Responsibility in Innovation and Scholarship Experience
Rapid advancements in AI are reshaping society, raising complex ethical questions and societal impacts that demand critical attention. This NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program will equip trainees with essential technical and interpersonal skills to navigate the dynamic interface between AI technologies and human stakeholders. Through a team science approach, this training will bridge the gap between academic learning and critical applications in government, science and industry. This training experience is funded by a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation: “NRT: Building Responsible AI Researchers: Advancing Research and Innovation at the Intersection of AI and Human Actors“, Award # 2509828.
Central to the RISE (Responsibility in Innovation and Scholarship Experience) training program is the convergence of AI and Computer Science researchers with Humanities and Social Sciences faculty (AI+HSS) and industry professionals, to address the gap between the technical training of AI graduate researchers and the broader understanding of social issues and human values essential for developing AI applications that reflect societal principles of autonomy, fairness, collective safety and adaptability.
Trainee involvement
RISE will integrate these themes through new curricular modules, workshops, roundtables, internships and mentoring. The program will directly support 10 PhD and 5 MS NRT trainees with stipends ($37k), tuition and fees, and money for educational expenses, travel, and professional development ($1.5k). In addition to the funded trainees, we anticipate that over 200 additional students will participate in one or more of the funded project activities.
For more information on how to apply to be a funded trainee, click the button below.
Vision and goals
Our vision is to transform society by engaging participation from all members of society in the design, development and deployment of AI technologies that promote human flourishing. To realize our vision, we will bridge the gap currently dividing technical expertise in AI from the focus, expertise, and motivation required to assess, understand, and steer its societal impacts.
The program has three key goals:
- Significantly improve trainee career readiness and create a smooth pathway to industry.
- Create a sustainable curriculum pathway that instills core RISE skills and competencies for both funded STEM trainees and the wider population of students at Boise State and beyond.
- Transform the research culture at Boise State through convergent research that deeply engages AI+HSS faculty in research and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence.