Emory Students Present AI Advances in Humanitarian Studies

Published Date : 10/01/2025 

Charlize Samuels, a master’s student in Economics, presented her team’s findings on using AI to address food insecurity and supply chain issues at the AI.Data Lab showcase. 

At the AI.Data Lab showcase, organized by Emory’s Center for AI Learning, students from various disciplines presented their semester-long research projects.

These projects leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle humanitarian issues, such as food insecurity, business development in Atlanta, and bias in art.

The event featured corporate sponsors including The Carter Center, Invest Atlanta, the Michael C.

Carlos Museum, and TechBridge.

Charlize Samuels, a master’s student in Economics at Emory University’s Laney Graduate School, presented her team’s findings at the symposium.

Their project was sponsored by TechBridge, a nonprofit organization that provided the team with years of transactional data from food bank and distributor networks.

The team's mission was to examine the supply chain and public health impacts of TechBridge’s software.

“I try to think about everything in economics terms, which is really the main inspiration for this project,” Samuels explained.

Given her interest in macro-level economics, she focused on integrating this perspective into the project.

The data provided by TechBridge was crucial for their research, making the project's data accessible and comprehensive.

Despite the time constraints, Samuels and her team developed a predictive model using Python.

This model helps TechBridge prepare for bidding amounts from food banks based on historical bids and macro-economic data.

Samuels presented the team’s methodology, highlighting the potential future applications of AI in their work.

Python, a widely used programming language, was the primary tool for their project.

Samuels found Python’s intuitive programs particularly useful for their research and data analysis.

Her familiarity with Python, gained from her coursework, was an added advantage.

Samuels also reflected on the personal and technical growth she experienced through the project.

“On a technical level, I think I learned to code a lot better.

I was nervous in the beginning because it’s a pretty open-ended project.

But that’s also the beauty of it because it forces you to do things you might not have done otherwise,” she said.

She emphasized the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and leveraging the resources available at Emory.

“It taught me a lot about myself.

Using the resources around you, the resources that Emory has — you can create something really great,” Samuels shared.

Samuels encouraged other students to explore new academic paths, even if they are outside their immediate area of study.

Emory and Oxford students of all majors and ages are invited to apply to the Spring 2025 AI.Data Lab program.

“If you want to try something, just go for it.

Especially if it’s at Emory — you’ll have a lot of support,” she advised.

The AI.Data Lab at Emory University is dedicated to fostering innovation and interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence.

Through partnerships with corporate sponsors and nonprofit organizations, the lab provides students with unique opportunities to apply their skills and knowledge to real-world problems.

Students can gain valuable experience in data science, programming, and project management, while contributing to meaningful solutions in various fields. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS):

Q: What is the AI.Data Lab showcase at Emory University?

A: The AI.Data Lab showcase is an event organized by Emory’s Center for AI Learning where students from various disciplines present their research projects that apply artificial intelligence to address humanitarian issues.

Q: Who are the corporate sponsors for the AI.Data Lab projects?

A: The corporate sponsors for the AI.Data Lab projects include The Carter Center, Invest Atlanta, the Michael C. Carlos Museum, and TechBridge.

Q: What was Charlize Samuels' project about?

A: Charlize Samuels' project, sponsored by TechBridge, focused on examining the supply chain and public health impacts of TechBridge’s software using years of transactional data from food bank and distributor networks.

Q: What programming language did Samuels and her team use for their project?

A: Samuels and her team used Python, a widely used programming language, for their project due to its intuitive programs and suitability for data analysis.

Q: What advice does Charlize Samuels have for other students?

A: Charlize Samuels encourages other students to explore new academic paths, even if they are outside their immediate area of study, and to take advantage of the resources and support available at Emory University. 

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