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Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Steering Committee

Data science and artificial intelligence (DS/AI) represent the backbone of modern innovation, cutting across disciplines to unlock discoveries and efficiencies in everything from healthcare to environmental sustainability.

Drawing on its existing strengths, including leadership in interdisciplinary research collaboration, Northwestern University has launched an initiative to integrate and elevate its many DS/AI capabilities, recognizing the transformative potential of these fields to lead in generating solutions to global challenges and to enhance the University's research brand on the world stage.

Championed by Northwestern’s President, Provost and Vice President for Research, this project focuses on the University priority “Harness the Power of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence” as a broad-reaching platform to fuel research excellence and innovation across all our schools and units.

The DS/AI Steering Committee’s mission is to propose a vision and roadmap for elevating the quality and impact of Northwestern’s research and educational activities in data science and artificial intelligence.

Committee Members

  • Vicky Kalogera (Chair), Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished University Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA)
  • Abel Kho (Co-Vice Chair), Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) and Preventive Medicine (Health and Biomedical Informatics), Feinberg School of Medicine; Director, Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (I.AIM); Director, Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) – Center for Health Information Partnerships
  • V.S. Subrahmanian (Co-Vice Chair), Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science; Faculty Fellow, Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
  • Eric Anderson, Professor of Marketing and Polk Bros. Chair in Retailing, Kellogg School of Management; Founding Director, Kellogg-McCormick MBAi Program
  • Jian Cao, Cardiss Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science; Director Northwestern Initiative for Manufacturing Science and Innovation; Associate Vice President for Research, Office for Research
  • Noshir Contractor, Jane S. and William J. White Professor of Behavioral Sciences, School of Communication, McCormick School of Engineering, and Kellogg School of Management; Director of the Science of Networks in Communities (SONIC) Research Group
  • Stephanie Edgerly, Professor of Journalism, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; Associate Dean of Research
  • Kristian Hammond, Bill and Cathy Osborn Professor of Computer Science, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science; Director of the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Program
  • Kristi Holmes, Professor of Preventive Medicine (Health and Biomedical Informatics) and Professor of Medical Education, Feinberg School of Medicine; Chief of Knowledge Management, Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (I.AIM); Director, Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center; Associate Dean for Knowledge Management and Strategy
  • Venus Jin, Professor-in-Residence, Communication Program, Northwestern University in Qatar; Founding Director of Artificial Intelligence and Media Lab (AIM LAB); Associate Dean for Education
  • Doug King, Senior Vice President Administration and Chief Information Officer, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and Feinberg School of Medicine
  • James Lee, Associate Professor, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; Associate University Librarian for Academic Innovation
  • Kelly Michelson, Professor of Pediatrics and Julia and David Uihlein Professor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Feinberg School of Medicine; Director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities; Chief Ethics Officer of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine(I.AIM)
  • Tom Miller, Faculty Director, MS in Data Science Program, School of Professional Studies
  • David Morton, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
  • Joe Paris, Senior Director of Research Computing and Technology Support Services, Northwestern University Information Technology (NUIT)
  • Michael Schmitt, Professor, Physics and Astronomy, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; Associate Dean for Research
  • David Schwartz, Frederic P. Vose Professor of Law, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
  • Daniel Shanahan, Associate Professor of Music Theory and Cognition, Bienen School of Music
  • Elizabeth Tipton, Professor of Statistics and Data Science, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; Director of Ad Hoc MS in Applied Statistics Program; Co-Director, STEPP Center; Institute for Policy Research (IPR) Fellow
  • Sepehr Vakil, Associate Professor of Learning Sciences, School of Education and Social Policy; Director, Technology, Race, Ethics, and Education Lab (TREE Lab) 
  • Gayle Woloschak, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine; Associate Dean for Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Programs, The Graduate School

Ex OFFICIO

  • Sumit Dhar, Hugh Knowles Professor of Hearing Science, School of Communication; Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Provost
  • Eric J. Perreault, Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine; Professor, Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering; Vice President for Research, Office for Research

SUPPORT

External
The Steering Committee will be supported by Arena Partners, a consulting firm that brings expertise in leading large-scale innovation and transformation. 

Internal

  • Kristi Hubbard, Director of Planning for University Priorities and Collaborative Engagement, Office of the President
  • Mearah Quinn-Brauner, Senior Director for Strategy and Policy, Office of the Provost
  • Jeff Stiers, Senior Director, Special Projects, Office of the Dean, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
  • Devin Charles Trezise, Executive Assistant, Office for Research