FORGE is NNCI’s emerging hub for applied, hands-on experimentation and collaboration, where data science, AI, and domain expertise come together to address real-world challenges. Bringing together students, faculty, staff, and industry partners who are exploring, experimenting, or ready to build, FORGE is designed to support work across all disciplines and levels of experience.
Bill and Cathy Osborn Professor of Computer Science
Director, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Program
Director, Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence (CASMI)
Harper Pack — Program Administrator, harper.pack@northwestern.edu
Lisa Myers — Capstone and Practicum Coordinator, MSAI, lisa.myers@northwestern.edu
FORGE Student Cohort Advisors:
Joshua DeAndria — Clinical Assistant Professor, Pioneer Professor of Practice
Anastasia Kurdia — Professor of Instruction, Assistant Chair
FORGE Organizers:
Abel Kho — Co-Director, NNCI, Director, Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Professor, Medicine (General Internal Medicine), Preventive Medicine (Biostatistics and Informatics)
Jeff Stiers — Senior Director of Strategic Projects
Liz Blondel — Director of Operations, NNCI
Sydney Hlavaty — Program Coordinator, NNCI
Jim Bray — Executive Director, Corporate Engagement
Kate Rice — Director of Outreach and Operations, Corporate Engagement
Sean Reynolds — Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Joe Paris — Associate Vice President of IT Services and Support
Lisa Dhar — Associate Vice President for Innovation and New Ventures
Mike Raab — Executive Director, The Garage
The Forge fills an important gap between theory and practice by offering:
We have this groundswell of innovators. They're called students.”
FORGE cohorts bring together teams of 3–6 students to tackle faculty- and industry-guided challenges over an 8–10 week engagement. Working at the intersection of experimentation and real-world problem solving, students develop prototypes, analytical models, proof-of-concept demonstrations, and exploratory research findings. Each cohort culminates in a final poster session and celebration, where teams share their work with the broader NNCI and Northwestern community.
Explore current and previous quarters of FORGE project topics.
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The Forge is evolving, and the best way to stay informed is to stay connected.
