Abdi Talib Abdalla

About

Prof. Abdi T. Abdalla is the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic, Research and Consultancy at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) and an Associate Professor at the College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of ICT Systems (JICTS), published by UDSM, and the Vice Chairperson of the Governing Board of Al-Maktoum College of Engineering and Technology in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His research and professional interests span a range of emerging fields, including through-the-wall radar imaging, indoor target localization, compressive sensing in radar signal processing, smart grid systems, Internet of Things (IoT), and the application of ICT and emerging technologies in the Blue Economy, smart community development, and digital transformation. Prof. Abdalla has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications in international journals and conferences and is the lead author of the book Through-the-Wall Radar Imaging: Ghost Suppression with Compressive Sensing (ResearchGate). He holds a patent for IoT-based Smart Fishing Gear, registered with BRELA. He has led and coordinated multiple funded research projects/consultancy, including the situational analysis and digitization blueprint for the Tanzania Planning Commission. Currently, he is the PI/Co-PI on four active research and innovation projects: 1. Establishment of a Digital Marketplace for Lake Tanganyika Fishery Communities – funded by FAO 2. Establishment of a Visual Dashboard for Tracking Artisanal Fishing Vessels– funded by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries 3. Smart Fishing Innovative Solutions for Effective Conservation and Sustainability of Tanzania’s Blue Economy– funded by UDSM 4. Online Detection of Aflatoxins in Foods– funded by COSTECH Prof. Abdalla has supervised over 30 postgraduate research students and serves as an external examiner for multiple universities, including the African Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT) at the University of Rwanda, University of Dodoma, State University of Zanzibar, and Mbeya University of Science and Technology. His excellence in research and innovation has earned him several awards, including:  Best Impact Researcher of the Year, CoICT, UDSM (2022/2023, 2023/2024, and 2024/2025)  First Prize, UDSM Research and Innovation Week – Unit Level (2021)  First Prize, UDSM Research Week Exhibition – Unit Level (2017)  TAIC 2022 Best Academic Paper Award for IoT-Based Smart Fishing Gear for Sustainability of the Tanzania Blue Economy He is also a reviewer for reputable institutions, including the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Tanzania Comission for Univerisities (TCU), and serves on the 2 editorial boards and review panels of several reputable academic journals. He has received multiple commendations for outstanding contributions to peer review and research evaluation.

Achievements and impact

Awards and recognition

• 1. Best Impact Researcher of the Year at the College of ICT, University of Dar es Salaam, for the academic year 2024/2025.
• 2. Best Impact Researcher of the Year at the College of ICT, University of Dar es Salaam, for the academic year 2023/2024.
• 3. Best Impact Researcher of the Year at the College of ICT, University of Dar es Salaam, for the academic year 2022/2023.
• 4. University of Dar es Salaam Competitive Project Grants, March 2023.
• 5. TAIC 2022 Best academic paper award: IoT-Based Smart Fishing Gear for Sustainability of the Tanzania Blue Economy. Authors: Abdi T. Abdalla; Nyanzara Haji, Kwame Ibwe and Baraka Maiseli.
• 6. First Winner, 6th UDSM Research and Innovation Week Exhibition at Unit Level, 2021.
• 7. Best performance award by University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly (UDASA) 2019/2020
• 8. University of Dar es Salaam Competitive Project Grants, May 2019
• 9. Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing Journal articles by Signal Processing, Elsevier, April 2021
• 10. Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing Journal articles by ETRI Journal, Willey, March 2019
• 11. Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing Journal articles by Digital Signal processing, Elsevier, March 2017
• 12. First Winner, 3rd UDSM Research Week Exhibition at Unit Level, 2017.
• 13. IEEE WCNC 2016 Students travel grants, Doha, Qatar.
• 14. Excellent Performance in Teaching, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia, 2015.
• 15. Best overall student in BSc. Electronics Science and Communications, UDSM, 2006.
• 11
• 16. Best overall second year student in Physics, UDSM, 2005
• 17. Best overall science student, Lumumba Secondary School, 2002.
• 18. Best student in Leadership, Lumumba Secondary School, 2002.