Ala Barzinji

Dr Ala Barzinji BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD

Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning

Dr Ala Barzinji is a Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Machine Learning at the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Greenwich. She holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) from University of Greenwich with a special interest in Imbalanced Data and Disease Predictions using AI and ML.

Over the past 15 years, she has worked as an analyst programmer, researcher and a lecturer in AI, Data Science and ML. She has developed a unique technique to address the issue of Imbalanced Data Classifications using One-Versus-One approach. The technique has been introduced as a novel Scaling Algorithm (SCALA) specifically designed for multi-minority imbalanced classifications.

Her focus is on establishing an epigenetic marker through Transgenerational Body Mass Index (BMI) values using ML and SCALA algorithm.

Computer science and computing

Responsibilities within the university
  • Module Co-Leader: COMP1804, Applied Machine Learning (Level 7)
  • Module Leader: COMP1888-M02, Programming for Data Science at Medway Campus (Level 7)
  • Supervising Undergraduate and Postgraduates Projects
  • Undergraduate and Postgraduate Lecturer
  • Mathematics and Computer Science Tutor

Awards
  • “Kurdish Progress Award” - UK Parliament 2019. The award was presented by the Right Honourable Dan Carden.
  • “Gourmand International Book Award” - 2016

Recognition
  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Professional Member of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT professional membership
  • Member of IEEE - Professionals
  • Member of IEEE - Women in Engineering
  • Member of IEEE - Young Professionals
  • Member of Women in Data Science Worldwide
  • Women in Data Science Ambassador
  • Nominated for ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award 2024
  • Organising Committee Chair - 2025, 6th International Conference on Information Science, Parallel and Distributed Systems (ISPDS 2025)
  • Publicity Chair/Local Arrangement Chair 10th International Conference on Computational Science/Intelligence & Applied Informatics (CSII 2023). International Conference of Artificial Intelligence (IAI-2023)
  • Program Chair and reviewer- SNPD 2023-Winter

Research / Scholarly interests
  • Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
  • Imbalanced Data Classifications
  • Machine Learning for Disease Predictions
  • Machine Learning in Drug Discovery
  • Innovative approach in Higher Education

Recent publications

“SCALA: Scaling algorithm for multi-class imbalanced classification: A novel algorithm specifically designed for multi-class multiple minority imbalanced data problems”. International Conference on Machine Learning Technologies (ICMLT) 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3589883.3589893

“A Machine Learning Approach to Predict the Trend of Obesity Prevalence at a Global Level”.  Conference: 2021 IEEE/ACIS 6th International Conference on Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Data Science (BCD).  https://doi.org/10.1109/BCD51206.2021.9581579

Presentations
  • Conference presentation, ISPDS2024 - Greenwich Parallel Session. "An insight into SCALA: a novel one-vs-one approach for classifying imbalanced data".
  • Conference presentation: “SCALA Algorithm: A novel algorithm to address the imbalanced classifications”. International Conference on Machine Learning Technologies (ICMLT) 2023
  • Conference presentation: “A Machine Learning Approach to Predict the Trend of Obesity Prevalence at a Global Level”.  Conference: 2021 IEEE/ACIS 6th International Conference on Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Data Science (BCD).
  • Conference Presentation: Utilising Machine Learning to Predict Obesity Trends. Conference: Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity and Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity Scientific Conference (AOCO-MASO 2021).