Apply to the HAIL Graduate Student Awardee Program!
The HAIL Graduate Student Awardee Program is an interdisciplinary learning opportunity for graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh interested in developing responsible data and AI practices within their disciplines.
This program is designed for doctoral and master's students who want to strengthen their post-graduate success while contributing to interdisciplinary discovery and collaboration at Pitt through enhanced experiences with responsible data and AI development and use.
About the Program
The HAIL Graduate Student Awardee Program will bring together an interdisciplinary learning cohort of approximately 8 graduate students. This program will complement the research methodologies and data practices students develop in their graduate programs. Together, students will explore data and AI-related areas such as data collection, analysis and modeling, interpretation, and sharing through the lens of responsible use and development.
This program will be guided by two questions: "What does responsible data and AI use and development entail in different disciplines or professions?" and "What individual actions can be taken to practice responsible data and AI use and development?" Throughout the program, students will work toward identifying and articulating specific decision points and practices within their disciplinary work where responsible AI and data principles can be intentionally applied.
Through readings and guest speakers, students will learn about principles in responsible data and AI, including transparency and explainability, privacy and security, community orientation and on-the-ground verification, replication and reproducibility, accountability and trustworthiness, as well as sustainability and adaptability. This co-learning will serve as scaffolding for the participants' identification of individual responsible practices to implement.
Sessions will be structured around three activities:
- First, students will be expected to conduct independent exploration of scholarship articulating understandings and practices of responsibility in their disciplines/professions and to have discussions with individuals in their fields. At each session, students will share their learning with one another, identifying common ground and unique issues in the fields they represent.
- Second, students will engage with a facilitator and participant-selected reading related to responsible data work and AI at each session. In the reading discussion, students will be asked to discuss how the readings connect to their field and share insights that they will bring forward. These readings and discussion will be in service of developing individual actions toward responsibility.
- Finally, we will invite Pitt faculty and staff to visit the sessions and offer perspectives on principles in responsible data and AI. Each speaker will be asked to address at least one principle.
Throughout the fall and spring, the cohort will work together to develop a reflection white paper. This white paper will report on the interdisciplinary learning experience and articulate learned responsible data and AI practices in their disciplines. Graduate awardees will also join undergraduate Student Scholars in presenting at the DataSci+AI Forum in April 2027.
Application and Award
We invite applications from current Pitt doctoral and master's students in any school or program by Thursday, September 17, 2026, 11:59pm. Up to 8 students will be accepted by September 25, 2026. Organizers may request interviews with applicants during the week of September 21.
Awardees will receive a $600 award following completion of the fall sessions and another $600 following completion of the spring sessions.
Participation Requirements
Awardees are expected to:
- Participate in learning and work sessions in Academic Year 2026–2027. These sessions are in-person and take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the exception of April 9 and April 23.
- Kick-off meeting: October 2
- October 16
- October 30
- November 13
- November 20
- December 4
- January 15
- January 22
- January 29
- February 5
- February 12
- February 26
- March 19
- April 2
- April 9, 12pm: Celebration Lunch with undergraduate Student Scholars
- April 16: Practice work session for DataSci+AI Forum
- April 23, time to be determined: DataSci+AI Forum
- Conduct independent exploration of scholarship and practices of responsibility in their discipline/profession, and share this learning with the cohort at each session.
- Engage with facilitator- and participant-selected readings at each session, connecting insights to their own disciplinary work.
- Collaborate on a reflection white paper reporting on the interdisciplinary learning experience and articulating learned responsible data and AI practices.
- Attend recommended events on responsible data science and AI.
- Complete readings and pre-work prior to sessions.
Please apply using the Qualtrics application.