2025 Annual Highlights Report

TRANSFORMING HOW WE SOLVE THE WORLD’S MOST COMPLEX PROBLEMS

2025 HIGHLIGHTS REPORT

REPORT CONTENTS

PAGE 2

Our Leadership

PAGE 3 • COLLABORATE Mission Vision Numbers Reach

PAGE 4-5 • INNOVATE Grants, Awards and Research Research Areas

PAGE 6-7 • EDUCATE Degree Programs Education Leadership

PAGE 8-9 • OUTREACH Signature Events and Key Visits

PAGE 10-11 • HISTORY 2025 Timeline of Events

MISSION

VISION

The Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (IAD) brings together leading researchers, labs and centers across the University at Buffalo and beyond, connecting affiliates from a wide range of disciplines.

Our vision is to foster interdisciplinary research to continue to move the community in new and interesting directions.

Bringing together university, industry, government and community partners to advance core technologies and techniques, applying them in ways to optimize humanmachine partnerships and develop the necessary tools and skills to have a positive societal impact.

Our mission is to transform how we solve the world’s most complex challenges through cutting-edge AI, data science and collaborative innovation.

2021 INSTITUTE ESTABLISHED 250+ IAD FACULTY AFFILIATES* 15 DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS* +

*AFFILIATE NUMBERS

85

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES

50

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

27

JACOBS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

15

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS

16

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

8

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

5

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

7

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

3

SCHOOL OF NURSING

1

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

840+ SUBSCRIBERS: INSIGHTS NEWSLETTER 2,086 TOTAL IAD GRADUATE ALUMNI COLLABORATIONS +

Affiliates: Interdisciplinary faculty and staff within University at Buffalo working with AI and Data Science.

COLLABORATE

HERE IS HOW WE INNOVATE

EXPANDING OUR REACH

IAD COLLABORATE | PAGE 3

SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION

$570,240 | $50,000: UB AT THE FOREFRONT OF IDENTITY AND BIOMETRIC RESEARCH

$92,738: ONGOING ENHANCEMENTS FOR US POSTAL SERVICE

The work of UB’s Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors (CUBS) advances identity science and biometric recognition research in collaboration with the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR).

UB researchers continue to build on groundbreaking work in optical character recognition (OCR) and handwriting analysis that transformed the global postal industry.

Funding Source: Multiple Sponsors PI: Venu Govindaraju Senior Vice President, Research Innovation and Economic Development

Funding Source: United States Postal Service PI: Srirangaraj Setlur Associate Director for Community Engagement, Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

$246,550: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IOT SECURITY EDUCATION

$15,000: IMPROVING TREATMENTS FOR EPILEPSY

An inclusive, student centered IoT CTF platform is being developed to enhance cybersecurity education and pedagogy.

Breakthroughs in genetic testing are helping reduce or even eliminate epilepsy‑related seizures.

Funding Source: National Science Foundation PI: Jinjun Xiong Director, Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science

Funding Source: Louis Sklarow Memorial Trust.

PI: Dheeraj Roy Assistant Professor Department of Physiology and Biophysics Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

INTRODUCING THE 2026 APPOINTED DIRECTOR­­­– SIWEI LYU I’m excited to lead IAD at a time when AI and data science are transforming nearly every field. As AI becomes increasingly woven into every part of society, UB has a unique opportunity to lead not only in innovation, but also in responsibility...Our goal is for AI to do social good — and to only do social good.

Siwei Lyu, Ph.D., FIEEE, FIAPR, FAIAA

SUNY Distinguished Professor • SUNY Empire Innovation Professor Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

JOHN BEVERLEY, PHD Associate Director of AI and Ontological Science Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy College of Arts and Sciences Co-Director, National Center for Ontological Research (NCOR)

KENNETH JOSEPH, PHD Associate Director of AI & Society

Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

SRIRANGARAJ (RANGA) SETLUR Associate Director of Community Engagement

Managing Director, National AI Institute for Exceptional Education Co-Director and Principal Research Scientist, Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors (CUBS)

RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS Autonomy & Robotics Biotech, Genomics & Pharmaceuticals Computational Research & Modeling

INNOVATE

2025 RESEARCH LEADERSHIP

Computer Vision & Machine Learning Education and Special Education Finance, Business & Management Chemistry & Materials Foundational Research Health Sciences Legal, Ethics & Fairness

YIJUN SUN, PHD Associate Director of AI & Health Science

Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Natural Language Processing Ontology Privacy, Trust & Information Security Social Science

SHAOJIE TANG, PHD Associate Director of AI and Management Science Professor, Management Science and Systems School of Management

Curious About AI and Data Science?

Let’s explore the future together, visit: Buffalo.edu/iad

SARA METCALF, PHD Initiative Lead of Benchmarking and Evaluating AI for Modeling and Simulation (BEAMS) Professor, Department of Geography College of Arts and Sciences

IAD INNOVATE | PAGE 5

IAD’S DEGREE PROGRAMS IAD provides educational programs to train students and professionals at different levels and provide learners with the skills to thrive in the rapidly evolving fields of AI, information technology and data science.

IAD FACULTY Justin Del Vecchio, PhD Assistant Professor of Teaching

Leonid Khinkis, PhD Professor of Teaching

Jianzhen (Jason) Liu, PhD Assistant Professor of Teaching Vochita Mihai, PhD Professor of Teaching

Adithya Narayanan, PhD Assistant Professor of Teaching

Computational and Data-Enabled Sciences (CDES) PhD The Computational and Data Enabled Sciences PhD addresses research challenges in a variety of fields by integrating large-scale computing and big data analysis, training scientists to effectively analyze big data and multisource datasets. By combining expertise in computing, data sciences and domain sciences, students are equipped with the skills to tackle complex problems and solve grand challenges in their respective fields.

Data Sciences and Applications MPS The Master of Professional Studies in Data Sciences and Applications program focuses on equipping students with the necessary skills in analytics to derive valuable insights from large and diverse datasets. Students receive training in various data mining and machine learning techniques, enabling them to analyze and extract meaningful information from complex data.

Engineering Science (Artificial Intelligence) MS This Engineering Sciences MS with a course focus on AI is a multidisciplinary program designed to train students in the areas of machine learning, programming languages, deep learning algorithms and advanced artificial neural networks that use predictive analytics to solve real-world problems.

Engineering Science (Data Science) MS The Engineering Science MS with a course focus in data science offers a comprehensive education in big data and analysis. Students gain knowledge, expertise and practical training in data collection and management, data analytics, scalable data-driven discovery and fundamental concepts.

4 2 10 865

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

400+ companies from all over the world have sponsored IAD masters students as interns, including:

MICRO-CREDENTIALS

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

EDUCATE

IAD’S EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

2025 ENROLLMENT GRADUATE STUDENTS

Rachael Hageman Blair, PhD Associate Director of Education, Program Director of Data Sciences and Applications MPS Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Health Professions

Sarah Muldoon, PhD Program Director of Computational and Data Enabled Sciences (CDES) PhD Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences

Johannes Hachmann, PhD Program Director of Engineering Sciences (Data Science, AI & Data Innovation) MS Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

My experience in the IAD’s CDES program has been defined by the pursuit of real-world impact. I gained transferable skills alongside conducting research that matters to improve human life. The program provided me the opportunity to evolve as a scholar, teaching me not just to find solutions, but to think about problems critically and creatively.”

Raktim Mukhopadhyay 2025, CDES PhD Candidate

Mingchen Gao, PhD Program Director of Engineering Sciences (AI, AI & Data Innovation) MS Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

IAD EDUCATE | PAGE 7

OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS AND KEY VISITS

THE AI AND DATA SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM 2025 UB’s IAD Days is an annual celebration of big data, HPC and AI, featuring leading scholars who host workshops, lectures, and networking for students and faculty.

IAD TECH EXCHANGE SEMINAR SERIES Throughout the academic year, the UB community and guest scholars come together weekly to explore diverse AI and data science topics, from child development to robotics, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and sparking new research collaborations.

SUNY AI SYMPOSIUM Bringing together AI thought leaders, SUNY researchers, students and companies of all sizes who leverage AI to produce positive outcomes with scientific discovery, business innovation and economic impact.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL EXPLORES AI AT UB New York State Governor Kathy Hochul received an update on the university’s programs to advance artificial intelligence for the public good. While at UB, Hochul met with UB leadership, faculty and students while touring the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education and the UB Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON RETHINKING CHILDREN’S AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION (ASR) FOR EDUCATION Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) is increasingly used in K–12 education to support learning, engagement and accessibility. This invitation‑only workshop convened educators, researchers, policymakers and technologists to assess, share best practices, advance evaluation standards, define research priorities and collectively shape inclusive, privacy‑respecting children’s ASR for educational settings.

IBM WORKSHOP: RESPONSIBLE AI IN ACTION IBM and the University at Buffalo collaborated on a two‑part workshop designed to build AI literacy and prepare participants for an AI‑driven future.

IBM presented their AI Point of View, demonstrating how AI supports internal operations and software development, with an emphasis on Responsible AI. During an applied learning experience, attendees explored IBM’s AI Pillars of Trust and ethical guidelines through real‑world use‑case discussions.

IAD OUTREACH | PAGE 8

OUTREACH

IAD DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES Each year, we bring some of the nation’s most prominent researchers and innovators in the areas of artificial intelligence, computational science and data science from academia, government and industry to speak on topics of interest to the UB community.

To nominate a Distinguished Speaker, please email: ub-iad@buffalo.edu

Deming Chen, PhD

Mausam, PhD

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

A3C3 – AI Algorithm & Accelerator Co-design, Co-search, and Co-generation

Traditional AI/ML meets LLMs for Reasoning & Knowledge Tasks

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES ON AI & HEALTH SCIENCE 2025 was the inaugural year for the Distinguished Speaker Series on AI & Health Science, bringing together leading experts from top universities to share knowledge and foster collaboration at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. This series offers a unique opportunity to engage with pioneering researchers and innovators shaping the future of AI-driven health solutions.

Brian Athey, PhD

Zhongming Zhao, PhD

University of Michigan Medical School

McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

The Dawn of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the Future of the Academic Health Center (AHC)

The Road to Precision Health: Harnessing Big Genomic Data

Yuan Luo, PhD Northwestern University Medical School Ethical, Proactive, Industrial and Collaborative (EPIC) Multi-modal AI for Health Care

Jeffrey P. Townsend, PhD Yale University Dismantling the Coarse Paradigm of Cancer ‘Drivers’ and ‘Passengers’

NEW IN 2025: DEPARTMENT OF AI & SOCIETY UB’s new Department of AI and Society (AIS), led by inaugural Chair Atri Rudra, PhD (IAD Affiliate), focuses on transdisciplinary research, training and community outreach with the goal of shaping the next generation of visionaries who take tools from society to build AI systems. Supported by $5 million from New York State, AIS offers interdisciplinary degrees across health, policy, arts and more. Housed jointly in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences, the department emphasizes ethical AI and complements UB’s wider AI efforts including IAD.

IAD OUTREACH | PAGE 9

2025 TIMELINE OF EVENTS 7 Climate CommunicAItion Innovation Sprint Finals

7 Public Good U: Strengthening the Case for Public Higher Education

13 Kanazawa University Visit 16 IAD Tech Exchange Seminar Series

24 AI is a Game Changer for Students with Disabilities

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

21 IAD Grad Orientation

4 IAD Tech Exchange

Students Spring 2025

30

MARCH Seminar Series

Springville-Cam P-Tech Visit/Outreach

6 AI Avatar Pilot Case Study 6 STEAM Expo 12 Spring AI at UB 26 AI and Data Science

30 NCFS Winter 2025

Webinar: National Shared Governance Response to AI

Symposium at UB

7 SUNY Robotics Workshop 12 Jaggaer Business Services Meeting

13 SUNY Chancellor Poster Session

15 International Association

for Education Conference

19 AI and Health Science

Distinguished Speaker: Zhongming Zhao

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

1 AI Experience at

1 AI Campus Takeover

15

10 ASR Workshop 11 Identity Week 2025 12 NY Scientific Data Summit 19 AI and Health Science

UB Tours

TechConnect: Helping nonprofits smartly put AI to work

1 15 Founders Mingle: AI for Social Good

22 AI and Health Science

Distinguished Speaker: Yuan Luo

28 National Grid Camp 30 SUNY Chancellor Poster Session

with IBM SkillsBuild

Distinguished Speaker: Jeffrey Townsend

26 AI & Data Science in

Education: Insights from South Korea

10 AI and Health Science

Seminar Series

5

Distinguished Speaker: Brian Athey

Demos for Accepted Students Day

20 Distinguished Speaker:

6-9 ASU and GSV Summit 8-9 SUNY AI Symposium at UB 28 HPC1 Graduate Student

Mausam

22 DAC 2025: The Chips to Systems Conference

26 Brawijaya University Tour

Research Presentations

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

5 Geodynamics Grad

& Undergrad Student Research Presentations

11 ISEDA International Symposium of EDA

24 BEAMS Kickoff 19 EAB Biometrics Workshop 21 CITeR Workshop and Poster Session

22 My Brother’s Keeper

Indigenous Education

1 Engineering + Medicine:

2 IAD Tech Exchange Seminar

Harnessing AI and Health Sciences for Innovation

Series - External Spotlight

4 Engineer’s Alley at

2 Distinguished Speaker

UB Homecoming

Series: Deming Chen

16 NSF Workshop on AI + HW 2025

10 Writing With (and Against)

21 SAIL 2025 24 UB IAD Career

12 CDA 500 Industry Partner

the Machine: Student Insights

Accelerator Series

OCTOBER

Project Showcase

NOVEMBER 6 SUNY Leadership Academy 7 SUNY-IBM AI Research Alliance SAC

8 UB Hackopoly 10 IAD Brainstorm for Collab on AI Tool for UB Internal Medicine Library

24 West Seneca IT Academy Tour

DECEMBER

HISTORY

1 IAD Tech Exchange

Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science 215 Lockwood Hall, University at Buffalo (North Campus) Buffalo, NY 14260 ub-iad@buffalo.edu buffalo.edu/ai-data-science

© 2026 University at Buffalo | Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science revised 06/12/26

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