WashU Magazine checks in with Provost Beverly Wendland two-plus years after launching “Here and Next,” the bold, ambitious strategic plan that’s changing WashU in so many exciting ways.
From here to next (Links to an external site)
Author: DI2 Accelerator
ChatGPT can level the playing field for retail investors (Links to an external site)
Across industries, generative AI has unlocked powerful new capabilities to wider groups of users.
Researchers harness AI to study family involvement with child protection systems
A research team at WashU supported by a Here and Next seed grant is using AI to study the multifaceted dynamics of families involved in child protection systems.
Machine learning could help predict adherence to HIV treatment (Links to an external site)
Graduate student Claire Najjuuko has worked to develop a machine-learning model to predict which adolescents with HIV would be less likely to adhere to antiretroviral therapy.
Introducing the Digital Transformation Summer Corps
This summer, WashU’s Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator is launching the Digital Transformation Summer Corps, a new initiative that brings together talented students with software development and data science skills to collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge research projects.
‘Here and Next’ seed grants awarded (Links to an external site)
The winning research teams are interdisciplinary and focus on five key elements of the university’s strategic plan, including digital transformation.
Winners announced: Accelerator Award for Open Educational Resources (Links to an external site)
WashU Libraries and the Digital Intelligence & Innovation Accelerator announce the awardees for the inaugural Accelerator Award for OERs.
Multimodal AI tool supports study of ecosystems (Links to an external site)
Ever seen an image of an animal and wondered, “What is that?” TaxaBind, a new tool developed by computer scientists in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, can sate that curiosity and more.
AI tool helps make trustworthy, explainable scheduling decisions (Links to an external site)
TRACE-cs tool can help students reliably optimize course scheduling and explain why it makes the recommendations it does.
Foundation AI model predicts postoperative risks from clinical notes (Links to an external site)
A recent study led by Chenyang Lu and collaborators in the AI for Health Institute at WashU explores the potential of using large language models to predict postoperative complications by analyzing preoperative assessments and clinical notes.
2025 WashU Data Viz Competition award winners
The inaugural WashU Data Viz Competition celebrated the incredible talent of the WashU community in visualizing complex information, highlighting projects that transform raw data into impactful and accessible insights.
Betsy Sinclair and Nathan Jacobs named assistant vice provosts for digital transformation
Betsy Sinclair and Nathan Jacobs have been appointed assistant vice provosts for digital transformation at Washington University in St. Louis, bringing renewed focus and leadership to the Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator.
DI2 Accelerator Annual Report 2024
Reflecting on the past two years since the launch of the Digital Transformation initiative within the Here and Next strategic plan, I am filled with pride at what we have accomplished together. What began as a bold vision to harness the transformative power of digital innovation across WashU has grown into the fully realized and […]
University upgrades its ChatGPT model to 4 Omni (Links to an external site)
The University has upgraded its secure WashU ChatGPT model to ChatGPT-4 Omni (ChatGPT-4o). The upgrade was brought about by the Digital Intelligence & Innovation Accelerator (DI2), the group responsible for leading WashU’s Digital Transformation initiative.
New award to transform learning through open educational resources (Links to an external site)
A new award sponsored by the Digital Intelligence & Innovation Accelerator (DI2) aims to encourage WashU instructors to develop freely available digital course materials that will improve student success.
Digital Transformation expands scope, impact (Links to an external site)
WashU’s Digital Transformation initiative provides updates on several projects that will directly benefit faculty, students and staff.
Advancing AI research with NVIDIA’s academic grant program
NVIDIA’s Academic Grant Program is calling for proposals from researchers to advance work in Generative AI and Large Language Models, and Simulation and Modeling.
Get to know Executive Director Dan Maranan
Dan Maranan joined WashU in January 2024 as the executive director of the Digital Intelligence & Innovation (DI2) Accelerator. In this role, he leads the team responsible for implementing the Digital Transformation pillar of the Here & Next Strategic plan, which aims to expand and support the work of researchers working in a digital domain, enhance […]
The next generation of design (Links to an external site)
Sam Fox School to launch new Master of Design for Human-Computer Interaction and Emerging Technology
Advancing AI Research with NAIRR and Microsoft Azure Credits
The NAIRR Pilot, supported by the US NSF and the US Department of Energy, is accepting applications to request access to state-of-the-art computing, AI models and educational resources to advance AI research.
Empowering empathy with AI: The Moving Stories project
The idea behind the Moving Stories app was to connect members of the St. Louis community with their neighbors with a migrant background. The DSS helped turn it into a reality.
Digital Universities US 2024 in pictures
On May 6, hundreds of leading voices in the digital transformation of higher education gathered at Washington University’s Knight Hall to explore the possibilities of a digital-first future and address issues of accessibility and equity in digital experiences.
Harnessing modern data, transforming society (Links to an external site)
Through the new Digital Transformation initiative, Washington University is tackling head-on the challenges and opportunities of a data-driven society.
Universities Build Their Own ChatGPT-like Tools (Links to an external site)
As concerns mount over the ethical and intellectual property implications of AI tools, universities are launching their own chatbots for faculty and students.
Insights from Stanford University site visit
The WashU Digital Transformation team gained insights from a wealth of similar initiatives on the Bay Area campus, centered around healthcare, AI, digital infrastructure, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Insights from University of Michigan site visit: Digital Transformation and collaborative initiatives
The insights gained from this visit serve as a beacon of inspiration for the team at Washington University, offering valuable perspectives on collaborative models, infrastructure, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
Digital Transformation initiative launches at Washington University (Links to an external site)
As part of its strategic vision, “Here and Next,” Washington University in St. Louis has committed to mobilizing research, education and patient care to establish WashU, and St. Louis, as a global hub for transformative solutions to our deepest societal challenges. The latest milestone: launching WashU’s Digital Transformation initiative.
DI2 Accelerator’s Digital Solutions Studio Helps Researchers Bring Data to Life
This pilot program pairs software engineers with researchers to create useful ways to share research findings.
A Project that Studies Origin Stories Gets Its Happily Ever After
The Digital Solutions Studio helped create Stories That Win, a digital tool WashU researchers are using to collect and analyze fairytales and origin stories.
New Dashboard Helps Researchers Study the Existential Issues of Our Time
The Digital Solutions Studio built the St. Louis Data Dashboard in less than 12 months — an endeavor that would’ve otherwise taken three to five years.