Each semester, the Massive Data Institute (MDI) at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University sponsors technical data processing and analysis workshops to provide Georgetown University faculty, students, and staff the opportunity to be exposed to new methods, programming paradigms, and technologies. Led by MDI’s postdoctoral fellows, each workshop deep-dives into one specific topic.
Learn more and register for one of the five Fall 2025 MDI Workshops below (please note there is a separate registration for each workshop; you can join one or all of them). To learn more about the MDI Fellows who will be leading this semester’s workshops, please visit: https://mdi.georgetown.edu/mdi-fellows/
For more information on MDI events, check out our events calendar . Any questions, please reach out to mdiresearch@georgetown.edu.
September 23, 2025: Research Methods for Human-Centered AI and Beyond with Eric Zeng, Ph.D.
When: Tuesday, September 23, 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Capitol Campus at 125 E Street – Conference Room 501 (room updated)
Register: https://bit.ly/MDIWorkshopSept2025
Abstract: How effective are AI impersonations at spreading scams? How have LLMs affected people’s ability to find accurate information? What effect do social media algorithms have on people’s mental health? As new and disruptive technologies emerge, understanding the interaction between technology and people is critical so that we can shape technology to be safe and beneficial for society.
So how do we answer these questions, particularly when no company or statistical agency has published relevant data? As researchers, we can gather this data ourselves by conducting scientific studies and experiments with human participants.
In this workshop, we will go on a whirlwind tour of all of the steps for running online research studies with human participants. By the end of this workshop, you will be familiar with:
- Qualitative data analysis
- Designing online surveys and experiments
- Ethics Reviews and participant recruitment
- Data visualization and statistical analysis
October 7, 2025: Network Analysis Methods Across Disciplines with Melissa Collier, Ph.D.
When: Tuesday, October 7, 1:00-4:00pm
LOCATION CHANGE: Hilltop Campus, ICC 106
Register: https://bit.ly/MDIWorkshopOct2025
Abstract: This workshop offers an introduction to network analysis methods and their applications across disciplines including, but not limited to, public health, social science, and ecology. We will learn how to conceptualize data as networks, interpret common network metrics, create meaningful visualizations, and explore real-world case studies using Python. By the end of the session, attendees will gain a foundational understanding of network analysis techniques, as well as practical skills to apply in their own fields.
Participant Skillset: No prior experience is required, though familiarity with Python is helpful.
October 20, 2025: Understanding Textual and Visual Reasoning Through the Lens of Generative Models with Rupayan Mallick, Ph.D.
Date: Monday, October 20, 2025, 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Hilltop Campus, MDI Conference Space
Register: https://bit.ly/MDIWorkshopMidOct2025
Abstract: In this workshop, we will study the underlying “reasoning” capabilities of the vision and language models. For example, we will go through how models like ChatGPT interpret images to interpret medical scans to help doctors. This workshop is designed to help better understand the relationship between the descriptive nature of language (text) and the preceptive understanding of vision (images). Participants will learn to connect images and text, and how modern approaches now enable machines to perform step-by-step reasoning, compare visual details, and make decisions based on complex scenes. Participants will understand the possibilities and the current limitations of these systems, including issues like bias, errors, and “hallucinations”.
By the end of the workshop the participants should:
- Understand how current AI models combine vision data and language;
- Be able to question the reliability, trust and fairness of these models; and
- Have a basic idea on chain-of-thought (CoT) reasoning, handling multimodal models, etc.
Participant Skillset: A very basic understanding of Python is expected.
November 11, 2025: Designing Human-Centered AI and Digital Tools for Real-World Communities with Sejin Paik, Ph.D.
When: Tuesday, November 11, 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Capitol Campus at 125 E Street – Conference Room 501 (room updated)
Register: https://bit.ly/MDIWorkshopNov2025
Abstract: This workshop introduces applied methodologies from human-computer interaction (HCI), communication research, socio-technical systems analysis, and usability studies in AI and digital platforms, giving participants an overview of how to translate academic research into practice. Using human-centered design principles, participants will learn to identify user needs, map those needs onto design requirements, and gain a concrete sense for how they can scale their insights into real-world, impactful AI-driven or other emerging tech products such as tools or platforms that serve specific communities in need.
Participant Skillset:
- No advanced technical background required; if anything, folks who are more qualitative and would like to find greater use-cases for their work, beyond just policymaking, could highly benefit from this workshop.
- Foundational research literacy
- Curiosity about digital product design, HCI, and user behavior and perception data
Participants who would benefit most/find this workshop most interesting:
- Students in policy, humanities, and social science (journalism, political science, etc.) who may have never been exposed to the world of product/tool-building as another form of “real-life impact” through research
- CS/engineering students who can glean insights about building and designing their technical systems for users, rather than just simply improving the technology
November 18, 2025: Privacy Through Cryptography with Lucy Qin, Ph.D.
When: Tuesday, November 18, 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Hilltop Campus, MDI Conference Space
Register: https://bit.ly/MDIWorkshopMidNov2025
Abstract: As data are accumulated and consumed at an increasingly massive scale, it is important to consider what data should be protected from whom and how. Cryptography offers a variety of techniques that are used for data protection and secure communications. This workshop will begin by exploring historical ciphers in order to build intuition about modern-day cryptosystems. We will then shift our discussion to more modern cryptosystems, including secure multi-party computation. During the workshop, you will see how basic ciphers work, conduct cryptanalysis, and work with secure multi-party computation through a series of activities.
Any questions? Please reach out to mdiresearch@georgetown.edu
About the Massive Data Institute (MDI): At Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, the Massive Data Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute that connects experts across computer science, data science, public health, public policy, and social science to tackle societal scale issues and impact public policy in a way that improves people’s lives through responsible evidence-based research. For more information on MDI, please visit https://mdi.georgetown.edu/ and to learn about additional upcoming MDI workshops and events, please visit: https://mdi.georgetown.edu/events/