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HARRISBURG, PA – At Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU), students take center stage. Each month, our Student Spotlight will shine a light on the internships, new jobs, published research, and many other ways our future leaders are demonstrating their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – and making an impact in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.

Harrisburg University Data Science major and Ph.D. candidate, Faith Edafetanure-Ibeh, has had her original research paper published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, better known as IEEE. The paper is entitled, Enhancing Cervical Cancer Prediction: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Algorithms and Development of a Novel Screening Tool.

Faith also presented her findings at the August, 2024, IEEE International Conference on Reuse and Integration for Data Science in San Jose, California, and holds a provisional patent for technologies resulting from the research.

“I’ve been continually impressed by the commitment of our students, who take on a wide range of complex issues, from tackling ethical concerns in large language models to protecting low-resource languages, and advancing healthcare solutions like cancer diagnosis,” said Maria Vaida, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Data Science at Harrisburg University. “Faith exemplifies this dedication through her healthcare research. Her work, utilizing machine learning models to predict cervical cancer, highlights the transformative potential of data science in early diagnosis and treatment. By developing highly accurate predictive models, she paves the way for more effective healthcare solutions.”

With around 11,500 new cases and 4,000 deaths each year in the US, cervical cancer is a substantial public health challenge. Recognizing that early detection is essential for improving survival rates, this research paper focused on evaluating various machine-learning methods to predict a patient’s risk of cervical cancer. The study tested several techniques, including Random Forest, Naive Bayes, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Logistic Regression, and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). XGBoost proved to be the most effective, especially in its ability to balance sensitivity and precision, and the findings suggest that it could become a promising tool for developing an effective cervical cancer screening method. The model was further integrated into a user-friendly web application and an interactive chatbot to support early detection and assessment of cervical cancer risk.

“Completing this paper during the first semester of my Ph.D., getting it published in IEEE, and having a provisional patent for the cervical cancer screening tool has been a truly rewarding experience. It results from countless hours of research, refining ideas, and collaborating with others to push the boundaries of healthcare technology. Being invited to present this work at IEEE IRI 2024, a major conference, is a tremendous honor. I look forward to advancing this research further and exploring new opportunities for impactful studies. I hope my journey shows others that, with dedication and persistence, even early-stage projects can lead to real, meaningful contributions.

“My background in computer science and management information systems gave me the opportunity to work on various technology projects, where I discovered my passion for data science and its models. Personal family tragedies sparked my deep interest in healthcare, which fueled my desire to use data science to make meaningful contributions in this field.

“Ultimately, I chose Harrisburg University because of its strong emphasis on applied learning and innovation, particularly in data science. The University’s focus on real-world problem-solving aligned perfectly with my goal of using data-driven solutions to advance healthcare. Data science has the power to unlock new insights and revolutionize healthcare technology, and I look forward to advancing my research and exploring its full potential.”

Harrisburg University congratulates and thanks each of the learners featured in the Student Spotlight for their contributions to our institution, our community, and our country. We see the difference you’re making, and we can’t wait to watch how your careers develop from here!

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on XLinkedInInstagram, and Facebook.