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E-mail me: gdnmaia@gmail.com

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EXPERIENCE (Last Updated, April 4, 2026)

Lead Data Scientist (2023-Current), Ameren Corporation

  • Provide expert-level, hands-on, AI leadership to senior data scientists and developers, and translate transformative AI solutions into clear, practical insights that empower business stakeholders to drive innovation and strategic decision-making.
  • Drove AIOps companywide with AI platform consolidation by standardizing for model lifecycle management (MLFlow and Unit Catalog in Databricks), code promotion across environments (Git, Jenkins, and Terraform), and data lineage (Unity Catalog)
  • Productionalized first end-to-end AI solution at the company using the AIOps architecture above. The AI anomaly detection algorithm enables daily monitoring of 800,000 customers and it is used by field engineers to proactively identify critical gas leaks before they reach customer awareness.
  • Drove the 3-week turnaround of a stalled 6-month initiative by directly refactoring the machine learning logic and data pipelines. Developed a scalable clustering solution for 2.5M premises using 576-point Min/Avg/Max vectors and robust 95th-percentile normalization, providing the granular load analysis required for grid planning and forecasting.
  • Led AI product roadmap for Digital Field & Grid, aligning data science priorities with strategic and tactical goals for the grid of the future.
  • Developed geospatial assessment framework with ArcGIS-Pro Python API for system-level evaluation of asset grid network. 

Adjunct Professor (2025-Current), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Reading and Writing Data, IS-312: the course provides students with effective methods for data reading and writing, hypothesis driven thinking, data storytelling, and causal AI. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Information Sciences (iSchool)

Principal Data Scientist (2022 – 2023), Jabil Inc.

  • Designed and implemented AIOps framework in AWS SageMaker for a user-facing AI application using survival models to predict year-end-of-life risk of manufactured components sourced across the globe. 
  • Led development of a predictive model improving shipment ETA accuracy, enhancing supply chain efficiency and reducing logistics costs.
  • Co-developed a machine learning solution to transform semi-unstructured documents (invoices, purchase orders, packing lists, waybills) into database-ready formats, streamlining ingestion.
  • Served as the AI subject matter expert, conducting evaluations of prospective vendors and critically assessing vendor-provided return on investment (ROI) claims to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.

Senior Data Scientist & Ameren Innovation Center Site Director (2018 – 2021), Ameren Corporation

  • Deployed asset risk AI model that identified 90% more critical asset health issues than legacy model. 
  • Led in-house tactical consultancy for digital innovation by providing data science & software engineering solutions for more than 12 department across the organization using a high performing team of data scientists and software developers
  • Increased the number of funded collaborations across departments twofold, while retaining existing 80% of existing partnerships.
  • Received the prestigious, nationally recognized “Smartest Digitalization Project” energy award for the successful deployment of an explainable machine learning capability. 

Lead Analytics for North America (2015 – 2018), ABINBEV BudLab, UIUC Research Park, Anheuser-Busch, Solutions (IT)

  • Led a team of 15 data scientists for in-house consultancy across departments (revenue management, marketing, sales, logistics, category management, and procurement) with a portfolio of > $500 million.
  • Directed the marketing strategy execution for ABINBEV on its sport asset investment portfolio: Using a quasi-experimental design, demonstrated that the effect of sport investments on sales was positive, despite the negative trend in market share. Because of these insights, the company revised its decision and preserved (and later increased) its sports assets for multiple flagship brands. 
  • Executed A/B test experimental design to identify minimum sample size required to reduce Type II error from highly imbalanced beer customer demographics.  
  • Designed a global workshop to educate senior management in advanced analytics, including data science terminologies and trends, case studies, and best practices designed to improve ABI in-house data science project cycle.

Postdoctoral Researcher, Biological Engineering (2011 – 2015), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

  • Applied system-level strategic models (mixed integer programming) to improve food supply chains to minimizeinfrastructure costs and increase food security in developing countries Published 10 scientific papers inrefereed journals.
  • Research on greenhouse gases was cited in the UN report on Climate Change.
  • Recognized with Top Paper Award in the top international association of biological engineering.
  • Identified $6-7 billion of potential supply chain savings using alternative grain storage systems.
  • Initiated collaborations between Brazil and U.S. to access agribusiness supply chain big data.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Biosystems EngineeringUniversity of Kentucky: “Ammonia biofiltration and nitrous oxide generation as affected by media moisture content.”2010
M.S. Civil and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Sao Paulo (USP), Brazil. “Analysis of Kinetics Parameters in the Phenomenon of Reoxygenation and Deoxygenation of Water/”2003
B.S. Civil EngineeringAraraquara School of Civil Engineering, Brazil2000
B.S. Political ScienceSao Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil2003

PUBLICATIONS

Ouyang, Y., Nourbakhsh,  S. M., Bai, Y., Maia, G. D. N., Rodriguez, L. F.  (2016). Grain supply chain network design and logistics planning for reducing post-harvest loss. Biosystems Engineering. DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.08.011

Maia, G. D. N., Ramirez, B. C., Green, A. R., Rodriguez, L. F., Shike, D. W. & Segers, J. R. (2015). A novel ruminant emission measurement system: commissioning (Part II). Trans. ASABE. 58(6): 1801-1815. DOI: 10.13031/trans.58.10753

Maia, G. D. N., Ramirez, B. C., Green A. R., Rodriguez, L. F., Shike, D. W. & Segers, J. R. (2015). A novel ruminant emission measurement system: design evaluation and description (Part I). Trans. ASABE. Vol. 58(3): 749-762. DOI 10.13031/trans.58.10752

Pereira, D. F., Miyamoto, B. C. B., Maia, G. D. N., Tatiana Sales, G., Magalhães, M. M., & Gates, R. S. (2013). Machine vision to identify broiler breeder behavior. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 99(0), 194–199. doi:10.1016/j.compag.2013.09.012

Segers, J. R.,  Felix, T. L. Green, A. R. , Maia, G. N. D. , Ramirez, B. C. , and Shike, D. W.  (2015). Effect of dietary fat concentration from condensed corn distillers solubles, during the growing phase, on beef cattle performance, carcass traits, digestibility, and ruminal metabolism. Journal of Animal Science. 93(8):3990-4001. DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-8917.

Ramirez, B. C., Maia, G. D. N., Green, A. R., Rodriguez, L. F., Shike, D. W. & Segers, J. R. (2014). Design and validation of a precision orifice meter for sub-550 liter per minute flow rate applications. Trans. ASABE. 57(6):1865-1872. DOI: 10.13031/trans.57.10754

Maia, G. D. N., G. T. Sales, G. B. Day V, R. S. Gates, and J. L. Taraba. 2012. Characterizing physical properties of gas-phase biofilter media. Trans. ASABE 55(5): 1939-1950. Superior Paper Award in 2013.

Maia, G. D. N., Day V, G. B., Gates, R. S., Taraba, J., & Coyne, M. S. (2012). Moisture effects on greenhouse gases generation in nitrifying gas-phase compost biofilters. Water Research 46 (9), 3023-3031. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.03.007

Maia G. D. N., Day V, G. B., Gates, R. S., & Taraba, J. (2011). Ammonia biofiltration and nitrous oxide generation during the start-up of gas-phase compost biofilters. Atmospheric Environment. Vol.46 (12):659-664. doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.10.019

Maia, G. D. N., G. B. Day V, R. S. Gates, and J. L. Taraba. 2011. Biofilter media characterization using water sorption isotherms. Trans. ASABE 54(4): 1445-1451

REPORTS

Burns, R., Xin, H., Gates, R. S., Li, H., Hoff, S., Moody, L., Overhults, and Earnest, J. 2007. Tyson Broiler Ammonia Emission Monitoring Project: Final Report Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pdf/publications/Bush_admin_tyson_ammonia.pdf

INVITED TALKS & WORKSHOPS

Saint Louis University: “Specializing in AI: The Key to a Successful Career in a Rapidly Evolving Field”. Saint Louis, MO, August, 2024. Audience: College Freshman and High School Students.

DowDupont Agrochemicals: “Data Science and Advanced Analytics in AgroSciences”, Indiana, Indianapolis, February 2018. Audience: Global Data Science Team

 Anheuser-Busch InBev Headquarter: “Advanced Analytics Training for ABI Leaders”, Belgium, Leuven, October 2017. Audience: ABINBEV Upper Management

 University of Illinois Business School: “Managing data science teams: Identifying and avoiding common pitfalls in data analytics”, Illinois, Champaign, September 2017. Audience: MBA Students

 USDA Fayetteville: “The Future of Biofiltration: Moisture Control and Hybrid Systems”. Presentation for the USDA-ARS at the Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Arkansas, Fayetteville, April 29, 2013. Audience: USDA Poultry Researchers

University of Illinois Extensions Service: “How Much Moisture Do You Need and How Often? Ask Your Biofilter Media.” Presentation in the Field day for ventilation management and air quality for livestock systems, Savoy, Illinois, October 2012. Audience: Illinois Producers

CONFERENCES

Maia, G. D. N., A. R. Green, B. C. Ramirez, Y. Sun, J. Segers, D. W. Shike, L. F. Rodriguez, R. Gates. 2013. Overview and Application of a Metabolic Chamber for Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Generation from Enteric Fermentation. Paper No. 131619682, ASABE Intl Mtg. July 24th, Kansas City, MO. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Ramirez, B. C., G. D. N. Maia,A. R. Green, D. W. Shike, R. Gates, L. F. Rodriguez. 2013. Design and Validation of a Calibrated Orifice Meter for Sub-500 liters per minute Flow Rate Applications. Paper No. 131618475. ASABE Intl Mtg. July 24th, Kansas City, MO. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Sun, Y., G. D. N. Maia, A. R. Green, B. C. Ramirez, L. F. Rodriguez, D. W. Shike, R. Gates. 2013. Sampling Frequency Selection and Diurnal Patterns of Methane Production from Beef Cattle. Paper No. 131619651. ASABE Intl Mtg. July 24th, Kansas City, MO. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Liu, L. F. Rodriguez, G. D. N. Maia, A. R. Green, D. W. Shike, B. Lehman, B. C. Ramirez, J. Segers. 2013. Cattle Movement Characterization and Pattern Identification for Modeling Cattle Movement. Paper No. 131620743. ASABE Intl Mtg. July 23rd, Kansas City, MO. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Maia, G. D. N., G. T. Sales, G. B. Day V, R. S. Gates, and J. L. Taraba. 2012. Physical Characterization of Gas-phase Biofilter Media. ASABE Intl Mtg. July 29th, Dallas, TX. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Norris, H., L. Rodriguez, T. Liu, A. Green, D. Shike, J. Segers, G. D. N. Maia, B. Ramirez, 2012. Impact of Livestock on Soil Characteristics in a Crop-Livestock Agroecosystem.

Liu., L. Rodriguez, A. Green, D. Shike, J. Segers, G. D. N. Maia, B. Ramirez, H. Norris .2012. Assessment of cattle impacts on soil characteristics in integrated crop-livestock systems. Paper No. 121338321. ASABE Intl Mtg. June 20th, Dallas, TX. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Maia G. D. N., R. S. Gates, A. R. Green, L. F. Rodriguez, D. W. Shike, G. B. Day V., J. Taraba. 2011. Viability of the infra-red photoacoustic system on the measurement of greenhouse gases and ammonia. Oral presentation number No. 1111821. ASABE Intl Mtg. August 10. Louisville, KY. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

 Maia G. D. N. Effects of Media Moisture on Ammonia Abatement and Nitrous Oxide and Methane. Workshop Proceedings: Carbon Markets – Expanding Opportunities/Valuing Co-benefits. Workshop co-hosted by the Soil & Water Conservation Society and the National Wildlife Federation. On July 21, 2010, St. Louis, Missouri.

Dutra de Melo, L., G. B. Day V, J. L. Taraba, and G. D. N. Maia. 2010. Assessment of a Moisture Application System for Compost Biofilters. Paper No. 1009176. ASABE Intl Mtg. June 20th. Pittsburgh, PA. St. Joseph MI: ASABE.

Maia, G. D. N., G. B. Day V, R. S. Gates, J. L. Taraba, G. T. Sales, N. Lovanh. 2009. Ammonia removal and nitrous oxide production in gas-phase compost biofilters. Submitted for presentation at the Simpósio Internacional sobre Gerenciamento de Residuos de Animais – SIGERA. March 12th & 13th, 2009. Florianópolis – SC, Brazil

Sales, G. T.,G. B. Day V, R. S. Gates, N. Lovanh, G. Del Nero Maia, and A. Singh. 2009. Assessment of Biofilter Media Particle Sizes for Removing Ammonia. Submitted for presentation at the Simpósio Internacional sobre Gerenciamento de Resíduos de Animais – SIGERA. March 12th & 13th, 2009. Florianópolis – SC, Brazil

Maia, G. D. N., R. S. Gates, M. D. Montross, S. E. Nokes, G. Brion, G. B. Day V, J.L. Taraba. 2008. Comparison of water sorption isotherms applied to compost biofilters of different particle sizes. ASABE. St Joseph, MI: ASABE (Paper and oral presentation).

Maia, G. D. N., R. S. Gates, G. B. Day V, S. E. Nokes, J. L. Taraba, G. Brion, G. T. Sales,  A. Singh,. 2008. Contaminant gas generation as product of degraded ammonia during biofiltration. ASABE Paper No. 084630, St Joseph, MI : ASABE (Oral presentation and paper).

Sales, G. T., G. B. Day V., S. Gates, N. Lovanh, G. Del Nero Maia, and A. Singh. 2008. Assessment of different media particle sizes for ammonia removal optimization. Paper No. 084201. ASABE Intl Mtg, 30 June – 3 July. St. Joseph, MI : ASABE.

Maia, G. D. N., R. S. Gates, E. G. Wilkerson, S. F. Higgins, A. Singh, J. L. Taraba. 2007. (Presentation). Potential nitrous oxide generation during ammonia biofiltration., St Joseph, MI: ASABE (Oral presentation).

Maia, G. D. N., R.S. Gates, E. G. Wilkerson, S. F. Higgins, A. Singh, J. L. Taraba. 2006. Characterization of headspace gases in ventilated and impermeable swine manure tanks and their abatement using biofiltration. ASABE Paper No. 064027, St Joseph, MI : ASABE (Oral presentation).

GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS

Funded intramural grants (funded = $92,000)

  • Design, implementation, and training for a beef flux-chamber system to quantify methane (Current, Support Grant, Research Board Committee, University of Illinois, $30,000)
  • Request for Repair of Existing Equipment (2011, College of ACES Office of Research Equipment Grant, University of Illinois, $25,000)
  • Request for midsize equipment (highly ranked proposal), College of ACES Office of Research Equipment Grant, University of Illinois, $37,000)
  • ASABE Superior Paper Award (2013):
  • Maia, G. D. N., G. T. Sales, G. B. Day V, R. S. Gates, and J. L. Taraba. 2012. Characterizing physical properties of gas-phase biofilter media. Trans. ASABE 55(5): 1939-1950
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Full Masters Scholarship funded by internationally recognized Brazilian Government Agency. 03/2001-03/2003. One of the top five students selected for the highly competitive M.S. program in Environmental Engineering at the University of São Paulo, Brazil

Funded extramural grants

Collaboration withR.S. Gates, A. Singh, S.F. Higgins and E.G. Wilkerson. Gaseous production from impermeable swine waste storage tanks and its abatement using biofilters (2007-2009 – $487,000). USDA National Research Initiative Air Quality Program. Approved as Outstanding Grant Proposal.

SERVICE

2012: Project Organizer for international workshop (funding source: FAPESP, Brazil) on Emissions, Ventilation and Animal Welfare in Livestock Systems held in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (October 2-4, 2012). Participating institutions: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Pennsylvania State University, Texas A&M, Iowa State University, University of Tennessee, EMBRAPA (Brazil), University of São Paulo (Brazil), UNICAMP (Brazil), Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil), Federal University of Paraná (Brazil), Katholic University of Lueven (Belgium), the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain), National University of Colombia, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science.

2012: University of Illinois Extensions Service(audience: producers) “How Much Moisture Do You Need and How Often? Ask Your Biofilter Media.” Presentation in the Field day for ventilation management and air quality for livestock systems, Savoy, Illinois, October 2012.

2011, 2012, 2013: Volunteer, Engineering Open House, University of Illinois

TEACHING AND MENTORING

 Teaching

  • Structures and Environment Design (BAE 427), Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, 2006
  • Surveying (AEN 103), Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Kentucky, 2005
  • Modeling of Environmental Processes for Engineers, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2002

Mentoring

  • Aspiring Data Scientists – Bud Analytics Lab – UIUC Research Park. I mentored and guided grad students from CS, Statistics, Math, Engineering, Library Sciences, Accountancy, and MBAs and armed them with business focused communication techniques.
  • International faculty: Brazilian Professors Danilo Pereira (ABE Visiting scholar, UNESP, Tupã) and Cecília de Fátima Souza (UK-BAE visiting scholar, Federal University of Viçosa)
  • D. students: Tatiana Sales (ABE-UIUC), Liangcheng Yang (ABE-UIUC), Weichao Zheng (ABE Visiting scholar, College of Water Conservancy & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University), Giselle Borges (ABE Visiting scholar, University of São Paulo, Brazil), Maira Pecegueiro do Amaral (BAE-UK), Thayla Morandi (UNICAMP, Brazil), Jacob Segers (Animal Science, UIUC)
  • S. & B.S. students: Brett Ramirez (ABE-UIUC), Yi Sun (TSM-UIUC), Patricia Paulausky (ABE-UIUC), Micah Zehr (ABE-UIUC), Loren Anliker (ABE-UIUC), Kellie Kroscher (Animal Science, UIUC), Lucas Dutra de Melo (BAE-UK), Gabriela Morello (BAE-UK), Igor Lopes (BAE-UK), Tatiana Sales (BAE-UK), Andy Watson (BAE-UK)

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