Research Groups
The IFK focuses on seven themes, each championed by a research group: Blockchain and the Cryptoverse (BC), Data Science across Disciplines (DSAD), Decentralised Artificial Intelligence and Control Systems (DAICS), the Future of Diplomacy (FoD), the Future of Health (FoH), Green Futures (GF) and Work of the Future (WoF).
Data Science Across Disciplines
Professor Charis Harley
The purpose of the research group, Data Science Across Disciplines, is to support the educational and intellectual growth of the field of Data Science in the region, and further afield. The Group takes an interdisciplinary approach to both the application of data science and the sense-making theoretical frameworks that shape its development. At the University of Johannesburg, the Group aims to develop much-needed specialist educational programmes at the postgraduate level, to support student skills development and the upskilling of current professionals in the field. Through cutting-edge research, product development, and close collaboration with industry partners and professionals, DSAD drives innovation in Data Science to support UJ as the driver of the 4IR.

Upcoming Events
Ethics and Explainability for Responsible Data Science (EE-RDS) (2022)
Data Science Across Disciplines Wednesday 2 November 2023 Register here Data Science Across Disciplines (DSAD), a research group within the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for
The Implications of AI Tools in Teaching and Learning: A Case of ChatGPT
Decentralised Artificial Intelligence and Control Systems 15h00 – 17h30 18 May 2023 Register here Share this post: Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on
PG Workshop: Remaking the World through Machine Learning (2022)
Data Science Across Disciplines 08:00 – 18:00 Monday – Friday 21 – 25 November 2022 Register here The PG Workshop: Remaking the World through Machine Learning
Our People
Helen Crompton
Senior Research Associate
Dr Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning (RIDIL) at ODUGlobal and an Associate Professor of Instructional Technology, at Old Dominion University (ODU). She is also the Director of the Virtual Reality Lab at ODU. She draws from 30 years in education and a Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Crompton is on Stanford’s list of the top 2% of scientists in the world and she has received numerous awards in the USA and her home country England for her work in technology integration, including the SCHEV award for the Outstanding Professor of Virginia. She is a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank on educational technology topics. She also consults for organizations, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Dr. Crompton has published over 150 articles on technology integration including authoring publications for the United Nations, the World Bank, and ISTE.
Helen Crompton
Senior Research Associate
Pushpendra Kumar
Research Associate
Pushpendra Kumar is a young mathematician from India. He holds a master's degree from the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. He has published nearly 50 research papers in more than 20 reputed international journals. His research works are related to the mathematical modelling of various real-world problems, fractional calculus, and computational methods. More specifically, Mr Kumar has done novel work on the modelling of infectious diseases. He is a reviewer for several international journals.
Pushpendra Kumar
Research Associate
Charis Harley
Head of Data Science Across Disciplines
Professor Charis Harley is Head of the Data Science Across Disciplines Research Group at the IFK and 4IR Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at UJ. She is an accomplished researcher in the field of computational mathematics with over 30 articles, experience at a range of elite universities, and multiple research grants. She also has experience in industry as an analyst and quantitative analyst, with practise in data analysis ranging from the use of filters; Auto-Correlation; Principal Component Analysis; Exploratory Data Analysis, to the use of more advanced methods of data analytics.
Charis Harley
Head of Data Science Across Disciplines
Helen Crompton
Senior Research Associate
Dr Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning (RIDIL) at ODUGlobal and an Associate Professor of Instructional Technology, at Old Dominion University (ODU). She is also the Director of the Virtual Reality Lab at ODU. She draws from 30 years in education and a Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Crompton is on Stanford’s list of the top 2% of scientists in the world and she has received numerous awards in the USA and her home country England for her work in technology integration, including the SCHEV award for the Outstanding Professor of Virginia. She is a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank on educational technology topics. She also consults for organizations, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Dr. Crompton has published over 150 articles on technology integration including authoring publications for the United Nations, the World Bank, and ISTE.
Helen Crompton
Senior Research Associate
Pushpendra Kumar
Research Associate
Pushpendra Kumar is a young mathematician from India. He holds a master's degree from the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. He has published nearly 50 research papers in more than 20 reputed international journals. His research works are related to the mathematical modelling of various real-world problems, fractional calculus, and computational methods. More specifically, Mr Kumar has done novel work on the modelling of infectious diseases. He is a reviewer for several international journals.
Pushpendra Kumar
Research Associate
Charis Harley
Head of Data Science Across Disciplines
Professor Charis Harley is Head of the Data Science Across Disciplines Research Group at the IFK and 4IR Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at UJ. She is an accomplished researcher in the field of computational mathematics with over 30 articles, experience at a range of elite universities, and multiple research grants. She also has experience in industry as an analyst and quantitative analyst, with practise in data analysis ranging from the use of filters; Auto-Correlation; Principal Component Analysis; Exploratory Data Analysis, to the use of more advanced methods of data analytics.
Charis Harley
Head of Data Science Across Disciplines
Some Existence and Uniqueness Results for a Class of Fractional Stochastic Differential Equations
Symmetry Volume 14, 2022 – Issue 11 Abstract Many techniques have been recently used by various researchers to solve some types of symmetrical fractional differential
A Novel Study on a Fractional-Order Heat Conduction Model for the Human Head by Using the Least-Squares Method
International Journal of Dynamics and Control Volume 11, 2023 Abstract In this research article, a model of the temperature distribution in the human skull is
Some Novel Mathematical Analysis on the Fractional‐Order 2019‐nCoV Dynamical Model
Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences Volume 46, 2023 – Issue 4 Abstract Since December 2019, the whole world has been facing the big challenge