Prometheus X Fellowship empowers visionary leaders and innovators from across the globe—who are building AI-driven impact ventures and leading transformative projects at the intersection of science, technology, and society. By supporting groundbreaking initiatives, we aim to catalyze global impact, foster innovation, and shape a future where global talent drives meaningful progress for humanity.
Meet the visionaries shaping tomorrow's breakthroughs where extraordinary talent meets unparalleled opportunity for positive transformation. Each with a unique story, passion, and vision for advancing tech-enabled social impact.
Jadal Williams is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, where his research focuses on the intersection of computer vision, robotics, and AI to solve complex, real-world challenges. A graduate of Stanford University (B.S.) and MIT (M.S.), Jadal brings a rare blend of technical mastery, innovative thinking, and entrepreneurial drive to everything he pursues.
His academic work has contributed to advancements in AI-driven systems, including his published research on reduced-order observers using image-based observables, recognized at Optica. Beyond the lab, Jadal’s leadership extends to co-founding a stealth AI startup, where he is developing solutions that leverage computer vision and advanced analytics to address critical, overlooked challenges. His ability to translate complex AI research into actionable, impactful tools demonstrates his commitment to pushing boundaries in STEM innovation.
Jadal’s achievements reflect his exceptional promise as both a researcher and a builder. With a proven track record of success, technical excellence, and collaborative leadership, he is well-positioned to make a lasting impact at the frontier of AI and robotics. As a Prometheus X Venture Fellow, Jadal embodies the mission of empowering visionary talent to drive meaningful, high-impact innovation in STEM and beyond.
Dr. Nnaemeka Emmanuel Nnadi, Director of Research at Plateau State University and President of the Africa Phage Forum, is at the forefront of phage therapy and vaccine development to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As a Prometheus X Catapult Fellow, Dr. Nnadi is advancing research on phage-based solutions for pathogens like Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which present significant health challenges in Nigeria and other low-resource settings.
At Nigeria’s first dedicated phage research center, Dr. Nnadi and his team are developing phage cocktails tailored to bacterial strains prevalent in the region. These efforts include the development of a phage-based typhoid vaccine, which is currently in early stages of research. By using locally sourced phages, his work aims to improve the effectiveness of treatments for infections that are increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
The Catapult Fellowship supports Dr. Nnadi’s research collaborations at the University of Waterloo, where he is expanding his expertise in phage vaccine development. This work includes designing a low-temperature, needle-free, and adjuvant-free typhoid vaccine that could improve access to vaccination in underserved communities. Additionally, Dr. Nnadi is exploring how artificial intelligence might accelerate phage research by optimizing vaccine design and predicting bacterial resistance patterns.
Dr. Nnadi’s research reflects the mission of Prometheus X by pushing the boundaries of innovation in global health. By fostering local solutions to urgent public health challenges, his work underscores the importance of empowering researchers in resource-limited regions to drive transformative change.
Dr. Yabebal Fantaye is a trailblazing astrophysicist, cosmologist, and data scientist, whose life's work has been dedicated to unlocking the untapped potential of Africa's next generation of STEM and AI leaders. As Co-Founder and Scientific Director of 10 Academy, Dr. Fantaye has developed innovative programs that transform lives by addressing the global opportunity gaps in technology and data science. His efforts have achieved exceptional outcomes, including a 95% placement rate and a more than 5x salary increase for trainees—a testament to the transformative power of his vision.
Dr. Fantaye’s career is defined by his unwavering commitment to democratizing access to STEM and AI careers. His "Barefoot Revolution" theory of change reflects a deep belief in scalable, cost-efficient solutions that empower young Africans to thrive in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Over the past decade, his work has equipped thousands with skills in machine learning, data engineering, and generative AI, resulting in an ROI of over 100x for trainees and fostering global impact.
Recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Scientist and a member of the Global Future Councils on New Metrics, Dr. Fantaye’s leadership at 10 Academy exemplifies the mission of Prometheus X: creating a world where STEM and AI-enabled innovations are accessible to all, regardless of background. With his unique blend of academic expertise, visionary thinking, and actionable strategies, Yabebal is setting new benchmarks in talent development for emerging technologies.
This prize celebrates Dr. Fantaye's extraordinary contributions to STEM and AI education, his innovative use of AI as an equalizer and accelerator for development, and his dedication to nurturing talent.
Fiona is the CEO of The Mawazo Institute, a women-led organisation supporting African women researchers to become thought-leaders and changemakers beyond academia. The women in Mawazo's network have launched startups that optimise solar energy using Machine Learning, an AI chatbot for HIV/AIDS awareness, and contributed to the drafting of Kenya’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Bill.
Fiona is passionate about creating space for diverse voices and driving evidence-based solutions across academia, policy, and industry. She has led sustainable marine aquaculture and conservation projects in the Comoros and Kenya and holds an industry-based PhD in microalgal biotechnology. She is also the co-founder of Mawimbi Ocean Innovations that provides access to “seaweed-farming-as-a-service” for thriving and climate-resilient coastal communities in East Africa. Fiona is a Women for the Environment Africa Fellow, an African Marine Conservation Leader, and sits on the Executive Committee of the International Society of Applied Phycology.
Tyrique King is a Special Advisor and Venture Fellow at Prometheus X and the Founder and CEO of Velocity Labs, where he is building an AI tutor to deliver personalised workforce training in AI at scale.
Previously, Tyrique played a pivotal role as #2 in building and fundraising for the Virtual Centre of Advanced Potential at Schmidt Futures, which has since evolved into Prometheus X.
He has also worked at Google, University of Cambridge Psychometric Institute and other startups, working at the intersection of AI, Psychology of motivation and learning, and marketing. Tyrique's academic achievements include being the sole MSc Google-DeepMind Scholar at the University of Oxford in his year. He also graduated with First Class honors and received a departmental prize from the University of Warwick, where he designed an entirely new degree structure.
Hamidah Oderinwale is an extraordinary talent and a rising star across multiple fields. As an undergraduate at McGill University, she balances her academic pursuits with groundbreaking research, most notably at the Topos Institute, where she explored complex questions at the intersection of mathematics and science. Her intellectual curiosity previously led her to impactful work at the Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, where she contributed to advancing theoretical research.
Hamidah’s drive and versatility extend beyond academia. She spent a summer at Amazon (AWS) in Vancouver, contributing to the Data Provenance Initiative and supporting NaijaCoder, an initiative dedicated to fostering tech skills among Nigerian youth.
Her passion for innovation also spans policy and metascience. As a fellow at the Institute for Progress (IFP), a leading DC think tank, Hamidah works on critical issues like high-skilled immigration. She further shapes bold ideas for the future as a contributing editor at Reboot, a platform for thought leadership and innovation. In recognition of her remarkable potential, Hamidah is a recipient of the prestigious Emergent Ventures grant from economist Tyler Cowen and a member of Interact, a community amplifying the work of high-impact individuals. Her dedication to pushing boundaries across research, policy, and technology highlights her leadership in shaping a more innovative future.
Farai Munjoma is a visionary education entrepreneur and the founder of Shasha Network, a social venture dedicated to empowering African youth to achieve their full potential. Shasha Network’s innovative borderless classrooms connect underserved students with global mentors, cutting-edge STEM courses, and high-speed internet. To date, over 650 students in Rwanda have acquired critical digital literacy skills through the program, bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.
Farai’s work also extends to the AI Educator Fellowship, a program designed to equip early-career teachers in Zimbabwe and Rwanda with AI literacy and tools to integrate emerging technologies into their teaching. By cultivating a robust community of tech-savvy educators, Farai ensures that the next generation of African students is prepared to excel in STEM fields. This initiative exemplifies his unwavering commitment to locally-led innovation and community-driven impact.
Farai collaborates with major organizations such as HP Education, Schmidt Futures, and the Mastercard Foundation to drive systemic change in education. Additionally, he serves as a regional talent scout for the Ellison Scholars Program at the Ellison Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, broadening opportunities for exceptional African talent.
Dr. Nicholas Johnson is a pioneering researcher, technologist, and entrepreneur at the forefront of machine learning and optimization. A 2024 graduate of MIT’s PhD program in Operations Research, Nicholas has developed cutting-edge AI-driven systems to solve complex, real-world challenges, particularly in high-stakes and uncertain environments.
Nicholas first gained national recognition as the first Black Valedictorian in Princeton University’s 274-year history, graduating with highest honors in Operations Research and Financial Engineering, alongside minors in Computer Science, Statistics, and Applied Mathematics. His groundbreaking undergraduate research optimized preventative health interventions, demonstrating his ability to translate advanced technical knowledge into meaningful societal impact.
With experience spanning Google, D. E. Shaw Group, and academic research at Princeton, MIT, and Oxford, Nicholas has built a reputation for combining analytical rigor with innovation. His research has been featured in top journals and conferences, reinforcing his position as a leader in AI and data-driven decision-making.
As a Prometheus X Venture Fellow, Nicholas is leveraging his expertise to develop transformative solutions with wide-reaching implications. His blend of technical excellence, entrepreneurial vision, and relentless drive to address real-world problems embodies the mission of Prometheus X: empowering visionary talent to unlock new frontiers in AI and STEM.
Rupert Tawiah-Quashie is currently a NeuroAI research associate at Harvard University working under Dr. Colin Conwell at the Harvard Vision Lab and Prof Tomer Ullman at the Computation Cognition and Development lab where he is contributing to groundbreaking research aimed at enhancing symbolic reasoning capabilities in generative AI models. His work involves designing and implementing experiments to test state-of-the-art text-to-image AI models on complex logical operations, including relations, negations, and numerical reasoning. Rupert develops advanced image processing techniques, such as object segmentation using YOLO and SAM, and expands the DeepJuice package with diverse image processing methods. His research aims to create more transparent, reliable, and accessible AI systems.
Passionate about democratizing AI and making technology accessible, Rupert co-founded Code_gh, an initiative that teaches coding and machine learning to high school and college students in Ghana. His technical expertise spans machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and image processing, with proficiency in various AI frameworks.
A recent graduate of Hampshire College with a B.A. in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, Rupert has earned numerous accolades, including the Davis Project for Peace Grant and Emergent Ventures Grant. As a Ghanaian international student, he has demonstrated exceptional academic prowess and leadership throughout his academic journey.
