“All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us” — Gandalf the Grey

Devon Jarvis

Category

Artificial Intelligence
 

Organisation / Company

University of the Witwatersrand: School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

 

Position

Lecturer

 

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Profile

Devon Jarvis, 27, is a researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he lectures in mathematical foundations of data science and natural language processing. He also leads the Cognition, Adaptation and Learning (CAandL) Lab, a multidisciplinary research group exploring how cognitive neuroscience can inform the future of machine learning. Initially drawn to economics, Devon discovered a love for coding at university and has since earned his PhD in computer science, supported by the Google PhD Fellowship, Commonwealth Scholarship and an NRF Thuthuka Grant. In 2023, he was a visiting researcher at University College London’s Gatsby Unit and Sainsbury Wellcome Centre. Beyond research, he is a commit- ted mentor, programme coordinator and advocate for accessible science education. He co-organises the Deep Learning Indaba X South Africa and reviews for global AI conferences such as NeurIPS and ICLR. Outside academia, Jarvis co-founded 1Day Africa, the continent’s arm of 1Day Sooner, advocating for equitable access to medical research during the pandemic and mentoring African medical students. What drives him? A desire to equip students with the opportunities he once received.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, majoring in Computer Science and Economics Science, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Bachelor of Science Honours in Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Master of Science in Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), with research focused on the intersection of machine learning and neuroscience, University of the Witwatersrand (2016 to 2025)

Achievements

  • Received a PhD in 2025 
  • Named a founding fellow of the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at Wits in 2025
  • Secured an NRF Thuthuka Grant in 2024
  • Awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship in 2023
  • Awarded the Google PhD Fellowship in 2022
  • Founded the Cognition, Adaptation and Learning (CAandL) Lab at Wits – brings together a diverse and talented group of over 10 students working on projects at the intersection of theoretical machine learning, computational neuroscience, and linguistics. Leading this lab has been a deeply rewarding challenge, teaching me the importance of adaptive leadership—particularly the value of taking time to understand each student’s individual needs and expectations before launching into research

 

Mentors

I’ve been fortunate to have several key mentors who have shaped both my academic journey and my approach to mentorship and leadership. I deeply admire my PhD supervisors — Professor Richard Klein, Professor Benjamin Rosman and Professor Andrew Saxe — not only for their expertise in machine learning and neuroscience but for their commitment to conducting high-impact research with a focus on communal impact. They taught me that being a teacher and supervisor goes beyond technical guidance; it’s about empowering young people to build confidence in themselves and develop strong, lasting foundations for their future careers. From my supervisors, I also learned the transformative impact it can have on a person when they are given consistent time and patience. This is a lesson I hold on to and will carry for the rest of my life. Earlier in my journey, two of my high school teachers at Jeppe Boys, Ms Olivia Clark and Mr Seun Wilson, played a pivotal role by encouraging me to pursue my goals even when I doubted myself. I also continue to be guided by Professor Sahba Besharati, whose thoughtful mentorship and inclusive approach to student engagement are qualities I strive to emulate in my own lab.