Data Science Institute

Vanderbilt Residential Colleges announces a new faculty head of Sutherland House on The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. Jesse Spencer-Smith, interim director and chief data scientist at the Data Science Institute and professor of the practice of computer science, will assume the role of faculty head beginning Jan. 1, 2025. He will succeed Chezare Warren, associate professor of equity and inclusion in education policy in the Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations, who has served as faculty head since 2021. Read More

To address the complexities AI poses to the nation’s economy and security, Vanderbilt University experts retired Gen. Paul Nakasone, founding director of Vanderbilt’s Institute of National Security, and Jesse Spencer-Smith, interim director of the Data Science Institute, shared crucial insights with a bipartisan group of congressional staff on Capitol Hill. Read More

A team of Vanderbilt researchers has released a new benchmarking study that aims to assist scientists in selecting the most effective methods for analyzing spatial transcriptomics data. The study led by Xin Maizie Zhou, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and computer science, evaluates computational tools in spatial transcriptomics innovative technology used to map gene expression patterns in tissues while preserving spatial context. Read More

Hunting for black holes sounds like the premise of a new Hollywood blockbuster, but at Vanderbilt University, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Karan Jani works with students in a lab to do exactly that. Last year, Jani’s group at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, along with the university’s Data Science Institute, jointly launched the AI for New Messengers postdoctoral fellowship. The fellowship, one of the first of its kind in the U.S., seeks to apply AI techniques to analyze data from cosmic events (such as black hole collisions) using information from the Nobel Prize–winning Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) experiment. Read More

The brand-new, exclusive segment offeris real-time, in-depth analysis of the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Whether it’s a new model from OpenAI, an innovative tool from Google DeepMind, or a significant development in machine learning, AI Flash ensures you’ll be among the first to understand and explore these advancements. Unlike traditional workshops, AI Flash sessions are spontaneous, launched immediately upon the announcement of key AI developments. This flash-event format delivers timely insights, keeping our participants ahead of the curve as soon as new technologies hit the field. Read More

In April, Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development hosted the panel discussion “Ethical and Equity Considerations in the Age of AI” as part of the Peabody Dean’s Diversity Lecture series. The session explored societal, ethical and moral questions regarding AI’s growing role in higher education, with special consideration of social justice, bias, equity and discrimination concerns. Read More

Vanderbilt is leading the charge on what AI can do for teaching and learning in higher education. Read More

The researchers, including Vanderbilt’s team led by Kari Hoffman, focused their efforts on the detection of hippocampal ripples, which are considered biomarkers of memory and are affected by epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. Read More

Vanderbilt University’s AI Showcase, a recent event hosted by the Data Science Institute, highlighted the remarkable convergence of innovation, inclusivity and practical problem-solving through student-led data science projects. The showcase, structured like a research fair, hosted an array of student presentations, each competing for a part of a $1,700 prize pool. Read More

In just over a year, generative AI has emerged from a niche curiosity to a driving force in many of Vanderbilt’s classrooms. The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Education has launched several resources and programs related to generative AI, including an updated academic affairs policy, an online resource hub, a new teaching award and a pilot program for a secure, proprietary alternative to ChatGPT. These updates reflect AI becoming an established tool in classrooms and labs across the campus and give faculty ways to help equip students to best use generative AI for new lines of inquiry and scholarship.  Read More

President Joe Biden’s nomination of Douglas Schmidt, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Computer Science, to become Director of Operational Test and Evaluation for the Department of Defense was formally submitted to the Senate on Dec. 4, 2023. Read More

Distinguished computer scientist Jules White has been named senior advisor to Chancellor Daniel Diermeier for generative AI in education and enterprise solutions. His appointment builds on Vanderbilt’s growing reputation as a world leader in innovation within the generative AI field. Read More

Join the Data Science team for an exciting AI Deep dive session with Dr. Matthew Pontell, a cleft and craniofacial surgeon working on a project related to the speech dysfunction Velopharyngeal insufficiency that occurs as a complication of palate repair surgeries. This session is designed to explore strategies aimed at improving speech dysfunction using generative AI, navigating through innovative solutions and recovery techniques that promise improved speech health for individuals suffering from various speech impairments. Read More

In today's data-driven world, understanding analytics is crucial for making informed decisions. With the power of Generative AI, analytics is no longer confined to data scientists. This workshop will introduce participants to the world of AI-driven analytics, making complex data analysis accessible to everyone. Read More

A $350,000 grant to develop next-generation archaeological mapping technology will let a Vanderbilt-led research team reveal information about the ancient civilizations of the central Andes. Read More

The Data Science Institute's Data Science Team is looking for undergraduate and graduate students to join as team members on projects in the fall semester. A virtual information session will be held on Aug. 28 from 1 to 2 p.m. to learn about DSI team projects.  Read More

During the spring 2023 semester, students worked on The Musicians in Nashville project, along with the Data Science Team and the Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville to create a user interface for survey data of Nashville musicians. The goals of the project were to understand the economic circumstances of working artists and creative entrepreneurs in Greater Nashville, considering inflation, supply chain issues, and broader economic factors. Read More

Vanderbilt University has created the Future of Learning and Generative AI Initiative and appointed members of an advisory board. Both will center their efforts around scholarship and opportunities connected to the growing use of nascent artificial intelligence technologies.  Read More

A Data Science for Social Good summer project is bringing history and education to life with artificial intelligence through Professor Holly Tucker’s EUS 2230W class. The class throws out the textbook, allowing students to learn history by living it through an elaborate role-playing game. Read More

The Vanderbilt University Data Science Institute began work this semester on a research project to bridge the gap in language acquisition of low-resource languages through deep learning. The team is developing an AI assistant for language professors and tools that keep the curricula up to date with changes in the Hindi language. Read More