The Machine Learning Summer School (MLSS) series, established in 2002, aims to advance knowledge in modern statistical machine learning and inference. Recognizing the growing demand for machine learning expertise, MLSS bridges the gap for students and researchers by providing intensive courses on topics ranging from fundamentals to state-of-the-art methods. We are proud to bring this globally renowned series to West Africa for the first time, with Senegal as our host country. MLSS Senegal 2025 offers PhD students and advanced learners a unique opportunity to engage with top experts and explore cutting-edge techniques in machine learning.
Speaker Lineup Preview – More to Come!
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Adji Bousso Dieng Princeton Foundations of Probabilistic Modeling
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Ashia Wilson MIT Optimization for Machine Learning
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Demba Ba Harvard
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Elvis Dohmatob Concordia University / Meta / Mila Mathematical Foundations of Neural Scaling Laws
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Franca Hoffmann Caltech Generative Modeling and Sampling
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Jean-Philippe Vert Owkin Foundation models for biology
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Marco Cuturi Apple Computational Optimal Transport
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Marieme Ngom Argonne National Laboratory Parallel and Distributed Deep Learning
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Mathieu Blondel Google DeepMind Differentiable Programming
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Maxime Labonne Liquid AI Introduction to LLM Post-Training
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Minhyuk Sung KAIST Diffusion Models
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Natalie Schluter Apple Natural Language Processing
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Peter Richtarik KAUST Federated Learning
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Samory Kpotufe Columbia Learning Theory
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Sanmi Koyejo Stanford Truthworthy AI
Application
Application Period:
December 15 – February 28 →
New deadline: March 14, 2025 (AoE)
Notification of Acceptance:
March 31 →
New deadline: April 4, 2025 (AoE)
📬 Please check your spam folder. If you haven’t received an email, feel free to contact us directly.
Fees: $450 due on April 30
The application process is open to PhD students, post-docs, and other advanced learners. Applicants are required to submit a one-page self-recommendation letter explaining how the summer school will benefit them, along with a one-page CV summarizing their contributions in machine learning.
Applications must be submitted through the Application Form .
If you require financial support (e.g., registration fee waiver, accommodation, travel assistance), please indicate this in your application form.
Sponsors
Travel information
Dates: June 23 - July 4
Location: The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences AIMS-Senegal
AIMS Mbour is a scenic location situated along the Atlantic coast of Senegal. The venue is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Dakar city center and around 30 kilometers from Blaise Diagne International Airport, offering convenient access for international participants.
Vaccination Requirements
Hepatitis A: A single dose should be administered at least 15 days before departure, with a booster dose recommended 1 to 3 (or up to 5) years later. For children, vaccination is available from the age of 1 year.
Yellow Fever: A single dose must be administered at least 10 days before travel. For children, vaccination is available from 9 months of age (or in specific circumstances between 6 and 9 months).
For more information, visit: Road to Senegal
Program committee
If you’re interested in contributing to MLSS Senegal 2025, we welcome your support and ideas. Together, we aim to create a transformative learning experience for all participants. We are also deeply grateful for the invaluable support of local contributors, international advisors, and volunteers whose efforts ensure the success of this event. A full list of contributors and collaborators will be shared as the event approaches.
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Awa Dieng DeepMind
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Bamba Diouf Amazon
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Derguene Mbaye Cheikh Anta Diop University
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Mouhamadane Mboup Galsen AI
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Ismaila Seck Lengo AI
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Solym Manou-Abi University of Poitiers
Organizers
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Coura Balde AIMS Senegal
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Adil Salim Microsoft
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Eugene Ndiaye Apple