Data Science Day 2025 - Program

Data Science Day 2025 celebrates the rapid pace of AI-driven innovation and data science excellence at the University of Pittsburgh. This event brings together researchers, industry leaders, and students to showcase groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics at Pitt and with its partner organizations.

Click the gray bars below for more details on each session. Check back for new information to be added as it becomes available.

8 a.m.–8:30 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast

Enjoy a light breakfast, and network with peers.

8:15 a.m.–8:30 a.m. - Welcome

Overview of the day's agenda and objectives from Michael Colaresi, Associate Vice Provost for Data Science

8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. - Keynote - Joseph T. Yun - AI Agents: What Will Higher Education Look Like?

Joseph T. Yun serves as the artificial intelligence and innovation architect at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also holds the position of research professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Swanson School of Engineering.

His research focuses on building advanced AI and machine learning systems and technologies, with an emphasis on their applications across business and societal contexts.

Yun is actively engaged in exploring cutting-edge technologies like blockchain to enhance the practical implementation of AI. Additionally, he is committed to examining the broader societal impacts of these emerging technologies.

9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. - Panel - Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration in Responsible Data Science and AI: How to Drive Institutional Innovation

Universities have long been structured around disciplines, yet the accelerating breakthroughs in data science (DS) and artificial intelligence (AI) demand new models of collaboration.

As AI reshapes research, education, and workforce development, how can institutions foster cross-disciplinary engagement while ensuring responsible innovation?

This panel brings together leaders from the RDS@Pitt programs and University-wide initiatives to explore:

• What cross-disciplinary collaboration looks like in the age of DS/AI and why it matters for research, education, and policy.
• Strategies for designing processes that celebrate and amplify disciplinary expertise while fostering meaningful engagement across fields.
• Balancing rapid advancements in DS/AI with ethical implementation, governance, and education.
• Defining responsible innovation—is responsibility itself an innovative approach?
• Key guiding principles for responsible DS/AI and how governance structures, institutional resources, and frameworks can support them.
• Real-world implementation—actionable steps institutions can take to translate discussion into impact.

Our panelists will share insights on bridging disciplinary silos, leveraging teams with complementary expertise, and preparing students for an evolving job market.

They will also highlight institutional strategies for incentivizing collaboration, creating effective governance models, and ensuring DS/AI developments benefit both academia and broader communities.

Panelists:

• Eleanor Mattern, Director, Sara Fine Institute, and Teaching Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Information
• Robert Gradeck,Project Director, Urban & Regional Analysis Program, Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center
• Audra Longert, Associate Vice Provost for Digital Education, Office of the Provost
• Michael Bridges, Executive Director, University Center for Teaching and Learning

Moderator:

• Marcela Gomez, Moderator
  Senior Data Analyst at the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research

Bruce Childers, Dean of the School of Computing and Information, will end the panel discussion with overviews of the event up to that point and Pitt's Master of Data Science program.

10:30 a.m.– 10:45 a.m. - Coffee Break

Enjoy refreshments and networking time.

10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m. - Breakout Sessions - AI and Data Science at Pitt: Sparking Ideas and Collaborations

Breakout sessions at Data Science Day 2025 will spark interdisciplinary collaboration, driving new ideas and actionable next steps for AI and data science at Pitt.

Each session will focus on a key topic and conclude with a call to action (CTA)—a guiding opportunity for future research, partnerships, or initiatives. These CTAs will shape strategic priorities for the coming year.

Sessions will follow a structured format: a 10-minute introduction to frame challenges, a 30-minute moderated discussion to explore insights, and 20 minutes of CTA development to translate ideas into meaningful next steps.

By the end, participants will help shape a roadmap for responsible AI and data science, fostering innovation and collaboration across disciplines.

Topics:  

• Data ethics for Large-scale Global and Historical Spatial Information
  • Ruth Mostern, Director, World History Center, and Professor of History, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, and
  • Keila Grinberg, Professor, Department of History, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
• Explainable AI
  • Vladimir Zadorozhny, Professor, School of Computing and Information 
  • Panos Chrysanthis, Professor, School of Computing and Information
• Data Science for Sustainability
  • Melissa Bilec, Special Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability; Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation; William Kepler Whiteford Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering and
  • Gena Kovalcik, Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
• Facilitating Faculty/Student Research with Administrative Student Data
  • Amanda Brodish, Associate Vice Provost for Data Analytics, Office of the Provost
  • Rae Mancilla, Interim Executive Director of Online Learning, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
    Anthony Delitto, Associate Provost for Digital Education, Office of the Provost
  • Natalie Baney, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
• Breaking Barriers: Making Data Science and AI Accessible at Pitt
  • Yassin Khalifa, Data Scientist, Center for Research Computing and Data
  • Nalyn Siripong, Senior Data Scientist, Pitt IT
  • Chad Burton, Executive Director, Transformation and Analytics, Information Technology
• Equity and Access in AI & Data Science
  • Sera Linardi, Associate Professor, School of Public and International Affairs, and Director of the Center for Analytical Approaches to Social Innovation (CAASI)
  • Michael Hamilton, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. - Lunch and Poster Session

Join designated lunch tables, and explore the student poster presentations.

Students: Find out how to participate in the poster session. Poster submissions are due by March 14.

We’re excited to welcome The DataJam to the RDS@Pitt poster session, where regional high school and community college students will present their work alongside Pitt undergraduate and graduate students.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. - Lightning Talks - Possibilities and Performance at Pitt – AI and Data Science in Action

Join us for an exciting session of Lightning Talks, where we shine a spotlight on the innovative AI and data science initiatives happening across Pitt!

This is an open forum for students, faculty, and researchers to share groundbreaking projects, emerging ideas, and impactful applications in AI, data analytics, and responsible data science. Each slot has five minutes to present their idea, project, or exciting opportunity.  

What to Expect: 

• Rapid-fire presentations featuring cutting-edge research, new collaborations, and real-world applications. 
• Open sign-ups for those eager to share their work or spark discussions. 
• Featured talks from the top teams of the Super Analytics Challenge, led by the School of Business. These teams have developed data-driven solutions tackling real challenges faced by communities across Pennsylvania.

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. - Afternoon Break

Afternoon Break

1:45 p.m.-2:45 p.m. – Keynote - Andy Hannah - Data Without Borders? Understanding the Risks of Combining Internal and External Sources

Join us for an insightful keynote by Andy Hannah, entrepreneur, adjunct professor, and expert at the intersection of AI, data science, and innovation.

With decades of experience in analytics-driven entrepreneurship, Andy will explore how artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are shaping industries, unlocking new opportunities, and driving strategic decision-making.

From founding OThot, a predictive and prescriptive analytics company, to mentoring the next generation of data-driven entrepreneurs, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge on leveraging AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics to create impact.

His talk will delve into real-world applications, entrepreneurial insights, and the transformative power of data science.

3 p.m.–4 p.m. - Advisory Board Round Tables – Solution Sprints

The Solution Sprints at Data Science Day 2025 will provide an interactive forum for students, faculty, and professionals to engage with industry leaders and career advisors in structured, fast-paced discussions.

These sessions will focus on real-world applications of responsible data science (RDS), emerging AI-driven roles, and career development strategies, offering participants actionable insights and networking opportunities.

4 p.m. - Closing Remarks and Networking

Get a recap of the day's key takeaways, and enjoy a final opportunity to connect with other attendees and discuss collaborations.

Data Science Day is a collaborative event co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost - Responsible Data Science and School of Computing and Information.

Additional sponsorship is provided by the School of Business.