Explore how artificial intelligence may shape the future of translational research—and what that means for your own research goals, opportunities, and challenges. Inspired by Jane Goodall’s quote: ‘What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what difference you want to make.’ Before one gets tactical, one must first get meta. Establishing the human quest for scholarship vis a vis the dawn of artificial intelligence. This class explores two challenges of the dedicated translational researcher: ‘How to leverage research for societal impact?’ and ‘What might the promises or perils of artificial intelligence (AI) suggest for one’s research initiatives?’ Be ready to think BIG and evaluate your area of scholarship with professional discernment and ambition. The course will begin posing questions, followed by evaluation of historical perspectives that can be considered, before projection for future research opportunities within the contemporary AI landscape. Ultimately humankind and their contributions to knowledge will be . . . . Lectures, large and small group discussions, readings, industry guest/s, videos, project work, and interactive workshop activities will be employed. Emphasis on professional skills of: communication, project management, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and networking, resilience and adaptability.
Key topics include:
- historical and current existential tensions of human vs machine
- translational research and entrepreneurial academia
- partnerships, commercialization, and societal impact
- artificial intelligence promises and perils.
By the end of the course, doctoral students will have a comprehensive research plan to advance societal impact, offering a structured framework for translating research into meaningful real-world outcomes along with consideration for contemporary and anticipated realities of AI.
Remote Synchronous
Five every other Wednesday evenings (7:15pm-9:55pm) February 10 through April 7:
Wednesday, February 10: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wednesday, February 24: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wednesday, March 10: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wednesday, March 24: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wednesday, April 7: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Faculty: Whitney Collins, DBA, MBA, A.B. Whitney Collins received her Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Research interests include innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and healthcare. Her decades-long career spans industries and includes executive leadership roles with companies like EY, Oracle, The Franklin Mint, and YMCA. Whitney’s diverse and exceptional functional experience involves strategy, fiscal management, marketing, systems development, project management, product development, media, retail sales, and customer service. Currently, Whitney is working as an executive for two technology start-ups. One of her many strengths is her ability to navigate the space between theory and practice for results in the corporate world. Process-oriented and with a creative core motivator, Whitney enjoys building something, where there was once nothing. Whitney’s additional education credentials include an MBA from Lehigh University and an A.B. in English and philosophy from Lafayette College.