Dr. Halima Bensmail is a distinguished Principal Scientist at the Qatar Computing Research Institute, specializing in machine learning, bioinformatics, biostatistics, and statistical modeling. With a Ph.D. in Statistics (Summa Cum Laude) from the University Pierre & Marie Curie, she has made significant contributions to Bayesian inference, multivariate analysis, and precision medicine. She has an impressive research record with an H-index of 31, i10-index of 54, and around 140 publications in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications, JASA, and IEEE TNNLS. As the founder of the Statistical Machine Learning and Bioinformatics group at QCRI, she has led groundbreaking projects, including the development of open-source data-driven tools like the PRISQ pre-diabetes screening model and MCLUST clustering algorithm. With extensive academic experience in the USA, France, and the Netherlands, she has mentored numerous postdocs and students, shaping the next generation of researchers. Her expertise and leadership make her a key figure in data science and precision health.
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Education
Dr. Halima Bensmail holds a Ph.D. in Statistical Machine Learning (Summa Cum Laude) from the University Pierre & Marie Curie (Paris 6), where she specialized in Bayesian inference, spectral decomposition, and mixture models. Her thesis focused on deterministic and Bayesian model-based clustering and classification for data science applications. Prior to that, she earned an M.S. in Machine Learning from the same university, with a focus on probability, financial modeling, and stochastic processes. She also holds a Bachelorโs degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from the University Mohammed V in Morocco, where she gained expertise in numerical analysis, stochastic processes, topology, and mathematical programming. Throughout her academic journey, she was mentored by esteemed professors and developed a strong foundation in theoretical and applied statistics. Her educational background has laid the groundwork for her pioneering research in machine learning, bioinformatics, and data-driven modeling for real-world applications.
Professional Experience
Dr. Bensmail is currently a Principal Scientist at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), where she leads research in bioinformatics, statistical machine learning, and artificial intelligence. She also serves as a Full Professor in the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and a Visiting Full Professor at Texas A&M University at Qatar. Previously, she held tenured faculty positions at Virginia Medical School and the University of Tennessee, where she contributed significantly to public health and business administration research. She has also worked as a Research Scientist at the University of Leiden, a scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington. With decades of experience across academia and research institutions in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, she has built expertise in developing statistical and AI-driven solutions for biomedical and computational challenges.
Research Interests
Dr. Bensmailโs research spans statistical machine learning, bioinformatics, and precision medicine. She has developed novel clustering algorithms, such as an advanced Bayesian clustering model implemented in the MCLUST package, and statistical methods for analyzing Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data. She is also interested in computational biology, specifically protein-protein interactions, protein solubility, and structural biology. Her work includes dimensionality reduction techniques like nonnegative matrix factorization and discriminative sparse coding for domain adaptation. In the field of precision medicine, she has designed PRISQ, a statistical model for pre-diabetes screening. Her broader interests include Bayesian statistics, functional data analysis, information theory, and high-dimensional data modeling. With a strong focus on developing real-world data-driven tools, she actively contributes to statistical methodologies that enhance decision-making in medicine, genomics, and artificial intelligence applications.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Bensmail has received numerous accolades for her contributions to machine learning, bioinformatics, and statistical modeling. Her work has been widely recognized, with over 140 peer-reviewed publications and an H-index of 31, demonstrating the impact of her research. She has secured research grants and led major projects in AI-driven healthcare solutions. Her contributions to the field have been acknowledged through invitations to serve as a keynote speaker at international awards and as an editorial board member for high-impact journals. She has also been instrumental in mentoring young researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral students, fostering the next generation of scientists in AI, statistics, and bioinformatics. Additionally, her work on statistical methods for precision medicine and biomedical informatics has gained international recognition, positioning her as a leading expert in the field of data science for healthcare and computational biology.
Conclusion
Dr. Halima Bensmail is a pioneering researcher in machine learning, statistical modeling, and bioinformatics, with a career spanning leading institutions in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Her contributions to clustering algorithms, high-dimensional data analysis, and precision medicine have made a lasting impact on the fields of AI and computational biology. As a mentor and leader, she has shaped numerous young scientists and postdocs, driving innovation in data science applications. With a robust publication record, influential research projects, and a dedication to developing real-world AI-driven solutions, she stands as a leading figure in statistical machine learning. Her expertise and contributions continue to push the boundaries of knowledge in bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and healthcare analytics, making her a strong candidate for prestigious research awards and recognition in scientific communities worldwide.
Publications Top Noted
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Tisslet tissues-based learning estimation for transcriptomics
- Authors: Ahmed Miloudi, Aisha Al-Qahtani, Thamanna Hashir, Mohamed Chikri, Halima Bensmail
- Year: 2025
- Source: BMC Bioinformatics
- Link: BMC Bioinformatics
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DeepRaman: Implementing surface-enhanced Raman scattering together with cutting-edge machine learning for the differentiation and classification of bacterial endotoxins
- Authors: Samir Brahim Belhaouari, Abdelhamid Talbi, Mahmoud Elgamal, Susu M. Zughaier, Halima Bensmail
- Year: 2025
- Source: Heliyon
- Link: ResearchGate
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Generalizing the Cross Product to N Dimensions: A Novel Approach for Multidimensional Analysis and Applications
- Authors: Samir Brahim Belhaouari, Yunis Carreon Kahalan, Ilyasse Aksikas, Elias Nabel Haoudi, Halima Bensmail
- Year: 2025
- Source: Mathematics
- Link: Semantic Scholar
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Investigation of the risk factors associated with prediabetes in normal-weight Qatari adults: a cross-sectional study
- Authors: Khadija Ahmed Elmagarmid, Mohamed Fadlalla, Johann Jose, Abdelilah Arredouani, Halima Bensmail
- Year: 2024
- Source: Scientific Reports
- Link: osti.gov
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ClustML: A measure of cluster pattern complexity in scatterplots learnt from human-labeled groupings
- Authors: Mostafa M. Hamza, Ehsan Ullah, Abdelkader Baggag, Michael Sedlmair, Michaรซl Aupetit
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 2
- Source: Information Visualization
- Link: Springer Link
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A human-in-the-loop approach for visual clustering of overlapping materials science data
- Authors: Satyanarayana Bonakala, Michaรซl Aupetit, Halima Bensmail, Fedwa El-Mellouhi
- Year: 2024
- Citations: 1
- Source: Digital Discovery
- Link: Springer Link
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Multi-omics and machine learning reveal context-specific gene regulatory activities of PML::RARA in acute promyelocytic leukemia
- Authors: William Villiers, Audrey Kelly, Xiaohan He, Borbรกla Mifsud, Cameron Stuart Osborne
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 9
- Source: Nature Communications
- Link: Springer Link
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AI-driven drug repurposing and binding pose meta dynamics identifies novel targets for monkeypox virus
- Authors: Chirag N. Patel, Raghvendra Mall, Halima Bensmail
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 13
- Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health
- Link: Springer Link
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OutSingle: a novel method of detecting and injecting outliers in RNA-Seq count data using the optimal hard threshold for singular values
- Authors: Edin Salkovic, Mohammad Amin Sadeghi, Abdelkader Baggag, Ahmed Gamal Rashed Salem, Halima Bensmail
- Year: 2023
- Citations: 1
- Source: Bioinformatics
- Link: Springer Link