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kudzai sauka

@kudzaisauka

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PhD candidate researching explainable AI and adversarial robustness for conversational agents and security.

Netherlands

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What I'm looking for

I seek research roles applying explainable AI and adversarial robustness in industry or academia, favoring collaborative, impact-driven teams and opportunities to translate research into products.

I am a versatile PhD candidate specializing in AI transparency, explainability, and adversarial machine learning, with over three years of quantitative research experience blending data science and finance. My work focuses on improving conversational agents by integrating human-centered insights to produce transparent, actionable AI.

My research and publications span adversarial robustness, counterfactual explanations, Bayesian methods, and human-in-the-loop designs, and I have contributed to explainable deep-learning intrusion detection systems and financial forecasting models. I combine strong technical skills in Python and R with practical experience in user-experience research, tutoring, and teaching.

I seek to bridge cutting-edge AI with entrepreneurial and business impact, applying explainable AI to real-world domains such as e-commerce while advancing robust, user-centered conversational systems.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Explainable Conversational Agent Researcher

Current

Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Jun 2023 - Present (2 years 8 months)

Conduct research on explainable conversational agents to improve transparency and user-centered explanations; teach business statistics and mentor online data-mining projects to translate research into actionable UX outcomes.

Explainable AI Human In The Loop Python User Experience Research Data Mining Statistical Analysis

AI Security Researcher

Gachon University

Mar 2021 - Mar 2023 (2 years)

Developed adversarially robust and explainable deep-learning intrusion detection systems and evaluated adversarial attacks/defenses to improve security and interpretability of network threat detection.

Intrusion Detection Deep Learning Explainable AI Python Model Evaluation Cybersecurity

Corporate Finance Research Assistant

Gachon University

Mar 2020 - Feb 2021 (11 months)

Conducted deep-learning-based stock forecasting and dynamic panel data economic analyses to inform research on financial dynamics; supported undergraduate teaching and assessment.

Financial Forecasting Time Series Python R Econometrics Statistical Modeling Research

Business Statistics Teaching Assistant

Gachon University

Mar 2019 - Feb 2020 (11 months)

Delivered undergraduate business statistics instruction, graded assessments, and supported exam invigilation to ensure course delivery and student learning outcomes.

Teaching Grading R Excel Assessments Academic Administration

Finance and Administration Officer

ReiMac Trading (Pvt) Ltd

Oct 2018 - Feb 2019 (4 months)

Prepared budgets, reconciled daily to yearly transactions, maintained records and receipts, and performed administrative duties to support financial operations and reporting.

Budgeting Financial Reporting Administrative Support

Tutor

SPECIS College

Jul 2018 - Jan 2019 (6 months)

Taught advanced business calculation and quantitative techniques, assigned and graded coursework, and performed administrative tasks to support program delivery.

Tutoring Lesson planning Grading Academic Administration

Finance and Administration Officer

Housi6

Aug 2014 - Sep 2018 (4 years 1 month)

Administered financial systems, maintained payables and receivables, resolved customer financial disputes, and provided cross-departmental accounting support to ensure accurate municipal finance records.

Reporting Accounting Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Financial Systems

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Amsterdam University, Faculty of Business and Economics

Ph.D. Candidate, AI Transparency and Explainability

2023 -

Activities and societies: Research on explainable conversational agents; adversarial ML; human-in-the-loop counterfactual explanations.

External PhD candidate researching AI transparency and explainability with a focus on conversational agent explainability, counterfactuals, and adversarial machine learning.

Gachon University

Master of Science, AI Software

2021 - 2023

Grade: 4.39/4.50

Activities and societies: Researcher in ISLAB working on deep-learning-based and explainable intrusion detection systems; conference participation.

Master of AI Software with a thesis on adversarial robust evaluation metrics through explainable AI and adversarial training for network intrusion detection systems.

Gachon University

Master of Science, Global Business and Entrepreneurship (Finance)

2019 - 2021

Grade: 4.50/4.50

Activities and societies: Research assistantship involving financial forecasting and dynamic panel data models; teaching assistance in business statistics.

Master of Global Business and Entrepreneurship (Finance major) with a thesis on non-performing loans dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Harare Institute of Technology

Bachelor of Technology (Honours), Financial Engineering

2012 - 2016

Grade: 3.3/4.00

Activities and societies: Undergraduate research on banking sector loan sensitivity to economic variables.

B.Tech (Hons) in Financial Engineering with a thesis modelling sensitivity of Zimbabwean commercial banks' non-performing loans to macro- and micro-economic shocks.