91��Ƶ

The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems finished the Fall 2024 semester in celebratory fashion, and one of the highlight events was the Seidenberg Annual Research Day. This distinguished conference showcases both groundbreaking research and outstanding student papers, all while fostering an environment that encourages active participation from faculty and students. The primary aim of the Seidenberg Annual Research Day is to facilitate a platform for learning and sharing recent advancements in Computer Science, Data Science, and Information Technologies. The conference, led by Seidenberg professor Sung-Hyuk Cha welcomes a diverse array of participants, including seasoned researchers and aspiring students, creating an inclusive space for academic exchange.

The 2024 event began with opening words from Seidenberg’s Dean Li-Chiou Chen and 91��Ƶ’s Provost Jonathan Hill. Following their introductions, students set up posters with visual presentations of their research, which they then presented to faculty and attendees while also participating in rapid oral presentations and answering questions about their work. The diverse range of topics of the students’ work spanned across a wide array of industries, including healthcare, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, finance, education, virtual reality, and technology driven social platforms.

Following the students’ presentations, the event featured three faculty speakers from Seidenberg. Assistant Professor Dr. Soheyla Amirian’s talk, Fair and Responsible AI in Medical Imaging Informatics, highlighted challenges and solutions for ensuring fairness and responsibility in AI-powered medical imaging informatics. Focusing on widely accessible and cost-effective imaging modalities such as plain radiographs (X-rays), her presentation explored computational strategies to first detect and then mitigate biases and enhance AI algorithm impartiality. Her work underscores the importance of responsible AI practices to ensure that medical imaging technologies are safe, equitable, and beneficial for all.

Following the first presentation, Dr. Jonathan Williams, Clinical Assistant Professor of Human-Centered Design at Seidenberg, continued with his talk on Designerly Knotting in Beginning Design Education. His talk explored how knot tying, when positioned within the design domain, serves as a constructionist learning tool. This research examined two instructional cases: one in which academically gifted high school students engaged with designerly knotting in a summer residential program, and another in which adult learners utilized it as part of career training. The findings demonstrated that designerly knotting can stand alone, or stand alongside, other beginning design activities and exercises that teach beginning design.

Wrapping up the trio of speakers was Dr. Yegin Genc, the Chairperson of the Information Technology Department at 91��Ƶ. His presentation on the Role of AI Explanations in Augmented Decision Making investigated how AI-generated explanations influence human judgment in decision-making processes. Recent studies have revealed that when AI provides recommendations, decision-makers engage in two key metacognitive processes: system-monitoring, where they assess the validity of AI suggestions, and self-monitoring, where they evaluate their own knowledge and beliefs. His work examined the effects of AI explanations, those typically used to evaluate the correctness of AI recommendations, on augmented decision making from the perspective of these cognitive mechanisms.

After all of the presentations were concluded, the 2024 conference was closed with awards and closing remarks. The entire Seidenberg team wants to congratulate the students and faculty who participated in the event and highlighted the incredible level of excellence that is driving the entire school forward. In the words of Provost Hill, “these abstracts represent original research and though-provoking problems pertinent to Computer Science and Information Systems. We commend all contributors for their dedication and innovation and thank them for enriching this conference with their work.”

If you want to learn more about the students’ presented research projects, you can find them all listed on the event’s website link below.