AI@USD

cool techy designs

Research and Scholarship

NewsAI Tools @ USD

Co-Leads

  • Saturnino Garcia
  • Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick

Members

  • Sophia Baik — CAS
  • Peter Iovine — CAS
  • Daniel Lin — KSB
  • Brad Melekian — CAS
  • Traci Merrill — OSP
  • Jennifer Olsen — SMSE

The University of San Diego is committed to advancing academic excellence and preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service. As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the landscape of global inquiry, the Working Group on AI in Research and Scholarship is charged with developing a visionary and ethical framework for the integration of AI into the university’s research enterprise.

Consistent with our strategic plan, Lighting the Way to 2030, this group will explore how AI can be leveraged as a tool for "human flourishing" while safeguarding the intellectual, moral, and relational dimensions of scholarly work.

Charge

  • Review USD’s research ecosystem (IRB, OSP, etc) for areas where AI can offer operational efficiencies.
  • Create or attract funding opportunities in support of AI-related research at USD, especially related to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the Human Experience.
  • Identify trans-disciplinary research priorities in AI (e.g., AI + ethics, AI + human sciences, AI + Catholic intellectual tradition) and propose mechanisms for supporting cross-college collaboration.
  • Review AI-related tools and resources currently available, or recommended, to enhance support for faculty research.
  • Identify cultural norms or principles for the use of AI in research that reflect the university’s mission, values, and disciplinary differences.
  • Recommend research-oriented AI literacy and skills development, including workshops, certificates, or modules tailored for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students.
  • Recommend research-oriented policies to support faculty and student scholarship.

Tasks

  • Baseline environmental scanning: Identify what our peers and aspirational peers are doing in this area.
  • Consult (in-person, small groups, surveys).
  • Learn about what’s already happening at USD (Committees, Reports, Research Projects).
  • Listen for how people feel in general doing (Surveys, Focus Groups, etc).
  • Recommend (in simple memo) next steps to Steering Committee.

Cadence

  • Working Group meeting frequency is at Chairs’ discretion, but substantive reports to be made at monthly Steering Committee meetings.