Shaping the Future of AI: A Global Research Experience for Citizen-Centered Innovation
The Citizen-Centered Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) Summer Research Program offers undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge AI research at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Program Highlights
Participants will work on projects that leverage interdisciplinary approaches including Digital Civics and Community Informatics to explore how AI can serve citizens and communities, rather than just businesses or governments. Over six weeks, selected students will collaborate with leading researchers, including PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows, to design and implement AI solutions focused on community needs.
Location
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Duration
Six weeks
May 13 to June 24, 2025
As a participant in the Citizen-Centered AI Summer Research Program, you will have access to a range of resources, including financial support and cultural immersion activities, that will help you focus on your research and professional development while in the United Kingdom. Here’s how we will support you throughout the six-week program:
Financial Support
$775 USD per week stipend for six weeks
Travel costs reimbursed up to $1200 USD
Single-occupancy accommodation
Health insurance
Cultural Immersion
18+ hours of cultural experiences, including historic landmarks such as Durham Cathedral, Alnwick Castle, and Hadrian’s Wall.
Collaborative experiences with students from the US, UK, Germany, and Portugal
Focus Areas
- Communities, Democracy, and Society: Enhancing civic engagement and participation using AI.
- Health and Wellbeing: Developing ethical AI frameworks for healthcare.
- Identity, Privacy, Security, and Misinformation: Addressing biases, privacy, and misinformation in AI applications.
- AI, Design, and Co-Creation: Exploring AI as a collaborative design tool.
Activities
- Research workshops, seminars, and professional development.
- Cultural immersion activities and local site visits.
- Participation in the annual Digital Civics Exchange (DCX), an international event with collaborators from the UK, Germany, and Portugal.
Eligibility
We welcome applications from a diverse range of disciplines and life experiences that meet the following criteria:
Requirements
- Undergraduate or graduate student
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Interest in human-centered research
Desired Background
- Ideal for students with a background in computing, data science, anthropology, UX design, psychology, or related disciplines.
- Experience in interdisciplinary projects, strong communication skills, and demonstrated ability to work on teams.
“Through this partnership, we are building researcher skills to address the role of digital citizenship and its impact on society in the age of AI.”
Kyle Montague
Associate Professor, Northumbria University
Application Process
- Complete the application form through the NSF Education & Training Application (ETAP) system.
- You will be asked for the following application materials:
- 2-3 page Personal Statement, indicating:
- A summary of your motivation to pursue research training in citizen-centered AI.
- Identification of two or more areas of potential thematic interest and sample projects, if applicable.
- A description of how your participation will enable you to build diverse perspectives in computing.
- Academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable).
- Resume or CV.
- Two professional references that can assess the relevance of the program goals for your professional interests and your motivation for computing research.
- 2-3 page Personal Statement, indicating:
- Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated based on academic merit, disciplinary interests, motivation, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Application Deadline: January 4, 2025
Program Coordinators
Colin M. Gray (they/them)
Colin M. Gray is an Associate Professor in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, where they are Director of the Human-Computer Interaction design (HCI/d) program. They lead the UX Pedagogy and Practice Lab and hold appointments as Guest Professor at Beijing Normal University and Visiting Scholar at Northumbria University. Colin’s research focuses on the ways in which the pedagogy and practice of designers informs the development of design ability, particularly in relation to dark patterns, ethics, and learning experience.
Austin L. Toombs (he/him)
Austin is an Associate Professor in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington and leads the Community-Computer Interaction Lab (C-CIL). He is also a Visiting Scholar at Northumbria University and a Visiting Professor at Beijing Normal University. His research interests center on the impact that digital technologies have on how communities are formed and maintained. Austin is particularly interested in how certain kinds of relationships between individuals within a community are encouraged while others are discouraged, and how various technologies are used to implicitly enforce these distinctions.