Education

From Isekai to IT: How an Esports Startup Builds the Workforce

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 12:52:40 +0000

From Isekai to IT: How an Esports Startup Builds the Workforce admin Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:52

More than 1,000 cosplayers, gamers, and nerds took over Macon, Georgia’s, annual Cherry Blossom Festival in late March. They were there for the fourth year of the CBF Isekai convention, which celebrates all things anime, cosplay, and esports, but Isekai offers more than a weekend of fun. Participants could enter gaming competitions that might help them land a future cybersecurity or IT job.

CBF Isekai is sponsored by SON Technologies — short for Swagged Out Nerds — a Macon esports company focused on workforce development. SON believes the best gamers can also become promising IT professionals.

A startup founded by two Air Force veterans, SON is already making a name for itself in the esports world and has support from Georgia Tech. It is one of the Accelerate companies in the startup portfolio of Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), one of the oldest and most successful university-affiliated incubators in the United States.

Swagged Out Start

SON founders Jason Clarke and John Robinson first met when they both worked in cybersecurity in the Air Force. As they transitioned to civilian IT careers, they realized a perhaps unlikely source sparked their IT expertise — video games. In 2019, the two partnered to create an esports competition team for veterans, but they knew the company’s mission could be bigger.

“When people think of gamers, you think of a 40-year-old person in their mom’s basement,” Clarke said. “But we wanted to change the perception. Gamers have employable skills that can be used for substantial IT work.”

For example, when a person plays a multiplayer game like Fortnite, they can assume a leadership role, delivering directives to their teams. What may look like mere play actually entails planning, organizing, and executing. Even a simple task like troubleshooting a household wi-fi network is a skill that can be expanded on with the right training.

From Player to Professional

SON wants both kid and adult gamers to know they have options. They regularly host gaming tournaments and conventions to find people who would be right for their programs and cultivate community. Through a partnership with digital education company Aperion Global Institute and cybersecurity certification organization EC-Council, Clarke and Robinson administer a high school-level curriculum highlighting the synergies between IT and gaming.

Adults also have opportunities. Past SON tournament competitors can take an eight-week program, Sticks to Clicks, to turn their gaming skills into IT proficiency. These initiatives come at a crucial time: Between now and 2030, according to O*NET OnLine, 51,000 cybersecurity jobs in the state of Georgia are expected to be vacant.

Game-Changing Career Paths

The programs’ benefits are already tangible. One adult participant in Sticks to Clicks had an annual income of less than $10,000 before joining the program. In the first seven weeks, he earned a certification in CompTIA Security+. In the eighth and final week, he interviewed with some of SON’s workforce partners. He was ultimately hired to install network infrastructure for $46,000 a year.

High school students have had similar success. In the 2025-26 school year alone, 150 students went through the SON program and received stackable credentials that can prepare them for IT careers even if they don’t go to college.

All of this momentum got ATDC’s attention, and SON Tech was accepted as a portfolio company in Fall 2024. Both Georgia AIM and the Air Force went to Macon for the 2025 Isekai convention and met potential employees firsthand. They saw that SON was just getting started.

The ATDC Connection

SON joined ATDC in 2024 under the AI and Manufacturing vertical sponsored by Georgia AIM, a statewide coalition to advance manufacturing using AI. SON is one of ATDC’s first middle Georgia companies, but the entire state will experience benefits. Through ATDC, SON can use Georgia Tech resources, meet experts in grant applications and corporate networking, and plug into the startup ecosystem in Atlanta. The three-to-five-year program helps startups scale up.

“The truth is when you’re starting a company, the first few years are the worst of your life,” said Nwanyinma Dike, who serves as the Georgia AIM and ATDC liaison. In this role, she advises SON. “Connecting into a community of folks rooting for you, listening to you, helping you breathe through whatever challenges occur is one of the most valuable resources ATDC has to offer.”

The size of the March Isekai event was only possible thanks to ATDC’s support. They helped SON fundraise by finding the right sponsors.

“We went from starting this convention in a pizza shop to now packing an entire plaza downtown,” Clarke said. “To see the growth is amazing. We've received a lot of industry backing because of the creative ways we're helping workforce development.”

Dike wants to ensure the event wasn’t a one-off and that SON can keep up the momentum. SON is already planning an even bigger 2026 Isekai convention, with exciting new partners in the pipeline who want to share in the energy of this creative workforce development solution and movement.

SON also announced a partnership with gaming company Blaze Fire Games and the Houston County School District. The school district can access Blaze Fire Games’ Recruit, Reclaim, and Retain career pathway program, which is designed to help close the technology industry’s vast talent gap.

“The partnership is exciting because it represents more than creating and launching an esports club,” said Isiah Reese, CEO and co-founder of Blaze Fire Games. “This agreement allows our company to continue creating opportunities and develop relevant, sustainable career-readiness skills required to compete in today’s environment.”

Sherri Johnson, the CEO and principal of Houston County College and Career Academy, agrees. "The partnership is a real game-changer for our students. These unique, forward-thinking, 21st-century digital economy workforce educational courses will empower our instructors to reimagine and enhance classroom learning within our cybersecurity and gaming career pathway programs.”

SON is ready to rise to whatever industry or challenge needs their model next. What they have been able to do for the IT and cybersecurity fields could eventually be applied to the Federal Aviation Administration or even healthcare technician jobs. There’s an entirely new way to develop the tech world field, and it may not start in a classroom but with a controller.

Summary sentence

SON Technologies is part of Georgia Tech’s startup incubator, ATDC.

Summary

Dateline

Mon, 07/21/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Tess Malone, Senior Research Writer/Editor

tess.malone@gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

go-researchnews

News room topics

Business and Economic Development

Categories

Computer Science/Information Technology and Security

Digital Media and Entertainment

Education

Industry

Mercury ID

683191

Source updated

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 08:51

High Schoolers From Around the State Explore STEM Majors and Careers Through New Georgia Tech Summer Institute

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:01:51 +0000

High Schoolers From Around the State Explore STEM Majors and Careers Through New Georgia Tech Summer Institute admin Thu, 07/03/2025 - 12:01

“I’m a bit more interested in going to Georgia Tech now than I was before,” said Harris County High School student Isaiah Willis while participating in a chemistry lab activity during last week’s Georgia Tech Summer Institute. “The science department that we’re in now—this seems pretty fun. I’ve never taken a chemistry class, so it seems pretty interesting. I might want to do this when I grow up.”

That sense of discovery was central to the campus experience for the 93 rising 11th graders representing 57 counties across Georgia—from Dade in the northwest corner to Chatham along the coast. The inaugural program was a weeklong statewide residential program hosted by Expanded Learning Programs in the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC), which is now part of the College of Lifetime Learning.

Throughout the week, participants explored STEM majors and careers through hands-on activities, attended sessions on navigating college life, and built community with one another through fun and engaging social events. The Summer Institute, modeled after the Governor’s Honors Program and Georgia Tech’s First-Generation College Institute, is designed to identify, engage and prepare talented students for a successful transition to college, while providing STEM opportunities to build career awareness.

Sirocus Barnes, director of CEISMC’s Expanded Learning Programs and program organizer, explained that the Summer Institute was created to support the Institute’s strategic goal of expanding access by developing talent across Georgia—particularly among K-12 students in rural and under-resourced communities. The initiative aims to give students the tools to become competitive college applicants and future leaders in the STEM workforce.

“One of the things we really want to focus on in Expanded Learning Programs is providing rich and meaningful opportunities for young people outside of the traditional school day. Summer presents a great opportunity to do just that,” he said. “We’re using this unique window in the summer, when students are more free to travel, to invite them for a week of immersive learning. This program gives them the chance to spend meaningful time on campus and experience what Georgia Tech has to offer.”

A standout feature of the summer program was the strong support from the Office of Strategic Student Access and the six other academic colleges. Representatives from the Scheller College of Business, the College of Computing, the College of Design, the College of Engineering, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Sciences hosted sessions over a two-day period. They gave building tours, led STEM learning activities connected to the majors offered, and demonstrated some of the research innovations students might encounter in those career paths.

On another day, staff from Undergraduate Admission, Scholarships and Financial Aid, and Student Engagement and Well-being delivered presentations about their respective offices. Current undergraduates, who served as group leaders, offered a peer perspective on college life. The final day concluded with a family showcase where participants shared reflections about their experiences.

Greenbrier High School student Katie Branigan summed up the sentiment the Summer Institute aimed to foster. “I’m very grateful because I’ve always wanted to go to Georgia Tech since I was little,” she said. “I’ve always known that I wanted to do engineering, and I’m just very grateful that I got this experience.”

Summary sentence

Georgia Tech's Summer Institute welcomed 93 rising 11th graders representing 57 counties across Georgia to campus.

Summary

Georgia Tech's Summer Institute welcomed 93 rising 11th graders representing 57 counties across Georgia to campus. The inaugural program was a weeklong statewide residential program hosted by Expanded Learning Programs in the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC), which is now part of the College of Lifetime Learning.

Dateline

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Joëlle Walls
CEISMC Communications

Keywords

CEISMC

college of lifetime learning

K-12 education

Georgia Tech Summer Institute

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Community

Education

Institute and Campus

State Impact

Mercury ID

682944

Source updated

Thu, 07/03/2025 - 12:00

Middle Schoolers’ Feedback Informs New Approach to AI-based Museum Exhibits

dgivens8 — Fri, 30 May 2025 18:14:41 +0000

Middle Schoolers’ Feedback Informs New Approach to AI-based Museum Exhibits dgivens8 Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:14

Researchers at Georgia Tech are creating accessible museum exhibits that explain artificial intelligence (AI) to middle school students, including the LuminAI interactive AI-based dance partner developed by Regents' Professor Brian Magerko.

Ph.D. students Yasmine Belghith and Atefeh Mahdavi co-led a study in a museum setting that observed how middle schoolers interact with the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.

“It’s important for museums, especially science museums, to start incorporating these kinds of exhibits about AI and about using AI so the general population can have that avenue to interact with it and transfer that knowledge to everyday tools,” Belghith said.

Belghith and Mahdavi conducted their study with nine focus groups of 24 students at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. The team used the findings to inform their design of AI exhibits that the museum could display as early as 2025.

Belghith is a Ph.D. student in human-centered computing. Her advisor is Assistant Professor Jessica Roberts in the School of Interactive Computing. Magerko advises Mahdavi, a Ph.D. student in digital media in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication.

Belghith and Mahdavi presented a paper about their study in May at the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) 2024 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Their work is part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant dedicated to fostering AI literacy among middle schoolers in informal environments.

Expanding Accessibility

While there are existing efforts to reach students in the classroom, the researchers believe AI education is most accessible in informal learning environments like museums.

“There’s a need today for everybody to have some sort of AI literacy,” Belghith said. “Many middle schoolers will not be taking computer science courses or pursuing computer science careers, so there needs to be interventions to teach them what they should know about AI.”

The researchers found that most of the middle schoolers interacted with ChatGPT to either test its knowledge by prompting it to answer questions or socialize with it by having human-like conversations.

Others fit the mold of “content explorers.” They did not engage with the AI aspect of ChatGPT and focused more on the content it produced.

Mahdavi said regardless of their approach, students would get “tunnel vision” in their interactions instead of exploring more of the AI’s capabilities.

“If they go in a certain direction, they will continue to explore that,” Mahdavi said. “One thing we can learn from this is to nudge kids and show them there are other things you can do with AI tools or get them to think about it another way.”

The researchers also paid attention to what was missing in the students’ responses, which Mahdavi said was just as important as what they did talk about.

“None of them mentioned anything about ethics or what could be problematic about AI,” she said. “That told us there’s something they aren’t thinking about but should be. We take that into account as we think about future exhibits.”

Making an Impact

The researchers visited the Museum of Science and Industry June 1-2 to conduct the first trial run of three AI-based exhibits they’ve created. One of them is LuminAI, which was developed in Magerko’s Expressive Machinery Lab.

LuminAI is an interactive art installation that allows people to engage in collaborative movement with an AI dance partner. Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State recently held the first performance of AI avatars dancing with human partners in front of a live audience.

Duri Long, a former Georgia Tech Ph.D. student who is now an assistant professor at Northwestern University, designed the second exhibit. KnowledgeNet is an interactive tabletop exhibit in which visitors build semantic networks by adding different characteristics to characters that interact together.

The third exhibit, Data Bites, prompts users to build datasets of pizzas and sandwiches. Their selections train a machine-learning classifier in real time.

Belghith said the exhibits fostered conversations about AI between parents and children.

“The exhibit prototypes successfully engaged children in creative activities,” she said. “Many parents had to pull their kids away to continue their museum tour because the kids wanted more time to try different creations or dance moves.”

Summary sentence

Partnering with Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, Researchers at Georgia Tech are creating accessible museum exhibits that explain artificial intelligence (AI) to middle school students.

Summary

Ph.D. students Yasmine Belghith and Atefeh Mahdavi co-led a study in a museum setting that observed how middle schoolers interact with the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT.

Dateline

Fri, 06/21/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Nathan Deen

Communications Officer I

School of Interactive Computing

Associated importer

Keywords

go-ai

artificial intelligence

middle school

AI education

go-researchnews

Research Horizons

Categories

Community

Education

Exhibitions

Georgia Tech Arts

Music and Music Technology

Mercury ID

675196

Source updated

Wed, 07/17/2024 - 10:05

Learn More About Education Assistance Programs for Employees

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 13:55:41 +0000

Learn More About Education Assistance Programs for Employees admin Tue, 05/06/2025 - 09:55

Eligible full-time faculty and staff are encouraged to apply for education assistance through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program (STRAP). These programs are designed to support your professional development and help you achieve your educational goals by providing tuition and mandatory fee waivers or reimbursements.

Participating in TAP and STRAP not only enhances your skills and knowledge but also demonstrates the Institute's commitment to your growth and success. By investing in your education, you contribute to the overall excellence and innovation within our community.

The application period for the fall semester is June 15 – July 15. 

The Administrative Services Center has compiled comprehensive resources to guide you through the application and approval process. We invite you to join an upcoming information session to learn more about how to apply for TAP or STRAP and how to approve applications as a manager.

Click the links below to register for an upcoming session. Additional information on this employee benefit can be found here.

Education Assistance Info Session: Applying for TAP and STRAP

Tuesday, May 20, 2 – 3 p.m. (Register Here )

Thursday, May 22, 10 – 11 a.m.  (Register Here)

Education Assistance: Approving TAP and STRAP (managers and supervisors)

Tuesday, June 3, 10 – 11 a.m. (Register Here)

Thursday, June 5, 2 – 3 p.m. (Register Here)

Summary sentence

Join the Administrative Services Center for educational assistance information sessions this fall.

Summary

Dateline

Tue, 05/06/2025 - 12:00

agauker6@gatech.edu

Contact

Alicia Gauker
Administrative Services Center

Keywords

educational assistance

Tuition Assistance Program

Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program

Administration and Finance

administrative Services center

GT Georgia Tech Human Resources

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Education

Mercury ID

682256

Source updated

Tue, 05/06/2025 - 09:55

Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech

dgivens8 — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:00:46 +0000

Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech dgivens8 Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:00

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

“Growing up, my father taught CS at the high school level,” Tai’Re said. “He never pushed it on me, but I’d visit his office and see what he was working on. Just being around it got me interested.”

Now a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, Sababu Barashango remembers his son’s early creativity well.

“He loved music- listening, dancing, even writing rap songs,” said Sababu, a fellow at the Constellations Center for Education in Computing. “He performed one at his elementary school that became their unofficial theme song. He was also active in sports like basketball, cross country, and track.”

That creative energy extended to technology. Tai’Re began building robotic animals and catapults in middle school using Lego Mindstorm kits, some of which were passed down from his dad. “I gave him my programmable Lego sets,” Sababu said. “And, during summers in high school, I would enroll him in free online courses for coding to complement his CS course.”

At Union Grove High School, he took his first digital technology class.

“Once I started coding, I realized this is kind of my thing,” Tai’Re said.

Outside the classroom, Tai’Re was deeply involved in community service. As a first-year college student, he earned the A.D. King Foundation’s Outstanding Youth Leadership of the Year award. He was recognized for completing over 100 hours of service and for his leadership as a JROTC battalion commander. He also delivered a speech on youth empowerment at the ceremony.

“It was powerful being in a room with people connected to the Civil Rights Movement and others breaking barriers in education,” Tai’Re said. “I think it’s important to give back and inspire kids to be ambitious.”

His father shared how proud he is of his son’s accomplishments. “Tai’Re has grown into a young man with compassion, intelligence, and maturity. He’s a great problem solver, in school and life.”

Now a graduating CS major, Tai’Re has made the most of his time at Tech. He’s been active in research and student organizations. He’s worked as a long-term student assistant in the College of Computing and interned as a software engineer with Genuine Parts Company, tackling real-world technical challenges.

Among his many memorable moments at Georgia Tech, one standout experience for Tai’Re was a Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) with School of Literature, Media, and Communication’s Joycelyn Wilson. His team created a digital archive focused on hip-hop culture.

“We built a website where you could look up songs, watch videos, and even view AI-generated lyric analysis,” Tai’Re said. “It was amazing to merge my love of music with CS.”

He credits CS 1332: Data Structures and Algorithms and other early courses in the School of Computing Instruction for giving him the foundation he needed to succeed.

“That class gave me core skills for technical interviews,” Tai’Re said. “Project-based classes helped me build a strong resume.”

Outside of academics, he was involved in groups such as the African Student Association, African American Student Union, and the Black Student Computing Organization (BSCO).

“BSCO was especially helpful. They host events, share our resumes, and connect us to recruiters,” Tai’Re said.

All the preparation has paid off. After graduation, Tai’Re will begin his career as a software engineer with Cargill in Midtown Atlanta.

His advice for students is to be patient and stay curious.

“Computer science is broad; it might take time to find your niche. But it’s worth exploring. Georgia Tech is rigorous, but you grow a lot as a person and a coder.”

Summary sentence

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

Summary

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

Dateline

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

graduation 2025

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Education

Student and Faculty

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682101

Source updated

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:00

Student Innovation Shines at Spring 2025 CS Junior Design Capstone Expo

dgivens8 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:28:41 +0000

Student Innovation Shines at Spring 2025 CS Junior Design Capstone Expo dgivens8 Thu, 04/24/2025 - 10:28

From a digital tool to enhance workshops to a real-time analytics platform for warehouse sensors, computing students demonstrated a wide range of software solutions at the Spring 2025 Computer Science Junior Design Capstone Expo.

Held on April 21 in the Georgia Tech Exhibition Hall, the event highlighted the technical skills and creativity of third- and fourth-year students in the School of Computing Instruction.

The Expo is the culmination of a two-semester course in which computer science and computational media majors partner with public and private sector clients to design minimally viable products such as mobile apps, dashboards, and analytics platforms to solve real-world problems. Volunteers judge teams on functionality, aesthetics, and presentation quality.

1st Place – ETD Workshop App

This digital platform replaces physical cards with a scalable, interactive web application to support Georgia Tech’s Effective Team Dynamics workshop.

Team Members: Kevin Cao, Benjamin Diprete, Vincent Kong, Heeba Merchant, Ameerah Mourad, Scott Watanuki

2nd Place – Extropian Analytics Platform

Partnering with Extropian, the team upgraded a golf app demo into a commercial-grade platform with a refined UI/UX and insights powered by biomechanical sensor data.

Team Members: Uma Dukle, Tyler Harris, Nikil Kandala, Aryan Shah, Jeffrey Yang

3rd Place (Tie) – Spring/Gait Analysis Dashboard

This computer vision dashboard analyzes running gait using biometric and joint-tracking data, aiding athletes and physical therapists.

Team Members: Aishani Chakraborty, Anisha Sadhale, Samuel Taubman, Robert Terpin, Anish Vallabhaneni, Nolan Winter

3rd Place (Tie) – Poolerz – Carpool Optimization

This mobile and web application simplifies carpooling for families through route and schedule optimization algorithms.

Team Members: Tyler Cady, Matthew Dworkin, Ignacio Galindo, Natasha Narayanan, Annie Vallamattam

One returning client organization was the Sustainability Solutions Group & Institute’s Center for Sustainable Communities.

“We like to give them real-world problems, not just stuff that's made up out of thin air,” client and Georgia Tech alumnus Garry Harris said. "We feed them articles, webinars, and relevant papers throughout the process. They build an inventory of knowledge that drives the project and invest in it because it’s important.”

Student Daniel Long, who worked with Harris’s company, appreciated the collaborative structure. “He gave us a detailed vision but left the implementation up to us. We worked with him to define features and implemented them in two-week iterations. He was always open to our ideas and gave us consistent feedback.”

Another student group, Team Spark, collaborated with Sentinel Devices, a first-time client, to create a dashboard visualizing real-time sensor data.

“Part of the real-world challenge for them was being persistent and communicating what they needed,” said CEO Forrest Shriver.

He added that he met with the team multiple times in person, and their ideas made the project more efficient. “It’s been awesome so far because it’s allowed us to explore more opportunities, adding onto our product that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

Spark team member Jenny Lee explained, “Their devices provide sensor data in real time, and our job was to turn that into something useful and readable for the user.”

Teammate Daiwik Pal said, “We didn’t touch any code at first. We spent a semester aligning with the client’s goals before implementation began.”

Each team balanced creativity and technical rigor, and the Spring 2025 CS Junior Design Capstone Expo offered a compelling look at how students are already making an impact beyond the classroom.

More photos of the expo can be found here.

Summary sentence

Summary

Held on April 21 in the Georgia Tech Exhibition Hall, the event highlighted the technical skills and creativity of third- and fourth-year students in the School of Computing Instruction.

Dateline

Thu, 04/24/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

CS Junior Design Capstone

cs junior design capstone expo

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

Categories

Education

Exhibitions

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Mercury ID

682002

Source updated

Thu, 04/24/2025 - 10:28

Thesis on Human-Centered AI Earns Honors from International Computing Organization

dgivens8 — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:30:41 +0000

Thesis on Human-Centered AI Earns Honors from International Computing Organization dgivens8 Tue, 04/22/2025 - 10:30

A Georgia Tech alum’s dissertation introduced ways to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible, interpretable, and accountable. Although it’s been a year since his doctoral defense, Zijie (Jay) Wang’s (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) work continues to resonate with researchers.

Wang is a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI). The award recognizes Wang for his lifelong work on democratizing human-centered AI.

“Throughout my Ph.D. and industry internships, I observed a gap in existing research: there is a strong need for practical tools for applying human-centered approaches when designing AI systems,” said Wang, now a safety researcher at OpenAI.

“My work not only helps people understand AI and guide its behavior but also provides user-friendly tools that fit into existing workflows.”

Wang’s dissertation presented techniques in visual explanation and interactive guidance to align AI models with user knowledge and values. The work culminated from years of research, fellowship support, and internships.

Wang’s most influential projects formed the core of his dissertation. These included:

CNN Explainer: an open-source tool developed for deep-learning beginners. Since its release in July 2020, more than 436,000 global visitors have used the tool.
DiffusionDB: a first-of-its-kind large-scale dataset that lays a foundation to help people better understand generative AI. This work could lead to new research in detecting deepfakes and designing human-AI interaction tools to help people more easily use these models.
GAM Changer: an interface that empowers users in healthcare, finance, or other domains to edit ML models to include knowledge and values specific to their domain, which improves reliability.
GAM Coach: an interactive ML tool that could help people who have been rejected for a loan by automatically letting an applicant know what is needed for them to receive loan approval.
Farsight: a tool that alerts developers when they write prompts in large language models that could be harmful and misused.

“I feel extremely honored and lucky to receive this award, and I am deeply grateful to many who have supported me along the way, including Polo, mentors, collaborators, and friends,” said Wang, who was advised by School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Professor Polo Chau.

“This recognition also inspired me to continue striving to design and develop easy-to-use tools that help everyone to easily interact with AI systems.”

Like Wang, Chau advised Georgia Tech alumnus Fred Hohman (Ph.D. CSE 2020). Hohman won the ACM SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2022.

Chau’s group synthesizes machine learning (ML) and visualization techniques into scalable, interactive, and trustworthy tools. These tools increase understanding and interaction with large-scale data and ML models.

Chau is the associate director of corporate relations for the Machine Learning Center at Georgia Tech. Wang called the School of CSE his home unit while a student in the ML program under Chau.

Wang is one of five recipients of this year’s award to be presented at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025). The conference occurs April 25-May 1 in Yokohama, Japan.

SIGCHI is the world’s largest association of human-computer interaction professionals and practitioners. The group sponsors or co-sponsors 26 conferences, including CHI.

Wang’s outstanding dissertation award is the latest recognition of a career decorated with achievement.

Months after graduating from Georgia Tech, Forbes named Wang to its 30 Under 30 in Science for 2025 for his dissertation. Wang was one of 15 Yellow Jackets included in nine different 30 Under 30 lists and the only Georgia Tech-affiliated individual on the 30 Under 30 in Science list.

While a Georgia Tech student, Wang earned recognition from big names in business and technology. He received the Apple Scholars in AI/ML Ph.D. Fellowship in 2023 and was in the 2022 cohort of the J.P. Morgan AI Ph.D. Fellowships Program.

Along with the CHI award, Wang’s dissertation earned him awards this year at banquets across campus. The Georgia Tech chapter of Sigma Xi presented Wang with the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award. He also received the College of Computing’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.

“Georgia Tech attracts many great minds, and I’m glad that some, like Jay, chose to join our group,” Chau said. “It has been a joy to work alongside them and witness the many wonderful things they have accomplished, and with many more to come in their careers.”

Summary sentence

Zijie (Jay) Wang (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) is a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI).

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 04/17/2025 - 12:00

Contact

Bryant Wine, Communications Officer
bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu

Keywords

College of Computing

School of Computational Science and Engineering

artificial intelligence (AI)

Georgia Tech News Center

Daily Digest

Research Horizons

go-researchnews

go-ai

Categories

Computer Science/Information Technology and Security

Congressional Testimony

Digital Media and Entertainment

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Education

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Performances

Physics and Physical Sciences

Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts

Research

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Student Honors and Achievements

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Mercury ID

681961

Source updated

Tue, 04/22/2025 - 10:29

Ramblin’ Hacks: College of Computing Hosts Inaugural Hackathon

dgivens8 — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:25:41 +0000

Ramblin’ Hacks: College of Computing Hosts Inaugural Hackathon dgivens8 Tue, 04/22/2025 - 09:25

The College of Computing hosted its first-ever hackathon this month, marking a major milestone in student engagement and corporate partnership.

Though the College has long supported hackathons organized by student groups and independent teams, this event, dubbed Ramblin’ Hacks, was the first to be exclusively organized and hosted by the College.

“This was a big deal,” Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Olufisayo Omojokun said. “It’s the first time the College has put its resources—people, funding, everything—behind a hackathon from start to finish.”

The Power of Partnership

Industry partners were crucial to the event’s success. Sponsors included Elevance Health, Goldman Sachs, U.S. Soccer, GEICO, FanDuel, Microsoft, and The Trade Desk. These companies provided valuable support through the Corporate Affiliates Program (CAP).

“Ramblin’ Hacks 2025 was a huge success in bringing together top talent and industry innovation. It was exciting to see so much interest from our corporate partners. I’m proud of the wide-ranging set of challenge tracks we helped curate,” Corporate Relations Manager Alyshia Lenoir said.

Lenoir, who initially proposed the idea for a student-organized hackathon, played a key role in expanding it into a College-wide event.

The College’s Constellations Center for Education in Computing also supported the event by recruiting several local high school students and running a separate coding session in partnership with the United States Soccer Federation.

A Community-Driven Experience

A conversation between student leaders and Aarush Yadav, a first-year student and veteran hackathon winner, sparked the idea for Ramblin’ Hacks. When Yadav sought funding to attend a hackathon at Rutgers University, where he ultimately won, the conversation turned to the possibility of hosting a hackathon at Georgia Tech. That idea quickly gained traction and evolved into Ramblin’ Hacks, which brought together 31 student teams for a weekend of innovation and collaboration.

Yadav played a key role in the planning team, saying, “It was amazing to see our hard work finally materialize. Participants worked tirelessly over the weekend to create incredible projects and win amazing prizes. I’m looking forward to executing Ramblin’ Hacks in the years to come.”

Omojokun highlighted Yadav’s dual perspective as both a student and a competitor.

“He wasn’t just a participant; he helped build this with us. It made a real difference to have a student who knows what success looks like from the inside,” Omojokun said.

Director of Community and Student Enrichment Troy Peace emphasized this and how the event brought together students with varying experience levels.

“We had students who had never been to a hackathon before sitting next to people who had already won several,” Peace said. “That kind of atmosphere builds confidence and community.”

Ekta Raj, a computer science major, called Ramblin’ Hacks “one of the best” hackathons she’s attended, praising the event’s structure and collaborative atmosphere for how easy it was for teams to work together.

Looking Ahead

Student Organization Manager Oniecia Henry reflected on the event’s success, saying, “The creativity, the collaboration, the support from our partners all came together in a meaningful way. I think this is just the beginning of something much bigger for the College of Computing.”

Looking to the future, Omojokun shared plans for a credit-based engagement system to track student participation in College events, such as hackathons and workshops. This system could influence funding and support, and the credits could then be factored into budget decisions and funding opportunities through Pitch Thursdays.

“Imagine a world where your club’s participation directly influences the support you get from the College,” Omojokun said. “It’s a way to reward students who are actively building this community.”

As Ramblin’ Hacks sets the stage for future events, the College is committed to expanding these experiential learning opportunities, linking problem-solving, corporate collaboration, and student initiative.

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Summary sentence

The College of Computing hosted its first-ever hackathon this month.

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 04/17/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

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Tue, 04/22/2025 - 09:24

Georgia Tech Shines in 2025 ‘US News’ Graduate Program Rankings

admin — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:41:41 +0000

Georgia Tech Shines in 2025 ‘US News’ Graduate Program Rankings admin Tue, 04/08/2025 - 07:41

Georgia Institute of Technology has once again demonstrated its leadership and excellence in graduate education, as reflected in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report program rankings. The rankings highlight Georgia Tech's stellar performance across various disciplines, reaffirming its reputation as a first-rate institution.

Engineering Programs Remain Top Tier

In the realm of engineering, Georgia Tech continues to excel, with all programs holding top 10 spots. Industrial Engineering continues to lead the nation, holding first place. The Aerospace Engineering program maintained second place, tied with California Institute of Technology, while Biomedical Engineering also held steady at second place. Civil Engineering climbed to second place, tied with the University of California – Berkeley. Computer Engineering rose to fifth place, tied with the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. Environmental Engineering moved up to fourth place, tied with the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and Virginia Tech, while Chemical Engineering held its fifth place ranking. Mechanical Engineering remained in fifth place, tied with the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Business Programs Make Significant Moves

Georgia Tech's graduate business programs have seen significant advancements. The part-time MBA program jumped to 10th place, tied with Georgetown University (McDonough) and the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Carlson). Production/Operations moved up to fifth place. Business Analytics climbed to third place. Information Systems remained strong at fifth place.

College of Computing Holds Top 10 Spots

The College of Computing also continues to excel, receiving top 10 rankings in multiple areas, including rising up to the sixth spot overall for computer science programs. Artificial Intelligence ranked sixth. Systems remained strong in fourth place, tied with Stanford University and the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. These accolades underscore the College’s leadership in advancing research and developing cutting-edge curricula that prepare students for impactful careers in technology and innovation.

Public Affairs Programs Secure Top Recognition

Georgia Tech's public affairs programs from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts have also maintained top 10 positions, with Information and Technology Management retaining second place and Environmental Policy and Management holding steady in eighth place.

*Please note that this summary includes the latest rankings issued by U.S. News & World Report for 2025. Not all Georgia Tech Colleges, Schools, and subjects are ranked every year by this organization.

Summary sentence

The advancements in various graduate programs highlight the dedication of Georgia Tech's faculty, students, and staff in achieving new academic heights.

Summary

These rankings reflect Georgia Tech's commitment to academic and research excellence. The advancements in various graduate programs highlight the dedication of Georgia Tech's faculty, students, and staff in achieving new academic heights.

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Tue, 04/08/2025 - 12:00

sar30@gatech.edu

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aerospace engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Civil Engineering

computer engineering

environmental engineering

industrial engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Business programs

Part-Time MBA

Production/Operations

Business Analytics

information systems

College of Computing

artificial intelligence

systems

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Information & Technology Management

Environmental Policy & Management

academic excellence

Research excellence

graduate education

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Campus and Community

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Tue, 04/08/2025 - 07:41

Four Startup Lab Students Selected for 2025 Immersive Cohort at SXSW

dgivens8 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:10:41 +0000

Four Startup Lab Students Selected for 2025 Immersive Cohort at SXSW dgivens8 Fri, 04/04/2025 - 10:10

Four students from Startup Lab have been selected to join the 2025 immersive cohort at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Alex Aridgides (mechanical engineering and economics), Shinhai Chen (industrial engineering), Varuni Chopra (industrial engineering), and Christie Peng (computer science) are the first Georgia Tech students to be invited to the program.

The weeklong, all-expenses-paid program offers university-affiliated innovators the chance to refine their innovations, engage in customer discovery, and network with industry leaders and peers at SXSW. The annual festival celebrates technology, film, music, education, and culture. Students participated in a competitive application process, which involved submitting applications, meeting specific evaluation criteria, and being selected by a panel of industry experts, mentors, and SXSW organizers.

Yolanda Payne, the students’ Startup Lab instructor, presented the SXSW opportunity in class.

"My goal is to be their biggest cheerleader,” she explained. “I had great teachers who helped me get to where I am today, and I strive to emulate their support. I’m always willing to guide students toward new opportunities."

She learned about the SXSW immersive cohort from Nakia Melecio, director of the National Science Foundation I-Corps Southeast Hub. The $15 million initiative crosses nine major research universities in the southern U.S. and accelerates the translation of deep tech research into commercial ventures. The hub works closely with entrepreneurial faculty, students, and researchers to equip them with the tools, networks, and support to bring their innovations to market.

Melecio plays a central role in identifying and advancing strategic opportunities for university partners and their entrepreneurial teams. “When the opportunity to participate in SXSW arose, I recognized it as an ideal platform to showcase the talent and innovation coming out of our region.”

Melecio added that Startup Lab is ideal for amplifying NSF I-Corps’ goals because of the course’s proven track record of fostering hands-on learning and commercialization readiness. “Startup Lab helps prepare students not just to think entrepreneurially, but to act on their ideas with confidence and a structured path forward. It was a natural fit for this opportunity.”

Payne says the experience students gained in Startup Lab helped prepare them for the immersive cohort. “The knowledge is being solidified by an experience you’re having in my class and the real world.”

Chopra agrees that Startup Lab teaches essential business development fundamentals and customer discovery principles, skills that are relevant to the SXSW program. She recommends the course to other students and emphasizes the value of combining engineering or technical backgrounds with entrepreneurship skills.

“We take a lot of classes that are directly related to our major, and they're very technical. But when it comes to wanting to start something of your own or even understanding how startups work, it's completely different than the rest of our coursework.”

Startup Lab is a three-credit course that focuses on evidence-based entrepreneurship. This hands-on class covers ideation, teamwork, customer discovery, minimum viable products, the business model canvas, and other topics. Students learn how to launch a startup by integrating in-class lectures with practical, out-of-class activities, including interviewing potential customers and refining their startup ideas based on real-world feedback.

The program provides access to valuable resources, mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs, and a supportive community to help students develop their startups. Startup Lab and NSF I-Corps are also exploring other industry showcases for student entrepreneurs like SXSW.

Chen chose Startup Lab to pursue his entrepreneurial interests. “I knew that Georgia Tech had a really good startup culture, so I researched what they had to offer, and Startup Lab was the first step." He also noted Payne's impact as an instructor. "The best part is how much she cares about the topic. She has a lot of background knowledge and is passionate.”

Startup Lab is unique because it "de-risks the business model,” Payne says. Many entrepreneurs first build their products and then talk to potential customers. However, Startup Lab students perform customer discovery, sharing their ideas with potential end users, listening to their needs and feedback, and then building the product.

Peng recalls a powerful moment of pitching an idea for an app to streamline MARTA operations. “I had a fun time coming up with this idea. We learned a lot about interviewing, coming up with possible solutions, and refining our idea,” she says. "Being surrounded by so many brilliant individuals at Georgia Tech makes it easy to get idea formation or networking connections you need for your idea to succeed."

Aridgides has ambitious post-program goals, envisioning creating change through entrepreneurship. "I want to start a company to change the world for the better and make a big impact. That's my life goal. I think through a company, I can achieve that."

Payne reminds students that they possess something many adults lack: time to explore different ideas. She also says Startup Lab can help students value and see their ideas in new ways.

“They don't recognize that the product they're working on could be pursued through entrepreneurship or think of themselves as entrepreneurs. And even if they don't pursue it, it helps them in all aspects of life because business and capitalism are part of what we do every day.”

If you’re a student interested in adding entrepreneurship to your course schedule, registration for the summer and fall semesters opens on April 15. In addition to Startup Lab, students also have the opportunity to build a prototype with support through Idea to Prototype and CREATE-X Capstone Design.

Summary sentence

Four Georgia Tech students—Alex Aridgides, Shinhai Chen, Varuni Chopra, and Christie Peng—have been selected for the 2025 immersive cohort at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, where they will refine their innovations and network with industry le

Summary

Four Georgia Tech students from Startup Lab—Alex Aridgides, Shinhai Chen, Varuni Chopra, and Christie Peng—have been selected for the 2025 immersive cohort at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. This weeklong, all-expenses-paid program allows university-affiliated innovators to refine their innovations, engage in customer discovery, and network with industry leaders. The students were chosen through a competitive application process and are the first from Georgia Tech to be invited. Their instructor, Yolanda Payne, emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning and entrepreneurial skills gained through Startup Lab.

Dateline

Fri, 04/04/2025 - 12:00

breanna.durham@gatech.edu

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Article by Alyson Key

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Breanna Durham

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customer discovery

networking

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Research

commercialization

entrepreneurial skills

business development

startups

gt-commercialization

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Business

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Student and Faculty

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Mercury ID

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Source updated

Fri, 04/04/2025 - 10:10

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