A virtual assistant that allows Missourians to obtain their birth certificates.
A platform that assists legislators and the community in understanding regional demographic and health statistics.
A software solution that connects WashU researchers — whether tech-savvy or not — to the university’s high-performance computing resources.
This summer, participants in WashU’s Digital Transformation Summer Corps created artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools and products that progressed eight significant interdisciplinary research initiatives. This new program falls under the Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator, a “Here & Next” campaign aimed at accelerating research with digital resources and equipping learners with digital skills. Over a span of 10 weeks, the cohort of 18 exceptional students acquired new competencies in machine learning, received guidance from AI specialists, and collaborated with researchers from varied schools and fields.
“Each of these faculty-led initiatives addresses major pressing issues of our time,” remarked Betsy Sinclair, assistant vice provost for digital transformation and the Thomas F. Eagleton University Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science in Arts & Sciences. “The students ventured into uncharted territory and sought to create something functional. They not only acquired programming abilities, but also learned how to operate in an AI-supported collaborative setting, where everyone has multiple responsibilities and must meet deadlines. It’s astounding how much they achieved.”
Removing obstacles for researchers
Among these students was Andy Hoette, a junior pursuing computer science in the McKelvey School of Engineering and mathematics in Arts & Sciences. His team aimed to simplify the comprehension and usability of the university’s advanced computing resources. Often, Hoette explained, faculty members request more computing power than necessary, while other researchers may not fully utilize WashU’s centralized computing cluster. Consequently, Hoette and his fellow student developers created a chatbot that offers easy-to-understand, tailored guidance. They also established a centralized code library, allowing any researcher — tech-savvy or not — to become a programmer. The group’s achievements will have an immediate and substantial impact throughout the campus.
“Our guiding philosophy is to ensure this is as seamless and straightforward as possible for the researchers, and we’ve succeeded in that,” Hoette shared. “It’s definitely gratifying to reduce barriers for those professionals who may not be as technically inclined. Now they can simply ask the chatbot, ‘Hey, I have this project. How do I run it? What steps are required? What tools should I use?’ And it will provide the answers.”
At the same time, students Ahmad Hamzeh and Dev Gupta, along with their teammates, created an advanced AI vision-language model designed to assist researchers from the School of Public Health, McKelvey Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and the Center for the Environment in addressing inquiries about a neighborhood’s walkability, greenery, and safety.
“We have street-level maps, AI systems that can interpret maps, and language models for interaction. Together, these tools allow you to ‘communicate’ with a city,” explained Gupta, a senior also studying computer science at McKelvey Engineering. “You can inquire about anything: ‘What is the greenery like in this remote part of St. Louis? What are the speed limits in this area of the city?’ The model automates the entire workflow and evaluates these cities without needing an in-person survey.”
The team faced challenges along the way, including the lengthy time required to process a single data request. However, after discussions with their mentors, the students significantly reduced processing durations.
“There were many objectives we aimed to achieve that we were unable to,” Hamzeh stated. “But numerous conversations with individuals in the program helped us explore new solutions. The more we engage with it, the more we discover we can enhance the product. I’m not ready to give up.”
Dan Maranan, DI2’s executive director, was instrumental in establishing the summer initiative, outlining the projects for the season and recruiting student participants. He encouraged students to adopt a “failure is an option” perspective.
“I essentially told the staff and the students, ‘Don’t hesitate to utilize AI. Leverage AI to assist us in planning, organizing, and critically analyzing our work,’” Maranan stated. “Many teams surpassed their goals, generating additional ideas and features for their products. They even inspired their researchers to consider novel concepts for their investigations.”
Maranan, Sinclair, and Nathan Jacobs, assistant vice provost for digital transformation, a professor of computer science and engineering at McKelvey Engineering and co-director of the Geospatial Research Initiative, aim to cultivate a community of developers on campus. They plan to introduce new classes and experiential learning opportunities for aspiring programmers and data scientists. Ultimately, they anticipate these programs will enhance research, opening up greater possibilities for external funding.
Equally significant, DI2 initiatives such as the Digital Transformation Summer Corps and other training programs for both technical and non-technical students will cultivate a new generation of graduates prepared to lead in an AI-driven economy.
“Our students were assured that WashU would deliver a transformative education, and we are fulfilling that commitment,” Sinclair noted. “They are acquiring all the tools necessary to succeed in an AI-enabled workforce, learning how to lead, accept constructive criticism, and collaborate, all while contributing to the edges of knowledge. Such education can only be found at a research university like WashU.”
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