, psychology, and educational technology, applying machine learning and AI to challenges in climate science, mental health, and motor control. A long-time collaborator to Neuromatch Academy, Peter is passionate about education and collaboration. He is happy to share his experiences with computational science, Neuromatch Academy, and being part of the Neuromatch community. Read his Neuromatch story here.
Reza
Rajabli
reza.rajabli@neuromatch.io
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Languages: English, French, Persian
Courses: Deep Learning (Former Teaching Assistant, Former Project Teaching Assistant), NeuroAI (Current Project Teaching Assistant)
Reza Rajabli is a PhD candidate at the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, researching deep learning models to predict future cognitive decline from brain images. He has served as a TA for Neuromatch Academy courses in 2024 and 2025. Deeply aligned with Neuromatch’s mission to democratize science, Reza is committed to supporting global scientific collaboration and helping learners from underrepresented regions access high-quality neuroscience and AI education.
Ruslan
Kurmashev
ruslan.kurmashev@neuromatch.io
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Languages: English, Russian, Kazakh
Course: Computational Neuroscience
Ruslan Kurmashev is a medical doctor and has a MSc in Computational Biology. His work focuses on autism, neurodevelopment, digital health, and early identification pathways, with particular interest in genetics, microbiome research, AI-enabled tools, and accessible science education. As a Neuromatch Ambassador, Ruslan aims to promote NMA opportunities, connect learners from diverse backgrounds, and support global collaboration in neuroscience, computational biology, and open education
Selva
Maran
selva.maran@neuromatch.io
Location: Bangalore, India
Language: English
Course: NeuroAI (Former Mentor)
Selva Maran is a Lead Scientist at iBrains Centre for Precision Psychiatry and Neuroscience in Bangalore, India, with a PhD in Computational Neuroscience from LSUHSC, New Orleans, and postdoctoral experience at Emory University. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications and works on projects in NeuroAI, deep learning, computational neuroscience, and computational psychiatry. As a Neuromatch Academy mentor and volunteer, Selva is passionate about supporting open science, global outreach, and international collaboration in neuroscience. Read his Neuromatch story here.
Sherif
Atanda
sherif.atanda@neuromatch.io
Location: Nigeria
Language: English
Course: Computational Tools for Climate Science
Sherif Atanda holds a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology and Climate Science from a leading university in Nigeria. During the recent Computational Tools for Climate Science course, Abdulrahman actively encouraged participation among his departmental colleagues and provided ongoing motivation to help ensure strong course completion. In his role as an Ambassador, he aims not only to drive registrations but also to support learners throughout the program so they successfully complete the course and apply their new skills in practice. Sherif is eager to contribute to Neuromatch’s mission of delivering accessible, high-quality education that empowers learners globally.
Tolulope
Gbayisomore
tolulope.gbayisomore@neuromatch.io
Location: Elizade University, Nigeria
Languages: English, Pidgin, Yoruba
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni)
Tolulope is a neuroscience researcher at Elizade University, currently completing his MSc at the University of Medical Sciences, studying non-pharmacological approaches to dementia. A graduate of Neuromatch Academy’s Computational Neuroscience course, he is passionate about open science and mentoring the next generation of researchers. Tolu is happy to share his experiences with computational neuroscience, being a student of Neuromatch Academy, and volunteering with Neuromatch.
Tolulope
Oladele
tolulope.oladele@neuromatch.io
Location: University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Nigeria
Languages: English, Yoruba
Course: Computational Neuroscience (Student Alumni, Impact Scholar Alumni, Former Teaching Assistant)
Tolulope Oladele is a Neuromatch Academy alumnus, Impact Scholar, and Teaching Assistant, as well as a Lecturer at the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo State, Nigeria. He is passionate about guiding students from underrepresented regions to access Neuromatch courses and gain hands-on experience in computational neuroscience and NeuroAI. As a Neuromatch Ambassador, Tolulope aims to help students explore career paths, deepen their understanding of neuroscience and AI, and connect with the global NMA community. Read his Neuromatch story.
Here to help
Our Ambassadors are scientists, students, and educators from around the world who share a common passion: making computational science accessible and inclusive.
Whether you’re a prospective Neuromatch or Climatematch Academy student or a university club looking for a speaker, you can connect directly with them. Each Ambassador brings unique expertise and lived experience, offering a personal window into the global Neuromatch community.
Abdulrahman Iremide Saliu, Afeez Oladokun, Apollo Yang, Celestine Ilo, Chathura Ranasinghe, Gideon Alex, Ignatius Balayo, Kareem Taha, Karim Hassan, Kuna Fomboh, Mahmoud Ashouri, Martin Dutra, Mehrnaz Hosseinzadeh, MohammadFazel Abdhaghighi, Reza Rajabli, Ruslan Kurmashev, Selva Maran, Sherif Atanda, Shubhrojit Misra, Srikavya Pasumarthy, Tolulope Oladele.
Congratulations to our 2026 Gold Ambassadors: Abdulrahman Iremide Saliu, Celestine Ilo, Gideon Alex, and Karim Hassan, for going above and beyond in their contributions to the Ambassador Program. Gold Ambassador status recognizes exceptional dedication and impact within the community, and we're proud to celebrate them.
Want to get involved?
Turn your Neuromatch experience into an opportunity to mentor, connect, and help the next generation of computational neuroscientists.
We're looking for ambassadors from our community—whether you've taken the course or served as a TA. Applications are open until October 2026.
