Hariri Institute News
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Unlocking the Data Inside Molecular Maps
BU researchers are developing computational tools to uncover insights in spatial data, supported by a $3.4M NIH grant. By Maureen L. Stanton Scientists can now pinpoint individual RNA molecules inside tissue, creating extraordinarily detailed maps of where genes are active and how that activity relates to neighboring cells. Emerging technologies known as... More
BU Students Anand Sahu and Pridhi Balhara Win 2026 Merck In Silico Innovation Cup for AI Agents
By Maureen L. Stanton Boston University Chemistry doctoral students Anand Sahu (GRS '28) and Pridhi Balhara (GRS '29) were part of the research team awarded the 2026 Merck In Silico Innovation Cup for AI Agents, an international competition exploring the use of AI agents to address scientific research and development challenges. Sahu, a... More
Graduate Student Researchers Earn IGS Support for Sustainability-Focused Projects
Five Hariri Institute-affiliated graduate students have received 2026 Graduate Student Summer Fellowships from the BU Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). The students are among 11 fellows selected across BU to advance interdisciplinary research addressing pressing sustainability challenges. The IGS Graduate Student Summer Fellows program supports independent research by graduate students from... More
Teaching AI the Biology of Antibodies Speeds Drug Discovery
Boston University Research Shows Biology-Informed AI Can Outperform Larger Models By Maureen L. Stanton Designing an effective antibody drug is like searching for the right key in a warehouse of locks. Scientists may begin with million— or even billions—of antibody candidates, but only a tiny fraction will recognize and bind tightly to... More
BU Partners on DOE Genesis Mission award to Advance AI-driven Plasma Physics Research
Chuanfei Dong and Brian Kulis to develop AI tools that accelerate plasma physics research By Maureen L. Stanton Boston University is a collaborating institution on a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Genesis Mission award led by Princeton University and announced by the DOE this July. The Genesis Mission supports the development... More
NSF Awards Boston University Nearly $20 Million to Advance National Cloud Lab Network
Adapted from a story by Andrew Thurston for The Brink Boston University has been awarded nearly $20 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to help establish the National Cloud Lab Network, a nationwide system of AI-enabled, programmable laboratories that will transform how science and engineering research is conducted. Through... More
Boston University-led Opinion Piece Highlights the Need for Public Health Leadership to Build Trustworthy AI in Health
To Realize AI’s Promise for Health, Public Health Must Help Shape Its Future By Brendan Galvin From disease surveillance to clinical care, artificial intelligence is transforming health. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in decisions affecting population health, a new editorial argues that realizing AI’s full potential requires public health leadership alongside... More
BU Researchers Use “Digital Twins” to Predict Language Recovery After Stroke
By Brendan Galvin For people recovering from a stroke, relearning how to communicate can be one of the biggest rehabilitation challenges. For bilingual patients, the challenge is even greater. Which language should their speech therapy focus on? A recent study published in npj Digital Medicine explores how artificial intelligence-powered "digital twins" can help answer... More
BU Robotics Club Wins First Prize and Audience Choice Award at Annual Robotics Summit & Expo
By Mia Knezevic At this spring's Robotics Summit & Expo—an annual event that brings together more than 5,000 developers focused on building robots for aerospace and defense, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and other markets—the BU Robotics Club brought home both the First Prize and the Audience Choice Award in the 4th Form... More
Keith Brown to Lead BU Materials Science & Engineering Division
Boston University College of Engineering has appointed Keith Brown, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Physics, as Head of the Division of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), effective July 1, 2026. Brown succeeds David Bishop, who is stepping down after 15 years as Division Head, during... More