Artificial Intelligence in Research Computing and Data

Welcome to the AI in RCD Affinity Group!

What’s This Group About?

This group explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Research Computing in higher education and research institutions. We provide a space for professionals to discuss how AI is reshaping research support, infrastructure planning, and policy development. Members share experiences, tackle common challenges, and highlight lessons learned to advance responsible and effective AI integration in research environments.

Group Members & Meeting Times

This group is open to anyone interested in supporting or advancing AI in RCD, whether you’re in a research support role, running a facility, managing infrastructure, or conducting research.

Current Members:

• Amy Hovious
• Andrew Keen
• Brian Christian
• Brian Guilfoos
• Brian O’Shea
• Brock Palen
• Chris maRTIN
• Cicada Dennis
• Esen Gokpinar-Shelton
• Irena Johnson
• James Cannon
• Jim Kenyon
• Jini Ramprakash
• Karen Tomko
• Laura Huber
• Leslie
• Mike Collins
• Nancy Herlocker
• Scott Michael
• Todd Shechter
• Tony Lamping
• Winona Snapp-Childs
• Zekai Otles

Meeting Format:

• Quarterly virtual meetings featuring invited speakers and peer sharing

Meeting times and calendar invites will be posted here once finalized.

What Can You Expect?

By joining, you can expect to:

• Engage in regular discussions with peers across institutions.
• Share and learn best practices in AI and Research Computing.
• Gain actionable insights to enhance local research support models.
• Connect with a collaborative community committed to AI innovation in research.

Whether you’re new to supporting AI in RCD or already deep in the weeds, this group is meant to be a collaborative, low-pressure space to learn and share.

What Topics Could We Discuss?

Some of the areas we expect to cover include:

• AI applications in research computing and data management
• Infrastructure planning for AI workloads
• Institutional policies for responsible AI use
• Case studies and lessons learned from AI integration projects
• Tools, techniques, and emerging trends in AI for research

We’re also open to letting the group shape its own discussion topics based on interest!

Why Join?

Joining this group allows you to stay ahead of AI trends in research computing, exchange ideas with peers, and build a supportive network across institutions. Whether you’re looking to solve challenges locally or collaborate on cross-institution projects, this group provides the knowledge, connections, and inspiration to help you and your institution thrive in the AI era.