The UMBC Hilltop Society is sponsoring two events for UMBC alumni, faculty, and friends featuring a panel session on Artificial Intelligence: Making Our Lives Healthier, Safer, and More Efficient, moderated by Dr. Anupam Joshi, UMBC Vice Provost and Chief AI Officer.

The panels will showcase the transformative power of AI across various sectors and its real-world impact on our global community. Each evening will include a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, providing an exclusive opportunity for high-level networking with influential leaders in the UMBC community.

• 5:30-7:30 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2026, Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, MD
• 5-7:30 pm Thursday, May 28, 2026, The Center Club, Baltimore, MD

Get more information and register here.

Part I of an Introduction to Generative AI in Teaching Series.

This session introduces UMBC faculty to the basics of generative AI and its implications for teaching and learning. It focuses on AI literacy by examining what these tools are, what they can and cannot do, basic prompting, ethical and responsible use, and how they may impact classroom practice. Faculty will see short demos of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. Faculty can get more information and register here.

UMBC’s CSEE department will hold its annual Research Day on Friday, April 17th, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM in University Center 312. It will bring together students, faculty, and staff for a day of presentations, posters, and community engagement.

Three CSEE faculty will present their AI-related research:

• Dr. Dong Li, From Everyday Devices to Intelligent Health Sensing, 10:00-10:25 am

• Dr. Ergun Simsek, Dispersion Metrology with Neural Networks, 11:10-11:35 am

• Dr. Tejas Gokhale, Cognitive Vision: Intelligence as Concept Learning, 1:00-1:25 pm

There will also be additional talks by CSEE alumna Dr. Janerra Allen and undergraduate, MS, and Ph.D. students, as well as a poster session featuring more than 20 student research posters. Refreshments and lunch will be provided for all attendees. See the full schedule and get more information here, and RSVP if you plan to attend.

Roy Prouty is currently holding tutorials on UMBC's High Performance Computing Facility, both in person and online. In-person attendees in ENGR 102 with laptops can interact with the HPCF and get help from Roy. Upcoming sessions 4 and 5 will focus on running AI applications on HPCF’s new server with GPUs and local AI tools:

• 4: The Shift to AI (GPUs) 1-2 pm, April 27: How to move from CPU-based workflows to GPU-accelerated computing for AI and deep learning. (RSVP by this Monday, 4/13)

• 5: Scalable AI 1-2 pm, May 5: Managing massive datasets, monitoring hardware limits, and tracking experiment versions. (RSVP by 4/27)

The sessions use a flipped-classroom style. Before the session, participants complete a self‑paced Blackboard module that includes short hands‑on activities. During the session, Roy will focus on questions, troubleshooting, and practice with examples to further your understanding and strengthen your workflow.

The sessions are jointly organized by DoIT and the UMBC Center for Scalable Data and Computational Science (ScaleS). 

iHARP AI Workshop Seminar

Foundations of Large Language Models

2-4 pm ET Tuesday, April 14 at UMBC and online

Dr. Josephine Namayanja and Rhoda Nankabirwa will lead a two-hour workshop seminar on The Foundations of Large Language Models from 2-4 pm ET on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 as part of the UMBC iHARP AI Workshop Series. The seminar will take place on the UMBC campus in Suite 130, at 900 Walker Avenue, and will also be available online via Webex.

Large Language Models have emerged as the foundational technology driving the current AI revolution, fundamentally changing how we interact with computers and process information. These models are being used to automate complex tasks, generate creative content, and solve problems across every discipline and industry, from healthcare and education to finance and entertainment. Understanding their core principles is no longer just for computer scientists; it is essential for anyone looking to navigate and leverage the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Register here

The University System of Maryland's Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is hosting an online Generative AI Virtual Showcase  on Friday, April 24, 9am-3:30pm ET. Faculty, staff, and faculty/staff/student teams from Maryland institutions of higher education will describe and demonstrate their innovative approaches to incorporating Generative AI into teaching and learning practices. 

The virtual event features a keynote presentation and four concurrent session blocks with 42 presentations (including 9 from UMBC) exploring innovative approaches to teaching and learning with generative AI. Participants must register in advance to receive the Zoom link. Sessions include live auto-captions and accessible materials.

Register here to get the Zoom link

GridHack 2026 is an exciting, hands-on competition in which student teams compete to deliver the most accurate AI-augmented building energy audit. During this 3-hour live competition, teams will work with real-world building energy data and leverage cutting-edge AI tools to develop a BEPS compliance analysis, a retrofit roadmap, and a compelling grant narrative. The challenge culminates in a thrilling finale, where a DHCD-qualified auditor’s sealed findings are revealed live—allowing teams to compare their results against professional insights.

The winning team can earn up to $40,000 in fellowship funding, with paid fellowship positions worth up to $10,000 per person through the Responsible AI Lighthouse Fellowship. Every discipline is welcome - CS, environmental science, policy, design, engineering. No energy experience needed. Bring your laptop. Whether you're passionate about AI, sustainability, or engineering, GridHack provides a unique platform to gain real-world experience, collaborate with peers, and showcase your skills in a high-impact environment.

Get more information and register here

Professor  Amber Spry from Brandeis University and a UMBC Alumna (BA, Political Science, '10), will talk about "The Technological Future: Shifting the Focus from What We Build to Who We Build it For" in the UMBC AOK Library Gallery on 4-5:30 pm this Wednesday.

Dr. Spry is an Assistant Professor of African and African American Studies and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Politics at Brandeis University. She is a thought leader bridging social scientific insights with application in the tech industry, most recently as Meta's Academic Collaborator for Social Impact Research, where she led the creation of measurement systems to understand social outcomes across Instagram, Facebook, AR, and VR applications, and artificial intelligence. She is a founding member of Meta's Co-Design Lab, a central organization that brings everyday people alongside engineers and designers to create new technologies with, not just for, the communities who use them. She also convened the recent  Responsible Innovation in AI Workshop in collaboration with the New York Academy of Science and Arizona State University, which gathered technologists, academics, and civil society to create actionable frameworks and guidelines for solving pressing technological challenges.

Read more here

UMBC mechanical engineering senior and Meyerhoff Scholar Caly Ferguson was selected for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) "25 Under 25" award in March 2026 based on his research and service. The award specifically recognizes young professionals and students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and community advancement.

Since his freshman year, Ferguson has been conducting research in CSEE Professor Ramana Vinjamuri's lab, where he is helping to develop a prosthetic forearm and hand that uses machine learning to interpret electrical nerve signals from the arm and translate them into specific movements. Caly served as the finance chair of the UMBC NSBE chapter and became its president at the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Read more here.

Are you looking to build hands-on AI experience and connect with industry experts this summer? Applications are currently open for the Summer 2026 AI4ALL Ignite Program, a completely free, virtual AI career accelerator. Designed specifically for undergraduate U.S. college students pursuing computing, data, and technical majors, this program provides the opportunity to work on a 13-week technical AI portfolio project, receive direct mentorship from AI professionals, and participate in specialized career readiness training to help you land your first AI internship or early-career role. Get more information on AI4ALL and its programs on their FAQ page.

The final deadline to apply for the Summer 2026 cohort is April 13, 2026. The program is a great opportunity to build your network, upgrade your resume, and present your work at a virtual industry symposium in the fall. You can learn more about the specific technical prerequisites (including prior coursework in Probability & Statistics and Linear Algebra) and submit your application directly on the AI4ALL Ignite website.