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Fikrewold (Fikre) Bitew, Ph.D.
Sr. Data scientist & Demographer

Welcome!

Dr. Fikrewold (Fikre) Bitew is an accomplished Senior Data Scientist and Demographer with over 15 years of experience advancing data innovation, public health analytics, and institutional research across academic institutions and global development organizations. His work lies at the intersection of statistical modeling, machine learning, and applied demography—addressing critical challenges in population health, educational equity, and humanitarian resilience.

Dr. Bitew’s research focuses on harnessing advanced statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms to uncover spatial and temporal patterns in malnutrition, child mortality, and health inequities. He has worked extensively with international organizations, most notably UNICEF, where he has contributed to several high-impact projects, including UNICEF-Child nutrition, UNICEF- Children’s Climate Risk Index-Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) , UNICEF-Social and Behavioral Change. These engagements have centered on developing evidence-based solutions using integrated datasets, advanced analytics, and geospatial modeling to inform policy and improve programmatic outcomes.

He currently serves as a Senior Research Data Scientist at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where he designs predictive models, interactive dashboards, and data-driven decision-making tools to enhance institutional effectiveness and student success. His work bridges computational rigor with operational impact—translating complex data into actionable strategies.

Dr. Bitew’s academic journey reflects a commitment to interdisciplinary excellence. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Demography from The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning from the University of Texas at Austin, dual Master’s degrees in Applied Demography and Population Studies, and a Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, from Ababa Ababa University. This unique combination of quantitative depth and domain expertise empowers him to lead high-stakes analytical initiatives across health, education, and climate resilience sectors.

A prolific scholar and practitioner, Dr. Bitew has authored more than 15 peer-reviewed publications in top journals, covering topics such as machine learning applications in demographic forecasting, child undernutrition, and student performance prediction. His GitHub repository features numerous machine learning and data visualization tools built with Python and R—many of which have been deployed in collaboration with global partners.

Above all, Dr. Bitew is driven by a passion for leveraging data science to improve lives. Through a combination of rigorous research, practical innovation, and global collaboration, he continues to push the boundaries of how data can be used to shape a more equitable and resilient world.

Publications

Welcome to my Publications page!

I'm honored to share with you my collection of peer-reviewed publications that reflect my ongoing commitment to data-driven research in demography, machine learning, public health, and spatio-temporal modeling.

My work has appeared in esteemed journals such as Genus, Public Health Nutrition, Heliyon, and Spatial Demography. These studies focus on real-world challenges—undernutrition, child mortality, reproductive health, and education outcomes—especially across underrepresented populations and low-resource settings. My research integrates traditional demographic analysis with modern machine learning techniques to provide robust, actionable insights.


Peer-Reviewed Publications

2025

2023

Global Report

2021

2020

2019

2011

2010

Journal Reviewer Service

I actively serve as a peer reviewer for several reputable journals, helping ensure academic rigor and the dissemination of high-quality research in data science, public health, and applied demography:

For a complete list and citation details, visit:
Google Scholar
ResearchGate

Consultancy

Consultancy

Dr. Fikrewold H. Bitew is an expert Data & Analytics Consultant with over 15 years of experience supporting global organizations—most notably UNICEF—in delivering data-driven solutions that shape policy, guide development efforts, and improve lives. His work bridges the domains of public health, climate resilience, nutrition, and behavioral change by integrating advanced analytics, machine learning, and spatial modeling.

Dr. Bitew has served as a technical lead and advisor across several high-impact UNICEF projects, including:


Children's Climate Risk Index – Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM)

As a Data and Analytics Consultant for CCRI-DRM, Dr. Bitew contributes to the development and implementation of an index that measures children’s exposure and vulnerability to climate-related shocks and environmental hazards. His responsibilities include:

  • Designing and deploying climate risk models using multi-source datasets.
  • Conducting quantitative risk analysis and reporting on project progress.
  • Coordinating stakeholder engagement with government agencies and UN partners.
  • Creating interactive dashboards to inform policy on disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

Social and Behavioral Change (SBC)

In his role as a Social and Behavior Change Data & Applied Research Consultant, Dr. Bitew supports UNICEF in designing evidence-based SBC programs through:

  • Generating and analyzing behavioral data using surveys, KAPB studies, and social listening tools.
  • Developing research briefs, dashboards, and capacity-building materials.
  • Advising UNICEF regional and country offices on methodological best practices.
  • Strengthening the SBC evidence ecosystem to support impactful community engagement.

Nutrition Data & Analytics

As part of the UNICEF Nutrition Team, Dr. Bitew has led data analysis initiatives that:

  • Track undernutrition trends, dietary patterns, and inequalities across populations.
  • Build predictive models for child nutrition outcomes and policy simulations.
  • Translate complex statistical insights into visual tools for stakeholders and program managers.
  • Enhance local capacity through training in data science, evaluation, and dashboard development.

Core Skills & Expertise
  • Predictive modeling and machine learning (Python, R, PyTorch)
  • Data visualization (Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS, QGIS)
  • Survey data analysis (DHS, MICS, SMART, KAPB)
  • Geospatial modeling and climate risk analytics
  • Behavioral research and human-centered design
  • Stakeholder coordination and capacity building

Impact

Dr. Bitew's consultancy work supports UNICEF's mission by transforming complex data into actionable strategies that enhance global health, climate resilience, and child well-being. From building cross-sectoral models to guiding local governments on data use, his contributions help operationalize data for decision-making at scale.

Proceedings


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Welcome to my conference proceedings and presentation portfolio.

This collection represents my active engagement with the academic and professional research community through presentations at national and international conferences. These proceedings span multiple domains including institutional research, demographic analysis, public health, and data visualization, reflecting my commitment to sharing research findings and contributing to scholarly discourse across diverse platforms.

My presentations have been delivered at premier venues including the Population Association of America (PAA), Southern Association for Institutional Research (SAIR), Texas Association for Institutional Research (TAIR), and Southern Demographic Association (SDA). Each presentation represents rigorous research that addresses critical questions in demography, health outcomes, and institutional effectiveness.


1. Application of SSRS for Automating Regular Reports

2. Application of SSRS for Automating Regular Reports

3. Spatio-Temporal Inequalities and Determinants of Undernutrition Among Children in Ethiopia

4. Trends and Risk Factors for Under-Five Mortality: Evidence from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys, 2011–2016

5. Risk Factors for Under-5 Mortality: Evidence from Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)

6. Workshop: Data Visualizations Using Power BI for Beginners

7. Spatial and Temporal Variation in Undernutrition Among Women in Ethiopia: A Multilevel Analysis

8. Infertility in Ethiopia: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Research Themes and Impact

Institutional Research and Data Analytics

My presentations in institutional research focus on innovative applications of data visualization and reporting automation tools, contributing to the advancement of evidence-based decision making in higher education settings.

Demographic and Health Research

A significant portion of my conference presentations addresses critical public health challenges, particularly child mortality and malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa, using rigorous quantitative methodologies and large-scale demographic datasets.

Methodological Contributions

Several presentations demonstrate advanced statistical and spatial analysis techniques, contributing to methodological innovations in demographic research and spatial epidemiology.

International Development and Policy

My research presentations provide evidence-based insights for policy development and intervention strategies in developing country contexts, particularly in Ethiopia and broader Sub-Saharan Africa.


This proceedings portfolio demonstrates ongoing commitment to scholarly engagement and knowledge dissemination across multiple academic and professional communities.

Coding

Welcome to my coding portfolio!

I am a data scientist and machine learning engineer passionate aboutdeveloping innovative solutions that bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and real-worldapplications. My work spans across various domains including natural language processing, computervision, data analytics, and web development.

My expertise lies in building end-to-end machine learning systems, from data preprocessing and modeldevelopment to deployment and visualization. I have experience working with modern frameworks andtechnologies including Python, R, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and various cloud platforms. I particularly enjoytackling complex problems in healthcare, agriculture, and social impact domains.


Featured Projects

SciScholar ChatBot using Llama2
Repository: Git

An AI-powered research assistant designed to help researchers, students, and academics interact withscholarly documents. This sophisticated chatbot leverages Meta's Llama 2 model and CTransformers toextract relevant content from PDFs and provide contextually accurate answers to research-related queries.

Key Features:

  • AI-driven question answering based on research papers
  • PDF content extraction for scholarly insights
  • Customizable prompt engineering for better responses
  • Local and cloud deployment options
  • Integration with Pinecone vector database for efficient semantic search
  • Flask web interface for user-friendly interaction
Tech Stack: Python, LangChain, Flask, Meta Llama2, Pinecone, CTransformers


UNICEF Data Analytics Assessment
Repository: Git

A comprehensive data analytics project developed for UNICEF's Data and Analytics technical evaluation, focusing on maternal health coverage disparities analysis. This project demonstrates advanced statisticalanalysis capabilities and professional data visualization skills.

Project Scope:

  • Analysis of maternal health coverage disparities between on-track and off-track countries
  • Population-weighted analysis using UN World Population Prospects 2022 data
  • Multi-source data integration from UNICEF Global Data Flow and country classification systems
  • Professional reporting with R Markdown and publication-ready visualizations
Key Findings:
  • 17.4 percentage point gap in ANC4 coverage between country groups
  • 23.7 percentage point gap in skilled birth attendance coverage
  • Systematic differences in health system capacity demonstrated
Tech Stack: R, R Markdown, ggplot2, dplyr, readxl, statistical analysis


Additional Projects

Plant Seedling Classification
Repository: Git

A computer vision project aimed at modernizing agriculture through automated plant classification. Thismachine learning solution helps identify different plant seedlings to reduce manual inspection work inagricultural settings.

Objectives: Develop an automated system to classify plant seedlings, addressing the urgent need formodernization in agriculture and reducing manual labor requirements. Tech Stack: Python, Jupyter Notebook, Computer Vision, Machine Learning


Used Car Price Prediction
Repository: Git

A comprehensive data science project that explores and visualizes used car datasets to build predictivemodels for pricing. This project demonstrates end-to-end machine learning workflow from exploratorydata analysis to model deployment.

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive exploratory data analysis and visualization
  • Linear regression model implementation for price prediction
  • Business insights and recommendations generation
  • Statistical analysis and feature engineering
Tech Stack: Python, Jupyter Notebook, Pandas, Scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Seaborn


Travel Package Purchase Prediction
Repository: Git

A machine learning project focused on predicting customer behavior in the travel industry. This projectanalyzes customer data to predict likelihood of travel package purchases, enabling better marketingstrategies and customer targeting.

Applications

  • Customer segmentation and targeting
  • Marketing optimization strategies
  • Predictive analytics for business decision making
Tech Stack: Python, Jupyter Notebook, Machine Learning, Data Analysis


US Airline Tweets Sentiment Analysis
Repository: Git

A comprehensive natural language processing project that analyzes sentiment in airline customer tweets.This project uses Twitter data scraped in February 2015, containing 14,640 tweets about six major USairlines, to predict customer sentiment and identify pain points in airline services.

Key Features:

  • Sentiment classification (positive, negative, neutral) using multiple ML algorithms
  • Analysis of most tweeted airlines and reasons behind negative sentiment
  • WordCloud visualization of most frequent words in tweets
  • Text preprocessing and feature extraction for NLP tasks
  • Confidence level analysis for sentiment predictions
Dataset Highlights:
  • 14,640 tweet instances with 15 features
  • Six major US airlines coverage
  • Detailed negative reason categorization
  • Geographic and temporal tweet metadata
Tech Stack: Python, Natural Language Processing, Scikit-learn, WordCloud, Pandas, MatplotlibPython, Jupyter Notebook, Machine Learning, Data Analysis


Credit Card Churn Prediction
Repository: Git

A critical business analytics project for Thera Bank to predict and prevent customer churn in credit cardservices. This project addresses the bank's steep decline in credit card users by building predictive modelsto identify at-risk customers and provide actionable insights for retention strategies.

Business Problem:

  • Significant revenue loss from declining credit card usage
  • Need to identify customers likely to close their accounts
  • Requirement for data-driven retention strategies
Key Features:
  • Classification model to predict customer churn probability
  • Comprehensive exploratory data analysis and visualization
  • Feature engineering and model optimization techniques
  • Business insights and recommendations for customer retention
  • Analysis of customer demographics, transaction patterns, and account characteristics
Dataset Variables:
  • Customer demographics (age, gender, education, income)
  • Account information (card type, relationship duration, credit limit)
  • Transaction behavior (amounts, counts, seasonal changes)
  • Customer engagement metrics (contacts, inactive months)
Tech Stack: Python, Scikit-learn, Pandas, Seaborn, Classification Algorithms, Model Optimization


Time Series Analysis & Forecasting
Repository: Git

A comprehensive educational project covering advanced time series analysis and forecasting techniquesusing machine learning models. This project demonstrates expertise in temporal data analysis, trendidentification, and predictive modeling for time-dependent datasets.

Course Content:

  • Fundamentals of time series analysis and decomposition
  • Advanced forecasting methodologies and algorithms
  • Integration of machine learning techniques with time series data
  • Practical implementations of forecasting models
  • Feature engineering for temporal data
Key Topics Covered:
  • Time series decomposition (trend, seasonality, residuals)
  • ARIMA and seasonal ARIMA modeling
  • Machine learning approaches to forecasting
  • Model evaluation and validation techniques
  • Hyperparameter optimization for time series models
Educational Value:
  • Comprehensive learning materials with YouTube video tutorials
  • Hands-on coding examples and datasets
  • Progressive curriculum from basics to advanced concepts
  • Real-world forecasting applications and case studies
Tech Stack: Python, Time Series Analysis, ARIMA, Machine Learning, Statistical Modeling, Forecasting


Academic Research Publications (RPubs)


Predictive Modeling for Under-5 Malnutrition
Publication: PDF

Advanced statistical modeling project focusing on predicting malnutrition among children under 5 yearsof age. This research applies sophisticated predictive analytics to identify risk factors and patterns inchildhood malnutrition for policy intervention and healthcare planning.

Research Focus:

  • Child health outcomes and nutritional status prediction
  • Risk factor identification and analysis
  • Statistical modeling for public health applications
  • Evidence-based intervention strategies
Tech Stack: R, Statistical Modeling, Predictive Analytics, Public Health Research


Under-5 Mortality Predictive Modeling
Publication: PDF

Comprehensive epidemiological study using advanced statistical techniques to predict under-5 mortalityrates. This research contributes to understanding childhood mortality patterns and supports evidence-based policy making for child survival interventions.

Research Application:

  • Mortality risk assessment and prediction
  • Epidemiological pattern analysis
  • Public health policy support
  • Child survival program evaluation
Tech Stack: R, Survival Analysis, Epidemiological Modeling, Demographic Research


Spatial Analysis - Texas Geographic Research
Publication: PDF PDF

Advanced geospatial analysis projects examining demographic and geographic patterns in Texas usingzip code-level data. These studies demonstrate expertise in spatial statistics, GIS analysis, and geographicinformation systems for demographic research.

Key Features:

  • Shapefile processing and spatial data manipulation
  • Geographic pattern analysis and visualization
  • Demographic mapping and spatial statistics
  • GIS-based research methodologies
Tech Stack: R, GIS, Spatial Analysis, Shapefiles, Geographic Data Processing


Spatial Count Data Modeling with GLM
Publication: PDF

Advanced statistical modeling project applying Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to spatial count data.This research demonstrates expertise in handling complex spatial datasets and applying appropriatestatistical techniques for geographic analysis.

Statical Methods:

  • Generalized Linear Models for count data
  • Spatial autocorrelation analysis
  • Model diagnostics and validation
  • Advanced regression techniques
Tech Stack: R, GLM, Spatial Statistics, Count Data Analysis


Spatially Autoregressive Models Research
Publication: PDF PDF

Cutting-edge research in spatial econometrics and geographic analysis using spatially autoregressivemodels. These projects demonstrate advanced understanding of spatial dependencies and geographicmodeling techniques.

Research Applications:

  • Spatial dependency modeling
  • Voronoi polygon analysis
  • Geographic pattern recognition
  • Spatial econometric analysis
Tech Stack: R, Spatial Econometrics, Voronoi Polygons, Advanced Spatial Analysis


Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey Analysis
Publication: PDF PDF

Comprehensive demographic research using Ethiopia's Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data withadvanced spatial analysis techniques. This research demonstrates expertise in processing large-scale demographic datasets and applying GIS methodologies.

Research Scope:

  • DHS data processing and analysis
  • Point pattern analysis and spatial statistics
  • Demographic indicator mapping
  • Health outcome spatial distribution
Tech Stack: R, QGIS Integration, DHS Data, Spatial Point Analysis, Demographic Research


Cox Regression and Survival Analysis
Publication: PDF

Advanced survival analysis research applying Cox regression and frailty models to demographic data. Thisstudy demonstrates sophisticated statistical modeling techniques for time-to-event analysis indemographic and health research.

Research Scope:

  • Cox proportional hazards modeling
  • Frailty models for heterogeneity
  • Survival curve estimation
  • Hazard ratio analysis
Tech Stack: R, Survival Analysis, Cox Regression, Event History Analysis


Population Demographics Analysis
Publications: PDF PDF

Detailed demographic analysis focusing on population change and ethnic composition in major Texasmetropolitan areas. These studies utilize American Community Survey (ACS) data for comprehensivepopulation analysis.

Research Scope:

  • Population change mapping and analysis
  • Ethnic demographic patterns
  • Metropolitan area demographic studies
  • ACS data processing and visualization
Tech Stack: R, ACS Data, Demographic Mapping, Population Analysis


Women's Health and Nutrition Research
Publications: PDF PDF

Critical research on women's health outcomes focusing on undernutrition patterns and determinants. Thiswork contributes to understanding gender-specific health challenges in developing countries.

Research Applications:

  • Women's nutritional status assessment
  • Health determinants analysis
  • Gender-focused health research
  • Public health intervention planning
Tech Stack: R, Health Research, Nutritional Analysis, Women's Health Studies


Shiny Interactive Applications
Publications: PDF

A collection of interactive web applications built with R Shiny framework. This repository demonstratesexpertise in creating dynamic, user-friendly data visualization and analysis tools for web deployment.

Features:

  • Interactive dashboards and data visualization
  • Real-time data processing and analysis
  • User-friendly web interfaces for complex data analysis
  • Multiple example applications showcasing different Shiny capabilities
Tech Stack: R, Shiny, JavaScript, HTML, CSS


Shiny Gallery Applications
Repository: Git

An extended collection of Shiny applications demonstrating advanced interactive visualization techniquesand dashboard development. This project showcases the ability to create publication-ready interactiveapplications.

Applications:

  • Advanced data visualization techniques
  • Interactive statistical analysis tools
  • Professional dashboard development
  • Multi-page application architecture
Tech Stack: R, Shiny, HTML, CSS, JavaScript


Statistical Analysis Toolkit
Repository: Git

A comprehensive collection of statistical analysis projects demonstrating expertise in applied statistics,hypothesis testing, and statistical modeling for research and business applications.

Key Components:

  • Advanced statistical modeling techniques
  • Hypothesis testing and experimental design
  • Bayesian analysis and inference
  • Time series analysis and forecasting
Tech Stack: R, Python, Statistical Modeling, SPSS


Demographic Data Analysis
Repository: Git

Specialized projects focusing on demographic analysis, population studies, and social science research.This work demonstrates expertise in handling large-scale demographic datasets and conducting policy-relevant research.

Research Area:

  • Population dynamics and demographic transitions
  • Social determinants of health outcomes
  • Migration patterns and urbanization studies
  • Policy impact assessment and evaluation
Tech Stack: R, STATA, GIS, Demographic Analysis Tools


Health Data Analytics
Repository: Git

A portfolio of healthcare analytics projects focusing on public health outcomes, disease surveillance, andhealth system performance evaluation.

Project Scope:

  • Disease pattern analysis and epidemiological modeling
  • Health system performance indicators
  • Clinical data analysis and outcomes research
  • Public health surveillance systems
Tech Stack: R, Python, SQL, Healthcare Analytics Tools


Educational Research Projects
Repository: Git

Projects focused on educational outcomes research, student performance analysis, and institutionaleffectiveness studies in higher education settings.

Research Focuss:

  • Student success predictive modeling
  • Educational outcome evaluation
  • Institutional research and analytics
  • Academic program assessment
Tech Stack: R, Python, Educational Data Mining, Learning Analytics


Consulting and Client Projects
Repository: Professional consulting and industry collaboration projects Git

A collection of professional consulting projects demonstrating ability to work with diverse stakeholdersand deliver actionable insights for business and organizational decision-making.

Project Types:

  • Business intelligence and analytics solutions
  • Market research and customer analytics
  • Organizational performance evaluation
  • Strategic planning and policy analysis
Tech Stack: R, Python, Tableau, Power BI, SQL

Technical Skills
  • Programming Languages: Python, R, JavaScript, HTML, CSS
  • Machine Learning: TensorFlow, PyTorch,Scikit-learn, LangChain
  • Data Analysis: Pandas, NumPy, dplyr, ggplot2
  • Databases: Pinecone, SQL
  • WebFrameworks: Flask, Shiny
  • Cloud & Deployment: Local and cloud deployment strategies
  • Visualization: Matplotlib, Seaborn, ggplot2, interactive dashboards
Research Interests
  • Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models
  • Computer Vision applications in agriculture and healthcare
  • Statistical analysis for social impact and policy research
  • AI-powered research tools and academic applications
  • Data-driven solutions for international development