Saleh Afroogh, PhD '23

I earned my PhD 2023, defending a dissertation on trustworthy and responsible artificial intelligence. Prior to that, my research spanned various areas, including metaethics, applied ethics, decision theory and action theory.

I greatly benefited from several courses at the University at Albany, but one of the most impactful was a course on trust theories with Jason D'Cruz, who also served as my dissertation supervisor. This course laid the foundation for my research on trustworthy AI. I also studied pragmatism, philosophy of mind, the history of philosophy - examining figures like Descartes and Kant - social justice, and other intriguing subjects, all taught by outstanding professors who made my time at UAlbany truly enriching.

I currently serve as an AI Research Fellow at the UT-NSF Ethical AI Program at the University of Texas at Austin. My role involves managing the Ethical AI portfolio, which is funded by the NSF, and mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students in the field of ethical AI. In addition, we conduct cutting-edge research on generative AI and large language models. My current research intersects individual and social values, data, and machine learning across multiple domains, including engineering design, AI technology, medicine and climate change.

My coursework in trust theories, philosophy of mind and social justice was central to my PhD research on trustworthy and responsible AI. Furthermore, I had the privilege of working with an exceptional advisory committee, including Jason D'Cruz, Bradley Armour-Garb and Ron McClamrock, who supported my interdisciplinary research. Their guidance and support also helped me collaborate with Kush Varshney from IBM, offering me a valuable opportunity to explore both academic and industry perspectives. Completing my PhD during the challenging COVID-19 period, while continuing my teaching and research, would not have been possible without their unwavering support.

Profile Information from January 2025.