Dagnachew Birru, PhD

Dagnachew Birru, PhD is the Global Head of R&D at Quantiphi. Dr. Birru has a wealth of experience in the field of data analytics and artificial intelligence, having served as the Sr. Director and Head of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence at Signify (formerly Philips Lighting). In this role, Dr. Birru was responsible for building and leading a team of experts in these fields and overseeing all aspects of the company's AI and ML initiatives. Additionally, Dr. Birru was a key partner in Signify's digital transformation program and played a vital role in developing the company's overall strategy for data science and AI.

Prior to joining Signify, Dr. Birru was a faculty member at the University of Gondar where they conducted research in the areas of sensor data fusion and acoustics. Dagnachew has also been active in the area of open innovation, partnering with organizations such as MIT on various projects. Under their leadership, the Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence at Signify has become a premier destination for talent in these fields, hiring dozens of interns each year to help fuel the company's continued innovation.

Dagnachew Birru, PhD started their educational career by obtaining a BS in Electrical Engineering from Addis Ababa University. Dagnachew then went on to obtain a Master of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology. After working in the industry for a few years, they decided to return to academia and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Electronics Engineering and Signal Processing from Technische Universiteit Delft. After working as a professor for a few years, they decided to obtain an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT Sloan School of Management to further develop their leadership skills.

Dagnachew Birru, PhD reports to Srini Seshadri, Vice President, North America. Some of their coworkers include Dipen Shah - Head of Corporate Development, Lester Monis - Global Head of Learning & Development, and Laurie (Azaria) Klausner - Global Head of Marketing.