Maryam Alka

About

I build AI-driven mathematical models of tumour growth and cancer treatment response. My PhD research at the University of Birmingham develops phase-field simulations of how tumours evolve under chemotherapy and hypoxic stress — applying inverse modelling and machine learning to move cancer treatment closer to personalisation.

I have worked across Nigeria and the United Kingdom in academia, government, and research bringing computational rigour and real-world perspective to every problem I tackle. I am also a Data Analyst at BioRTC (Wellcome Trust) and a Lecturer at QA Higher Education.

Education

• PhD Applied Mathematics — University of Birmingham (in progress)
• Professional Diploma Data Science — African University of Science and Technology
• MSc Pure and Applied Mathematics — African University of Science and Technology
• MSc Information Technology (First Class) — National Open University
• BSc Mathematics (2:1) — Bayero University Kano

Expertise & Research Interests

AI in Healthcare, Mathematical Oncology, Phase-Field Modelling, Inverse Problems, Bayesian Parameter Estimation, Uncertainty Quantification, Machine Learning, Personalised Medicine, Computational Biology, FEniCS, Python, R

Selected Awards

• LANDAHIL Grant — 2025
• LMS Early Career Researchers Travel Grant — 2025
• SMB Cell & Developmental Biology Subgroup Travel Grant — 2025
• PTDF OSS PhD Scholarship — 2022/2023

Latest Writing

• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Transforming Medicine Through Data and Algorithms
  March 28, 2026
• How Mathematical Models Are Shaping the Future of Personalised Medicine
  March 28, 2026
• What is Mathematical Oncology — and why should you care?
  March 28, 2026