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Research Labs & Learning Facilities

Research conducted at the iSchool is highly interdisciplinary and investigates a diverse range of topics at the intersection of people, information, and technology.

There are a wide variety of research equipment and lab spaces available at the iSchool. Some labs are open regular hours and others require a reservation, but all are available for student use.

Research Labs

AI Health

AI Health Lab

The AI Health Lab is led by Dr. Ying Ding and Dell Medical School Professor Justin Rousseau. Composed of scholars and students from different fields and disciplines, their research includes, but is not limited to: AI in Health, AI in Medicine, and Data-Driven Science.

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Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Human-Centered Computing (AI&HCC)

Artificial Intelligence & Human-Centered Computing Lab

The Artificial Intelligence and Human-Centered Computing (AI&HCC) Lab research spans artificial Intelligence (AI) modeling and human-computer interaction (HCI) design. Led by Dr. Matt Lease, the lab creates novel datasets, builds AI models, and evaluates model performance and end-user impacts. When automated AI falls short, we design human-in-the-loop approaches supported by AI model explanations and creative user interfaces. To promote fair AI, we design better ways to annotate data without bias and modeling techniques to mitigate dataset biases.

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Collaborative Institute for Rural Communities & Librarianship

Collaborative Institute for Rural Communities & Librarianship (CIRCL)

CIRCL is a think tank by, for, and of the rural library community and aligned partners (including Dr. R. David Lankes). It is a coordinated network developing participatory research, policy recommendations, and culturally-responsive advocacy strategies to amplify rural libraries and promote sustainable rural librarianship.

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CDSL

Critical Data Studies (CDS) Lab

The Critical Data Studies (CDS) Lab explores the sociotechnical dimensions of data technologies in our lives – from scientific research and cultural heritage institutions, to social networking platforms and mobile applications. Led by Dr. Amelia Acker, the CDS Lab focuses on researching how data is collected, named, managed, applied and debated in different contexts.

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Professor Min Kyung Lee smiling at the face of white robot

Human-AI Interaction Lab

The Human-AI Interaction lab, led by Dr. Min Kyung Lee, aims to build just and empowering workplaces and cities by creating technology that supports and strengthens individual and collective human decision-making. We explore psychological understandings of AI and develop human-centered methods and systems for better AI-integrated workplaces, smart communities and cities, and online information.

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Students using VR headsets

Immersive Human Development Lab

The Immersive Human Development Lab, under the direction of Dr. Jakki Bailey, is a space where researchers study people’s psychological and social experiences of technology and media. In particular, they specialize in looking at virtual reality and immersive experiences with special emphasis on how they relate to questions of child and human development.

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A researcher observing a research subject in the iSchool's Information eXperience Lab

IX Lab

The Information eXperience Lab (IX Lab), led by Dr. Jacek Gwizdka, is a research and teaching facility dedicated to the science of information studies, the empirically-based design of human-information interaction, and the education of students in the process of both. This state-of-the-art lab is used to conduct experiments on human-information interaction (HII), neuro-information interaction, search and retrieval (NI2SR), usability, and related studies of interactions between humans and information sources.

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Conservation Lab Manuscript

Kilgarlin Information Preservation Lab

The Kilgarlin Information Preservation Lab contains a large variety of tools and equipment for examination, analysis, photo documentation, and conservation treatment of books and paper. Led by Professor Sarah Norris, the Kilgarlin Lab includes a thorough sample collection of more than 10,000 photographs and many other materials available for student use.

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Reality Lab

Research on Equity, Access, and incLusIon in Technology and societY (REALITY) Lab

The Research on Equity, Access, and incLusion in Technology and societY Lab (REALITY Lab) is led by Dr. Earl Huff Jr. and Dr. Angela D. R. Smith. The lab serves as a hub for social justice informatics research by exploring equity and inclusion in the use of information, data, and technology and how it impacts traditionally marginalized communities. The work aligns with the lab's four main research thrusts: Accessibility, Community-Engaged Research, Cultural Computing, and User Experience.

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