Think Big! 

TDAI's faculty-led yearlong research programs are 18-month-long efforts designed to catalyze bold, transformative research with the potential to shape the future of data science and AI in science and society. Teams whose proposals are selected receive up to $150,000 and in-kind staff assistance to execute programming that spark conversations, collaborations and extramural proposal development for a center of excellence that distinguishes TDAI and The Ohio State University. Each interdisciplinary team is led by two co-PIs who serve as TDAI Faculty Fellows and members of the institute's leadership team.

Check out the current yearlong programs: 

• Geometrization of AI: Bridging the Gap Between Geometric Structures and Statistical Models, led by Dena Asta and Subhadeep Paul
• Joint Human-AI Systems in an Agentic World, led by Srini Parthasarathy and Mike Rayo

Call for proposals

The deadline to submit for 2025-26 has passed. The next call for proposals will be shared on this website and through Quick Bits.

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About Big Idea Research Programs

All science, scholarship and/or creative expression topics are welcome, with special consideration given to ones related to TDAI’s strategic research directions:

• Health and Well-Being
• Foundations of AI and Data Science
• Responsible and Ethical AI and Data Science
• Climate, Environment and Sustainability

Some examples of program components:

• External speakers or faculty in residence
• Seminars/workshops that facilitate connections among potential OSU collaborators
• Seed funding for prototypes or proofs of concept
• Research symposia and poster sessions
• Community-engaged working groups
• Facilitated ideation and teaming sessions

Requirements 

TDAI Big Idea Research Programs are required to:  

• Be led by two faculty PIs and an active organizing committee that meet regularly, are TDAI members or affiliates, and represent two or more distinct disciplines.
• Build a working coalition of researchers with related research interests who represent distinct disciplines that span two or more colleges 
• Consist of clearly connected components that catalyze new interdisciplinary ideas and collaboration around a socially and/or scientifically significant topic
• Contain explicit AI or data science components that enable big data-enabled knowledge and discovery
• Launch by October 2026 and conclude within 18 months

Evaluation Process and Criteria

Eligible proposals will be scored on the criteria below by TDAI faculty leadership, subject matter experts, university administrators, and community partners as appropriate. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address these criteria explicitly in their proposal.

Strategy

The focusing question and proposed program: 

• Leverage unique combinations of research strengths that differentiate Ohio State
• Map to extramural priorities and opportunities
• Consist of clearly connected components that together result in the program’s intended outcomes

Intellectual Merit

The focusing question and proposed program:

• Are academically compelling and clearly stated
• Have potential to catalyze science, scholarship and/or creative expression at Ohio State that shape the future and understanding of data science and AI in science or society
• Have explicit AI or data science components 
• Include ethical considerations of the research and broader implications

Engagement

The proposed activities are designed to engage members of:

• TDAI 
• Ohio State
• External communities

Members of the organizing team represent:

• Multiple distinct disciplines and colleges
• Multiple different career stages
• Varied backgrounds

The intended program audience/participants represent:

• Multiple distinct disciplines and colleges
• Multiple different career stages

Outcomes and Evaluation

The proposal:

• Clearly states intended outcomes that are worthwhile and justified
• Includes a clear definition of success and relevant, meaningful metrics to assess progress
• Identifies one or more extramural opportunity or funding source whose priorities pertain to the program’s intended outcomes

Timeline and Milestones

The proposal includes: 

1. An 18-month timeline with three phases:
   1. Planning (up to 2 months)
   2. Programming
   3. Extramural Proposal Writing
2. Relevant, meaningful milestones
3. An actionable plan to begin programming in Q1 of the award