AIM Research & Learning Symposium

9:30 AM — Welcome & Opening Talk

• Hal Daumé III, AIM Director
• Erica Jiang, Venture Partner, Loyal VC

10:00 AM — Research Presentations

Featured presentations highlight AIM-funded and affiliated interdisciplinary research from across University of Maryland.

Featured projects include:

• Po-Yen Chen — AI and Robotics Accelerated Discovery of Biobased, Sustainable, Antimicrobial Food Packaging
• Vanessa Frías-Martínez — CommunityTwin: A Digital Twin for Enhanced Decision-Making in Public Health
• Cy Keener — AI-Driven Sensor Fusion for Arctic Sea Ice Mapping

11:00 AM — Funding the Future of AI: Perspectives from Federal and Philanthropic Leaders

Leaders from federal agencies and philanthropy will share emerging AI research priorities, funding opportunities, and interdisciplinary challenges shaping the future of work across education, health, public policy, and society. 

Panelists include:

• Jing Liu, Ph.D. — Moderator; Associate Professor in Education Policy, Director of the Center for Education Data Science and Innovation, University of Maryland
• Elizabeth Albro, Ph.D. — Commissioner, National Center for Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences
• Brad Bower, Ph.D. (virtual) — Chief AI and Data Science Officer, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
• Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki — Director, AI and Data Strategies

12:00 PM — Networking Lunch & Poster Session

Posters will remain on display throughout the day; presenters will be available during this hour. Lunch will be provided, with vegetarian, vegan, and dietary-sensitive options available. Dietary accommodations may be indicated during registration.

1:00 PM — Interactive Course Development Grant Panel

Faculty across disciplines will share how they are integrating AI into teaching, curriculum design, and student learning in practical, ethical, and field-specific ways. 

Faculty panelists include:

• Alexis Lothian — Associate Professor, Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Brian Kim — Assistant Research Professor, Joint Program in Survey Methodology
• Alireza Vaziri Rahimi — Assistant Professor, Department of Art
• Jessica Grimmer — Lecturer, College of Information
• Amanda Chicoli — Lecturer, Department of Psychology
• Rodolphe Gentil — Associate Professor, College of Information

2:00 PM — AIM Affiliate Research Lightning Talks

Featured speakers include:

• Marine Carpuat — Associate Professor, Computer Science
• Veronica Kang — Assistant Professor, Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education
• Cornelia Fermüller — Research Scientist, University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing
• Amanda Lazar — Associate Professor, College of Information
• Zubin Jelveh — Assistant Professor, College of Information & Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Shevaun Lewis — Assistant Director, Language Science Center; Director, UMD Autism Research Consortium
• Hernisa Kacorri — Associate Professor, College of Information and UMIACS
• Chunyan Yang — Associate Professor, Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education

3:00 PM — Closing Keynote with Dr. Nicol Turner Lee

Director – Center for Technology Innovation (CIT) and Senior Fellow – Governance Studies

The AIM Research Symposium will take place at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on the University of Maryland campus. Check-in will be held in the Grand Ballroom Lounge, with programming taking place inside the Grand Ballroom.

• Doors Open: 9:00 AM
• Program begins promptly at 9:30 AM

AIM and University staff and volunteers will be available at the registration area to welcome guests and provide guidance upon arrival.

Adele H. Stamp Student Union
3972 Campus Drive
College Park, MD 20742

Stamp Student Union is centrally located on the University of Maryland campus and is accessible by car, public transit, and rideshare services.

The Stamp Student Union also provides a building map for better navigation once inside the building. Building maps are also provided in each of the elevators.