AI4Research
Background and purpose
The research fields artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are growing and developing rapidly on a global scale. Research in these fields will have a major impact on the society of the future and the day-to-day lives of individuals that is too immense for us to fathom today. Uppsala University has the opportunity to offer research of the highest quality that can contribute to understanding as well as to the development of AI/ML in its scientific and social context.
The project, which spans five years, aims to renew, strengthen and further develop research within the field of AI/ML by uniting researchers in a shared space during internal sabbaticals while they remain at their home department part-time. At the same time, it creates collaborative spaces, forms trust-building networks, and spreads ideas about research and teaching in the fields of AI and ML. This not only gives individual researchers and research teams the opportunity to advance the research front, but is also a way to contribute to the University’s renewal and increased competitive power.
Uppsala University strives for research excellence across a broad spectrum of sciences, with the ultimate aim of achieving a better world. AI4Science will contribute to this by inspiring multidisciplinary projects that can explore and expand the opportunities that AI/ML offer to the sciences.
AI4Research will be physically situated in a central location on the Uppsala University campus, preliminarily Carolina Rediviva. The project starts on 1 January 2020 and ends on 31 December 2024.
Objectives
AI4Research shall give established researchers in the various disciplinary domains of the University the opportunity to operate for a period in an environment where everyone researches different aspects of AI for the sciences. The objective of the project is to increase the quantity of AI/ML-related research and education conducted at Uppsala University and, equally important, to improve the quality of this.
Project organisation
AI4Research is a university-wide joint project where the vice-rectors are responsible for project follow-up, evaluation and funding through the activity plans. In consultation with each other, the vice-rectors may also amend these project directives during the course of the project.
The steering group consists of two representatives per disciplinary domain, appointed by the respective disciplinary domain board. The members are appointed for a period for three years, and can be re-appointed. Thus, they can be part of the group for the entire five-year project period.
A research director leads the operational activities of AI4Research. The research director is appointed by the three vice-rectors jointly for the entire five-year project period.
A project coordinator works in close collaboration with the scientific leader and serves as the hub of daily activities. The project coordinator is appointed for the entire five-year project period.
A review group evaluates and ranks applications for funding to be granted a sabbatical. The group consists of active researchers from all disciplinary domains and is appointed by the steering group. The members are appointed for a period for three years, and can be re-appointed. Thus, they can be part of the group for the entire five-year project period.
Contact AI4Research: Cecilia Alsmark