Faculty Upskilling in AI (UAI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly essential in both research and teaching. To support faculty in exploring and integrating AI into their work, the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering launched the University of Utah’s AI Upskilling Program in Fall 2024, which was led by our faculty in the Kahlert School of Computing. This campus-wide initiative attracted 91 applicants, and 31 faculty were selected for the inaugural cohort. Building on the success of that program, we are offering it again in Spring 2025.

Program Goals

The UAI program is designed to equip faculty with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use AI in their research. Participants will:

Learn AI and Machine Learning (ML) fundamentals, as well as advanced applications.
Explore how AI can enhance their research.
Develop research proposals incorporating AI as a core component. We are particularly interested in enabling collaborative proposals between the PCOE and faculty from across campus.

Program Structure (4 Modules)

AI Core (4 weeks): This foundational module introduces key AI and ML concepts through 3 hours of training per week.
Deeper Dive (2 weeks): Faculty will explore specialized AI topics tailored to their research interests. In Fall 2024, topics included Generative AI, Deep Learning, and Human-AI Interaction. Topics for Spring 2025 will be selected based on participant interests.
Small Group Interaction (2 weeks): Participants will collaborate in small groups to apply AI tools and concepts to their specific research areas.
Consultation (4-6 weeks): AI experts from the PCOE will provide individual consultations to assist with proposal development and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.