Neil Gaikwad was recently named a Rising Star in Data Science by the University of Chicago Data Science Institute as well as  selected as a Human Rights & Technology Fellow by the MIT Center for International Studies.

The Rising Stars in Data Science program at the University of Chicago celebrates exceptional data scientists. The UChicago Data Science Institute has invited Neil to speak about his research: Community-based designs of Human-centered AI and Public Policy for Global Inclusion, Resilience, and Sustainability.  "The Data Science Institute executes the University of Chicago’s bold, innovative vision of Data Science as a new discipline by advancing interdisciplinary research, partnerships with industry, government, and social impact organizations, and holistic data science education."  

The Human Rights & Technology Fellowship is intended to produce new knowledge about the relationship between human rights and technology—i.e., how technology can enhance human rights work, and how the use of technology can impede human rights.  "MIT Center for International Studies  (CIS) produces research that creatively addresses global issues, while helping to educate the next generation of global citizens. The work and expertise of CIS-affiliated scholars inform public opinion, government decision makers, international organizations, and the MIT community."  

Neil Gaikwad is a doctoral scholar at the MIT Media Lab, specializing in Human-centered AI and Public Policy for Sustainable Systems. He develops computational and data science lenses to address public policy issues concerning sustainability and international development. This research focuses on the community-based design of data-intensive public interest computing systems to advance equitable public policy interventions for improving the livelihood of historically disadvantaged populations affected by climate change, structural inequalities, and human rights violations. Neil’s scholarship has resulted in publications at AI & HCI conferences, talks at UN and EU global policy forums, environmental art exhibitions, and featured articles in the New York Times, New Scientist, WIRED, Wall Street Journal. He has mentored over 20 students who pursued careers in research and published influential scholarship that has shifted the discourse on AI fairness. His research, teaching, leadership, and commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging have been recognized with Facebook Ph.D. Fellowship in Computational Social Science, MIT Human Rights & Technology Fellowship, William Asbjornsen Albert Memorial Science & Engineering MIT Fellowship, MIT Graduate Teaching Award, and Karl Taylor Compton Prize (highest student award of MIT). Neil earned a master’s degree from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.