Tag: artificial-intelligence

Announcing the Future of Work in Health Faculty Fellows Program

I’m please to announce the launch of the Future of Work in Health Faculty Fellows Program – a close collaboration between the Center for Future Work Places and Practices (CFWPP) and the Destination Areas (DA) 2.0 Smart Healthcare Hub (SHH).

This new initiative offers Virginia Tech early- and mid-career faculty a unique opportunity to:

  • Advance their research in close collaboration with one of the Smart Healthcare Hub teams.
  • Receive mentorship from senior faculty across CFWPP and the SHH.
  • Access cutting-edge research infrastructure accessible to the SHH at the Virginia Tech–Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke.
  • Contribute to shaping the future of healthcare work and technology.

The Smart Healthcare Hub is advancing research at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and human-centered systems, with focus areas in:

  • AI as a tool for human-centered healthcare delivery
  • Healthcare data privacy and cybersecurity
  • Immersive simulation and gaming as a tool for clinical training and patient learning
  • The development of a Naturalistic Clinical Interaction Database (NCID)

Aligned with these themes, the CFWPP brings together technology, design, policy, and economics to explore the future of work, workplaces, and processes, with an emphasis on workforce development, responsible use of technology at work, and sustainable, health-focused work environments.

Program Benefits

  • $10,000 in overhead funds (for course buyout, summer salary, graduate student support, equipment, etc.)
  • Formal engagement with SHH research teams and CFWPP leadership
  • Engagement in the 2026 AI and Health Conference at Virginia Tech’s Academic Building One in Alexandria
  • Support to pursue external funding and expand research impact

Eligibility & Application

The program seeks early- and mid-career Virginia Tech faculty eager to apply their disciplinary expertise to healthcare and the future of work. Priority will be given to proposals with strong potential for external funding, scholarly recognition, and broader impact. Applicants must submit:

Deadline: November 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET

Submit via this Google Form 

Generative AI for High School Innovators

I’m pleased to announce the Center for Future Work Places and Practices (CFWPP) will be running a new two-week course this summer for high school students, entitled “From Data to Generative AI: A Journey through Machine Learning.”

This course is designed for students in Grades 9–12. No prior experience in coding or artificial intelligence is required—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm.

Win a Scholarship! Essay Contest for VA Students

Virginia high school students in grades 9-11 are invited to participate in an essay contest exploring AI’s future!

  • Theme: How AI is shaping society, education, work, or ethics
  • Length: 800-1,000 words
  • Prize: Five (5) winners will receive a full scholarship to this summer school!
  • Deadline: June 20, 2025
  • Award Notification: June 30, 2025
  • Submit: Essay + CV to vtcfwpp@gmail.com

What Student Will Learn

  • Understand how generative AI works – from neural networks to transformers like GPT and DALL·E.
  • Create content with AI tools – use platforms like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Llama to write stories, design graphics, and generate music.
  • Analyze ethical and social implications – explore bias, misinformation, creativity, authorship, and responsible AI use.
  • Develop your own AI mini-project – pitch and present a creative application of generative AI to solve a real-world problem or express a unique idea.
  • Build foundational knowledge in machine learning concepts like training data, model outputs, and prompt engineering.

Agenda/Schedule (July, 2025)

Week 1: Foundations of Machine Learning and AI
Session 1: Introduction to AI and Machine Learning
Session 2: How Machines Learn
Session 3: Data in Machine Learning
Session 4: Machine Learning with AWS
Session 5: Building Our First ML Model

Week 2: Generative AI and more
Session 6: Introduction to Generative AI
Session 7: Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Session 8: Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Session 9: Ethics and Societal Impact of AI
Session 10: Capstone Project and Showcase

Prerequisites: Curious, open to learning, comfortable with basic use of computers.

Tuition Fees: In-State: $400, Out-of-State: $1000