AI & Society Research Center

AI is reshaping our world. How can we shape AI?

The AI & Society Research Center at the University at Albany is a cross-disciplinary research hub focused on the human and societal dimensions of artificial intelligence.  

The Center brings together faculty, students and partners from across the arts, humanities, social sciences and technical fields to explore how AI is reshaping public life, culture, ethics, and governance — and to design technologies that support, reflect and protect what matters most about the human experience and the society we live in.

Our work explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world we live in — and how we might shape it in return.
 

Opportunities to Get Involved
Collaborative Research
Faculty Fellowships

Attend the AI Plus Symposium

A logo that reads, "AI Plus Symposium, University at Albany."

UAlbany is hosting a national gathering of professionals and academics that will focus on the transformative potential of AI while addressing the ethical, technical and institutional challenges posed by AI in education.

When: Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8, 2026

Learn more about the symposium.

 

One researcher sits in a chair in front of several computer monitors while a second researcher leans over and says something while looking at the computer.

SUNY's $2.4M Investment in UAlbany

The AI & Society Research Center and UAlbany’s AI & Society College were founded in 2025 with a $2.4 million investment from the State University of New York to position UAlbany as a leader in responsible, human-centered AI.  

While the College leads curricular innovation under the Division of Academic Affairs, the Center advances interdisciplinary research, fosters scholar-practitioner collaboration and supports the development of tools, frameworks and insights to identify AI’s possibilities, anticipate its risks, and help utilize and shape AI for public good.  

The Center is embedded within the AI Plus Institute and overseen by the Division for Research and Economic Development.
 


 

About the AI & Society Research Center’s Work

Our work is grounded in a deep curiosity about the human experience and a belief that technology should enhance, not erode, what is most vital about it.

The Center’s research and programming are guided by broad themes, like resilience, solidarity, connection, imagination and flourishing, that invite expansive exploration of AI’s role in shaping human experience. These themes serve as points of departure, not limits — opening space for exploration into artistic practice, social systems, technological infrastructures and the evolving ways we live, work and connect.  

By organizing our work around these generative concepts, we create space for wide-ranging collaboration across disciplines, methods and communities, and we discover possibilities for research, storytelling, design and public engagement that respond to the questions and challenges of our time.


 

Get Involved

Join a community of researchers, innovators, skeptics and advocates working to ensure AI enriches our lives while protecting what matters most. There are many ways to get involved with the AI & Society Research Center.

We welcome participation from faculty, students, administrative units, community organizations, industry partners and funders who share our commitment to shaping the role of AI in public life. 

Whether through collaborative research, themed semester programming, fellowships, events or strategic partnerships, we invite you to connect with us and explore how your work, perspective or mission might align with ours.

Please follow the links below to get involved or email the Center at [email protected] to learn more about how you can support our work, including through monetary donations and industry partnerships.

 

get-involved
Join Our Community
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Connect with researchers, students and collaborators working at the intersection of AI and society.

Join Our Mailing List
Attend an Event
Audience members sit and listen during a presentation on AI on UAlbany's campus.

Take part in public conversations, workshops, panels and programs throughout the year. 

Explore Events
Collaborate With Us
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Work with our team on research, programming or cross-sector initiatives.

Become a Partner

AI Plus Collaborative Research Experience (AI Plus CoRE)

The AI Plus Collaborative Research Experience (AI Plus CoRE) supports interdisciplinary faculty-led research teams focused on the human and social dimensions of artificial intelligence.  

Each CoRE team is co-led by two faculty members from different disciplines, supported by a graduate assistant and joined by undergraduate researchers who contribute directly to active, publishable research projects.

Learn more about AI Plus CoRE and meet our research teams.

collaborative-research

Faculty Fellowships

Meet our 2025-2026 Fellows:   Research Fellows   |   Faculty Engagement Fellows

Apply for a 2026-2027 Fellowship

fellowships


 

2025-2026 Research Fellows

research-fellows
Sukwoong Choi.

Dr. Sukwoong Choi, Assistant Professor​
Information Systems and Business Analytics, Massry School of Business​

Generative AI’s self-perception of its ability to replace human jobs, particularly managerial roles, and compare it with human expectations using a systematic methodology

Jonathan Foster.

Dr. Jonathan Foster, Assistant Professor​
Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education​​

Methodologies for evaluating human and AI-pairings in classroom observation rating systems, focusing on inter-rater reliability and bias​

Archana Krishnan.

Dr. Archana Krishnan, Associate Professor​
Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences​

Testing currently-available GenAI models to conduct lexical simplification of health information​

Alex Kumi-Yeboah.

Dr. Alex Kumi-Yeboah, Associate Professor​
Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education​

Fostering artificial intelligence ethics literacy students and faculty in higher education,​ in collaboration with Dr. Benjamin Yankson

Cheng Ren.

Dr. Cheng Ren, Assistant Professor​
School of Social Welfare​, College of Integrated Health Sciences

Leveraging artificial intelligence techniques to analyze text-heavy court files to extract key information to help the public understand the characteristics (e.g. reasons lead to eviction) and variations among eviction cases​

Xiaobo Xue Romeiko.

Dr. Xiaobo Xue Romeiko, Associate Professor​
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences​

Creation of a spatially and temporally explicit database describing the origins, redistribution routes, destinations, types and quantities of donated foods in New York State​

Piotr Szpunar.

Dr. Piotr Szpunar, Associate Professor​
Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences​​

Research in the areas of anxiety, politics, technology and collective memory, and their collective implications to AI for democratic governance​

Ying Wang.

Dr. Ying Wang, Associate Professor​
Finance, Massry School of Business​

Bridging Minds and Machines: Uncovering Human Insight in Credit Ratings through AI Interpretation​

M. Abdullah Canbaz.

Dr. M. Abdullah Canbaz, Assistant Professor​
Department of Information Sciences and Technology, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Development and evaluation of AI-assisted mental health tool to support individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges, such as anxiety, ADHD and depression​

Benjamin Yankson.

Dr. Benjamin Yankson, Associate Professor
Department of Cybersecurity, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Fostering artificial intelligence ethics literacy students and faculty in higher education, in collaboration with Dr. Alex Kumi-Yeboah 

 

 

2025-2026 Faculty Engagement Fellows​

faculty-engagement-fellows
Eric Best.

Dr. Eric Best, Assistant Professor​
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security​, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Forum for AI Resilience and Safety (FAIRS)​

Kyra Gaunt.

Dr. Kyra Gaunt, Associate Professor​
Department of Music & Theatre, Department of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, College of Arts & Sciences

​TEDxUAlbany: Digital Justice and Innovation​

Angie Y. Chung.

Dr. Angie Y. Chung, Professor​
Department of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences

Open Access Textbook on AI & Society​

Alessandra Buccella.

Dr. Alessandra Buccella, Assistant Professor​
Department of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences​​

Graduate coursework development in ethics and AI

Alandeom Oliviera.

Dr. Alandeom Oliviera, Professor​
Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education​

​Reflective workshops on AI in interpersonal and educational contexts​

E. Stefan Kehlenbach.

Dr. E. Stefan Kehlenbach, Assistant Professor​
Department of Political Science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy​

AI and Democracy: Critical Questions Speaker Series​, in collaboration with Dr. Haesol Bae

Haesol Bae.

Dr. Haesol Bae, Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education​

AI and Democracy: Critical Questions Speaker Series​, in collaboration with E. Stefan Kehlenbach

 

Apply Now: 2026-2027 AI & Society Fellowships

Interested in applying to the Faculty Innovation Fellowship or Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship? Visit the AI & Society College for more opportunities!

 

AI & Society Faculty Research Fellowship

The AI & Society Research Center is now accepting Faculty Research Fellowship applications for the 2026-2027 Academic Year.   
 

apply
Faculty Research Fellowship Description
Faculty Research Fellowship Description

The Research Fellowship supports original interdisciplinary scholarship that deepens our understanding of AI’s role in society.  

Projects may be empirical, theoretical or creative in nature and may investigate the implications, risks or opportunities presented by AI in any domain of human experience or social organization.  

Support may be used for pilot studies beginning a line of research or for advancing/completing projects already in progress.  

We particularly encourage work that connects AI research to the broader themes of the Center (human resilience, solidarity, connection, imagination and flourishing) and projects that engage partners from other disciplines and fields.  

Successful proposals will include specific commitments regarding outputs. These outputs may include:

  • Journal articles or refereed conference proceeding equivalents
  • Completion and submission for publication of book manuscripts
  • Collaborative externally funded research grant proposals aimed at specific funding opportunities
  • Research tools, models or datasets
  • Creative works
  • Digital publications or multimedia research artifacts

If you're unsure whether your project qualifies, please contact Elizabeth Gray at [email protected] or Eric Stern at [email protected].

Faculty Research Fellowship Expectations
Faculty Research Fellowship Expectations
  • Complete the proposed project within the 2026-2027 Academic Year
  • Submit mid-year and final project reports
  • Participate in AI & Society events related to UAlbany Showcase
  • Participate in the AI Plus Institute and AI & Society Research Center’s annual research conference, as appropriate
  • Engage in a research-focused conversation, or provide information for a spotlight feature article about your work 
Faculty Research Fellowship Eligibility & Application
Faculty Research Fellowship Eligibility & Application

This fellowship is open to all tenure-track, tenured and non-tenure-track faculty across disciplines. Current AI & Society Fellows are welcome to apply.

Please review the Fellowship Description above for additional eligibility guidance related to applicants’ proposed projects.

Applicants must submit a CV (maximum three pages) and a document that includes responses to the following prompts:

  1. Describe the aim and significance of your research. (400 words maximum)
  2. Describe your research plan and timeline. (400 words maximum)
  3. Do you envision collaborating with other researchers or collaborators on or off campus? If so, in what manner? (200 words maximum)
    • Preference will be given to projects that involve collaborations across disciplines and academic units.
  4. What kind of support would be most useful?
    • You may select one course release (specify semester and indicate whether you have already secured permission from your department), or you may select one or more of the following options, with the total funding not to exceed the total of one course release ($5,000):
      • Summer Salary (charged before June 30, 2027)
      • Graduate Assistant (specify role and number of hours)

Materials should be submitted as attachments and emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Research Fellowship Application - [your name].”

Applications are due by March 15, 2026, and decisions will be communicated by April 15, 2026. The fellowship will start on August 24, 2026. 

 

AI & Society Public Engagement Fellowships

The AI & Society Consortium is now accepting Public Engagement Fellowships applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.
 

Public Engagement Fellowship Description
Public Engagement Fellowship Description

The Public Engagement Fellowship supports faculty-led initiatives that engage the public, policymakers, practitioners, artists or community organizations in meaningful dialogue or collaborative work related to artificial intelligence (AI) and society.  

This includes public-facing events, participatory research, creative and cultural programming, policy engagement, and other innovative approaches to bridging University research and the wider world.  

Outputs may include:

  • Public events, exhibitions or performances
  • Policy briefs, toolkits or community resources
  • Co-designed workshops or training programs
  • Hackathons or design challenges
  • Storytelling or media projects
  • Outreach strategies with underserved communities
  • Applied partnerships with public or nonprofit entities

If you are unsure whether your project qualifies, please contact Hany Elgala at [email protected], Mila Gasco Hernandez at [email protected], Elizabeth Gray at [email protected], or Eric Stern at [email protected]. 

Public Engagement Fellowship Expectations
Public Engagement Fellowship Expectations

Tasks: Fellows will complete the project described within the 2026-2027 academic year.

Participation: Fellows will be expected to take part in AI & Society Consortium events, including an engagement-focused conversation or spotlight feature. In addition, fellows will be expected to present their work at AI & Society events associated with UAlbany Showcase.

Representation: Fellows will be expected to become ambassadors of the AI & Society Consortium, by representing the Consortium with integrity, engaging actively in its events and outreach, promoting a positive image in all interactions, and sharing experiences to inspire others. 

Progress and final reports: Fellows will be expected to report their progress at the end of the Fall 2026 semester and to write a detailed final report describing the work undertaken at the end of the Spring 2027 semester.

Public Engagement Fellowship Eligibility & Application
Public Engagement Fellowship Eligibility & Application

We encourage applications from all tenure-track, tenured and non-tenure-track faculty across disciplines.

Applicants must submit a CV (maximum three pages) and document that includes responses to the following:

  1. Describe the aims and scope of your project. (400 words maximum)
  2. Describe the steps necessary to realize this project. (400 words maximum)
  3. Do you have collaborators on this project on or off campus? (200 words maximum)
    • Preference will be given to projects that involve collaborations across disciplines and academic units.
  4. What form of support would be most useful to support the completion of your project?
    • You may select one course release (specify semester and indicate whether you have already secured permission from your department), or you may select one or more of the following options, with the total funding not to exceed the total of one course release ($5,000):
      • Stipend or Summer Salary
      • Graduate Assistant (specify role and number of hours)
      • Event or production budget (specify needs)
      • Other (please specify)

Materials should be submitted to Dr. Mila Gascó-Hernandez at [email protected]. 

Applications are due by March 15, 2026, and decisions will be communicated by April 15, 2026. The fellowship will start on August 24, 2026.