As the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape biosciences and healthcare, Keck Graduate Institute is committed to preparing our students to lead in this evolving landscape. KGI has established a new professorship that will serve as the cornerstone of the strategic academic initiative of embedding AI into biosciences education and research.
The Fletcher Jones Foundation Professor in Artificial Intelligence in the Biosciences professorship supports a faculty member who will guide KGI’s institutional adoption of AI in various academic and operational areas.
Barbara Fortini, Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genomic Data Analytics (MSGDA) program director, associate professor of genetics, and director of the Center for Training in Applied Genomics, has been selected for the five-year term professorship.
“Dr. Fortini’s proven leadership in her academic and administrative responsibilities, including serving as chair of the AI Steering Committee at KGI responsible for enabling increased AI integration across campus, makes her the top choice for this esteemed and strategically significant role,” said President Mohamed Abousalem. “Thank you to The Fletcher Jones Foundation for providing funding for this professorship opportunity, which exemplifies our commitment to advancing KGI’s academic excellence as outlined in Strategic Plan 2035.”
Fortini said she first started to learn about AI in genomics through her MSGDA students. When the first cohort of MSGDA students started their capstone work in 2019, several projects featured AI prominently, and that trend has continued every year since. Seeing all of the ways students assess AI tools and evaluate their use cases inspired Fortini to learn more about the potential and pitfalls of AI for research and clinical care.
“I am very honored to be selected for this opportunity at a time that feels like a true inflection point for the use of AI in science, healthcare, and education,” said Fortini. “I look forward to the opportunity to take a deep dive into the field from both a technological and a practical perspective to help KGI embrace innovation and prepare our students for a rapidly changing career landscape.
“Looking ahead, the next five years promises to be a transformational time, but one that also requires thoughtful implementation and a commitment to critical evaluation of the ethical implications of this technology. I truly appreciate the Fletcher Jones Foundation’s support as KGI endeavors to be a leader in the use of AI for bioscience education.”