February 2026 - Sanghani-faculty

Amazon - VT Initiative: Call for Research Proposals and Ph.D. Fellowship Nominations!
by Shalaby, Wanawsha 10 Mar '26

10 Mar '26

Hello, In 2022, Virginia Tech and Amazon announced their partnership to advance research and innovation in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The Amazon - Virginia Tech Initiative for Efficient and Robust Machine Learning<https://www.vt.edu/link/partners/amazon-partnership.html> includes machine learning-focused research projects, doctoral student fellowships, community outreach, and an establishment of a shared advisory board. The fourth set of awards for fellowships and research projects were announced in Fall 2025, you can learn more about the awardees (link to this page: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2025/11/amazon-virginia-tech-initiative-announ…) The Amazon-Virginia Tech Initiative for Efficient and Robust Machine Learning (ML) is soliciting proposals <https://amazon.cs.vt.edu/content/dam/amazon_cs_vt_edu/year-5/2026%20-%20Cal…> from Virginia Tech faculty in the College of Engineering for research projects with anticipated support beginning Fall Semester 2026 (FY 2027). The objective of this initiative is to advance research and innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ML, specifically in the areas of efficient and robust machine learning. Virginia Tech faculty members are invited to submit proposals for research projects that work to revolutionize the way ML is developed, evaluated, and embedded in everyday contexts, devices, and applications. Please note that, as instructed in the Call for Research Projects<https://amazon.cs.vt.edu/content/dam/amazon_cs_vt_edu/year-5/2026%20-%20Cal…>, abstracts are due March 13, 2026. If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please review our FAQ<https://amazon.cs.vt.edu/content/dam/amazon_cs_vt_edu/year-5/Amazon%20-%20V…>. Additionally, the program invites nominations<https://amazon.cs.vt.edu/content/dam/amazon_cs_vt_edu/year-5/2026%20-%20Cal…> for doctoral student fellows with anticipated support beginning Fall Semester 2026. Fellowships will be awarded to Virginia Tech doctoral students that includes one academic year of funding, tuition, travel support to conferences, and an invitation to interview for an Amazon internship intended to provide students a greater understanding of industry and use-inspired research. Students selected for fellowships will be known as Amazon Fellows. The fellowship enables students during the academic year to pursue independent research projects in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence and the optional paid summer internship at Amazon will enable them to gain valuable industry insight and experience through direct engagement with Amazon researchers. Please note that, as instructed in the Call for Fellowship Nominations<https://amazon.cs.vt.edu/content/dam/amazon_cs_vt_edu/year-5/2026%20-%20Cal…>, nomination packets are due April 27, 2026. If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please review our FAQ<https://amazon.cs.vt.edu/content/dam/amazon_cs_vt_edu/year-5/Amazon%20-%20V…>. Thank you, Wanawsha Wanawsha Shalaby Manager of Operations Sanghani Center for AI and Data Analytics - Virginia Tech 3625 Potomac Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305 E-Mail: wanah92(a)vt.edu<mailto:wanah92@vt.edu>

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Participation at ACM Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI), March 23 to 26
by Micale, Barbara 26 Feb '26

26 Feb '26

Dear Faculty and Students, If you will be participating at the ACM Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI) in Paphos, Cyprus, March 23-26, please complete the form from the link below to help us promote your work on Sanghani Center social media. Thank you! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJytKJtWC8k049v3L5SHIMjgYPyBuPw1g… Barbara L. Micale Public Relations Specialist Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics<https://sanghani.cs.vt.edu/> Virginia Tech blmicale(a)vt.edu<mailto:blmicale@vt.edu> X (formerlyTwitter): @SanghaniCtrVT

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Request for Information on Participation at American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting -- Feb 12 to 14
by Micale, Barbara 06 Feb '26

06 Feb '26

Dear Faculty and Students, If you will be participating at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, February 12 to 14, please complete this form from the link below to help us promote your work on Sanghani Center social media. Thank you! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJytKJtWC8k049v3L5SHIMjgYPyBuPw1g… Barbara L. Micale Public Relations Specialist Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics<https://sanghani.cs.vt.edu/> Virginia Tech blmicale(a)vt.edu<mailto:blmicale@vt.edu> X (formerlyTwitter): @SanghaniCtrVT

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Sanghani Faculty Meeting - Friday, Feb. 6 at 12:00 - 1:30 pm
by Shalaby, Wanawsha 06 Feb '26

06 Feb '26

Dear Colleagues, I hope everyone's semester is off to a good start. Our first Sanghani Faculty meeting for the spring semester is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6 at 12:00 - 1:30 pm. As usual, if you have any recent news or updates since our last faculty meeting, please send them my way so that I may add them to our meeting slides. Updates include awards, proposals, grants, conference presentations, events, etc. Please send all updates by Wednesday, Feb. 4. Faculty in Blacksburg will be meeting in D&DS 445, while faculty in the D.C. area will be meeting in AB1 5740. I have provided a Zoom link below for those who cannot attend in person. Please note that it's the same link for all of our Sanghani Faculty meetings this semester. I have also sent out a calendar invite for all of the faculty meetings this semester. Join Zoom Meeting https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/84926352529 Meeting ID: 849 2635 2529 --- One tap mobile +19294362866,,84926352529# US (New York) +13017158592,,84926352529# US (Washington DC) Thank you, Wanawsha Wanawsha Shalaby Manager of Operations Sanghani Center for AI and Data Analytics - Virginia Tech 3625 Potomac Ave., Alexandria, VA 22305 E-Mail: wanah92(a)vt.edu<mailto:wanah92@vt.edu>

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FW: Women in Data Science (WiDS) Blacksburg events Feb 23
by Brian Mayer 03 Feb '26

03 Feb '26

FYI From: DeHart, Stephanie <spdehart(a)vt.edu> Sent: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 2:32 PM Subject: Women in Data Science (WiDS) Blacksburg events Feb 23 Good afternoon, As part of the organizing committee for this year's Women in Data Science (WiDS) Blacksburg Conference, I am reaching out to see if you would be willing to pass along this email and/or post the attached flyer in your department. General information about the event is below, and additional details may be found on the website <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.scie nce.vt.edu%2Fevents%2Fwids-blacksburg.html&data=05%7C02%7Cmayer2%40vt.edu%7C ec4a77a8c94d443bca5b08de635ae984%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0% 7C639057439610852470%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiI wLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&s data=xmc3c6SQfvVj%2Bb1U5WU2QhG4%2B%2FhIHCWMefZ0EPNOZ%2Bw%3D&reserved=0> . Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Thanks in advance for helping to spread the word about this great opportunity! Women in Data Science Worldwide <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.widsw orldwide.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmayer2%40vt.edu%7Cec4a77a8c94d443bca5b08de635 ae984%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639057439610878834%7CUnkn own%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMi IsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=01nEZcYKG4DaHgjWwx9TiK G9RVTtFGdX13Fe%2B3pbOpA%3D&reserved=0> is a non-profit organization with the mission "to change the field of data science across the globe by elevating and empowering women to achieve 30% representation by 2030." WiDS has numerous programs and initiatives throughout the year, including regional events such as the upcoming WiDS Blacksburg conference at Virginia Tech on Feb 23. WiDS activities "have elevated thousands of women data scientists in academia, industry, government, and nonprofits doing innovative technical work around the world." The overarching goal of WiDS Blacksburg is to encourage women to pursue careers in data science, to support them by building a local community of data scientists, to help develop their skill set and understanding of what it means to apply data science techniques to a variety of challenging problems. The theme for this year's Blacksburg event is "Welcome to the Dataverse". A few key points about the event: 0. The "Lunch and Learn" event will be held on Feb 23 at 11:30am in Kelly Hall 310 on VT's Blacksburg campus. 1. The networking event will be held on Feb 23 at 5:30pm in the Data & Decision Sciences atrium on VT's Blacksburg campus. 2. The conference will highlight the work of women in data science. 3. The conference is free and open to all people (of any gender). 4. Registration is strongly encouraged so that the event committee can buy the appropriate number of refreshments and promotional items. 5. No background in data science is needed. The committee has arranged it so that everyone, from experts to novices, can learn from the program. 6. Students under 18 are encouraged to attend, but they must be accompanied by a teacher or guardian. Stephanie P. DeHart, PhD Associate Professor of Practice Director of <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsaig.stat .vt.edu%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmayer2%40vt.edu%7Cec4a77a8c94d443bca5b08de635ae984 %7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639057439610900653%7CUnknown%7 CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkF OIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Xl59GwDuvxv8EHJAkIvEuAYxNjy fwHZI1ew25tklBVM%3D&reserved=0> SAIG Virginia Tech | Department of Statistics 416-B Hutcheson Hall (MC 0439) 250 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 <mailto:spdehart@vt.edu> spdehart(a)vt.edu

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Fwd: National healthcare leader to speak on AI health in Roanoke
by Naren Ramakrishnan 02 Feb '26

02 Feb '26

You are invited to the Fralin Biomedical Reserch Institute at VTC’s Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture on Thursday, February 5 at 5:30 PM by national health thought leader, *Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA* who will present, “*AI and Agentic AI: Opportunities for How We Work, Care, Discover, and Share.” * Dr. Lee is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Medical School and at Mass. General Hospital. She is a highly influential healthcare executive, who has made important contributions to making health a realistic and affordable outcome for all. Among her many impactful works is the book, *The Long Fix: Solving America’s Health Care Crisis with Strategies that Work for Everyone*. She serves as President of Health Platforms at Verily Life Sciences (an Alphabet/Google company) and previously served as the dean and CEO of University of Utah Health. Dr. Lee is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Lee serves on the board of trustees for Boston Children’s Hospital, the Board of Directors of the Commonwealth Fund and the Association of American Rhodes Scholars as well as serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a recipient of the Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s highest award for scientific contributions and leadership, the Gold Medal. The program begins with a reception at 5:00 PM in the atrium at the FBRI at 2 Riverside Circle, followed by the lecture at 5:30. If you are not able to attend the lecture in person, you can join remotely at: https://fralinbiomed.info/DPL-Join Sincerely, Mike Michael J. Friedlander, PhD Executive Director, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC Vice President, Health Sciences and Technology, Virginia Tech Senior Dean for Research, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Professor, Biological Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Affiliated Faculty, Biomedical Engineering and Sciences

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