CDS PhD Students Calabrese & Precel Recognized for Research in AI Ethics and Computing Pathways
Two doctoral students from Boston University’s Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences (CDS)—Tyler Calabrese and Heila Precel, advised by Assistant Professor Allison McDonald—have been awarded highly competitive fellowships from the National Science Foundation and Computing Research Association. Their selection underscores BU’s growing leadership in computing and data sciences, supporting discoveries that shape the future of technology and society.
“Heila and Tyler exemplify the breadth of impact that data science can have—from safeguarding individuals in the age of generative AI to broadening participation in computing research,” said Azer Bestavros, Associate Provost for Computing & Data Sciences. “Their recognition by the NSF not only affirms their extraordinary potential but also reflects CDS’s commitment to nurturing scholars whose work connects deeply with society’s most urgent challenges.”
Tyler Calabrese: Digital Privacy for At-Risk Groups
Calabrese was awarded the Computing Research Association’s CSGrad4US fellowship, which is funded by NSF. The fellowship provides three years of funding within a five-year PhD track, supporting individuals who may not have followed a traditional pathway into doctoral research. Calabrese, who is also part of the CDS PhD cohort for 2025, views the fellowship as a bridge into advanced study and research.
“Advancing people’s right to privacy is something I am passionate about and would have hoped to contribute to regardless of my career path. I am grateful to the CRA, NSF, and BU for allowing me to lean into this work full-time, and I am excited to begin my research career.”
Calabrese’s research interests lie at the intersection of digital privacy and human-computer interaction. He is particularly interested in learning about how members of marginalized, criminalized, or otherwise at-risk groups protect their privacy and safety in an increasingly digital world. Calabrese will spend his first year supported through CDS’s standard doctoral fellowship before moving into NSF funding in subsequent years. Learn more about Calabrese’s work.
Heila Precel: Responsible AI and Preventing Digital Harms
Precel was awarded an NSF fellowship through the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), which recognizes outstanding graduate students in STEM fields and provides multi-year support to advance their training and research.
Precel studies the intersection of data use, consent, and digital harms in generative AI systems. Her research focuses on preventing the nonconsensual use of intimate content in AI training models—an area with profound ethical, social, and technological implications.
“Beyond the research support, the GRF serves as a powerful signal that both the research world and the general public are invested in my work. As a researcher, I’m committed to working in the public interest, and the fellowship strengthens that mission.”
Precel’s work builds on prior scholarship around AI’s content and data ecosystems, bringing together conversations about data dispossession, intimate imagery, and publicly accessible and accountable technologies to expand how researchers and policymakers think about AI’s societal impacts.
Through the NSF fellowship, Precel plans to grow this research agenda while contributing to the wider conversation on responsible AI and data ethics. Learn more about Precel's work.