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Poole College of Management
Business Analytics and AI Initiative

Research Projects

Our business analytics and AI research efforts are designed to be leveraged to solve real problems facing businesses in an effort to increase revenue, efficiency and productivity.

Current Research Projects

Industry Sponsored Research Projects

Quantifying the GHG Impact of Travel – Tool Development

With growing regulatory and corporate governance focus on tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from business travel, this project supports NC State’s efforts to understand and mitigate its own travel-related emissions. As part of this Bank of America supported study, the BAI is developing a web portal that uses a new analytical model, leveraging NC State’s travel data, to quantify GHG impact. This tool will enable faculty, students, and administrators to monitor and manage their carbon footprint through a user-friendly interface, supporting both institutional goals and corporate entities seeking better emissions accounting practices

Using predictive analytics to address critical mental health incidents in the workplace

The BAI is working with Workplace Options on a research project using predictive analytics to address critical mental health incidents in the workplace. This partnership aims to leverage data-driven insights that enhance employee well-being and organizational resilience.

NC State university sponsored projects

Improving Patient Safety through Accessible AI: Clinical Risk Prediction for Infection Prevention in Long-term Care Settings

Funded through a 2024 Data Science and AI Academy Seed Grant, this research project proposal focuses on addressing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) in Nursing Homes (NHs) by harnessing the power of ML/AI to predict and reduce HAI risks. Led by Dr. Sarah Rhea from the College of Veterinary Medicine, the project aims to compile and link diverse data sources such as Medicare, LTCfocus, and the US Census Bureau to build a comprehensive dataset. Using a random forest model, the research will analyze individual and group-level factors to predict HAI occurrences in NH patients. The project also includes a networking event to encourage collaboration among NCSU researchers on AI/ML applications for patient safety. The team expects to produce valuable insights for improving infection prevention and control, and is supported by the BAI as the machine learning experts.

Embodied Social AI: Personal Robots for Aging at Home

The Office of Research & Innovation (ORI) and the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology, & Science (KIETS) awarded BAI Executive Director Bill Rand and other faculty across campus a grant, “Embodied Social AI: Personal Robots for Aging at Home”, under the Research and Innovation Seed Funding (RISF) Program. This study aims to develop personal robots to support seniors with cognitive decline, helping them live independently at home. It highlights their efforts to leverage advanced AI and robotics to improve the quality of life for the elderly.

Combating AI-augmented Mis/disinformation among Higher Education Students

The rise of deepfake technology has made it increasingly difficult to differentiate between genuine and manipulated content, fueling the spread of misinformation and eroding public trust. This project, funded through a 2024 Data Science and AI Academy Seed Grant, seeks to develop a comprehensive framework for analyzing the impact of deepfakes on public perceptions and behaviors. Through surveys, focus groups, and educational workshops, we aim to improve media literacy and critical thinking skills among students and community members. Key objectives include understanding misinformation characteristics, exploring psychological factors, and promoting informed decision-making. Expected outcomes include better detection abilities, greater awareness of misinformation risks, and stronger media literacy in the age of AI-generated content.

Addressing Disparities in Data‐Driven Decision Making Education

The Poole College of Management awarded BAI Executive Director Bill Rand, Yang (Alice) Cheng (Department of Communications), and Florence Martin (Department of Education) a grant, “Addressing Disparities in Data‐Driven Decision Making Education“, under the Game-Changing Research Incentive Program for Economic Access and Opportunity (GRIP-EAO). This initiative aims to bridge the gap in analytics education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups. Through this effort, Cheng, Rand, and Martin are driving meaningful societal change by creating equitable access to high-demand skills and opportunities.

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Government sponsored research projects

NEH Grant to establish the Embedding AI in Society Ethically (EASE) Center on the ethics of agent-based AI.

Led by project director Veljko Dubljevic, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, the new EASE Center will serve as a hub for research on AI ethics. Projects supported by the grant include the creation of a postdoctoral fellow mentoring program, a new graduate minor in AI ethics, an annual conference, and special journal issues on topics such as ethical considerations related to autonomous vehicles, large language models (LLMs), and AI-based technologies for eldercare.  From Bill Rand, Executive Director of the Business Analytics and AI Initiative: “The BAI is happy to be a part of and to support this award which will help businesses make ethical decisions around the quick-growing field of AI.”

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Sentiment analysis in SMS and social media to help understand HIV prevention needs among young women in Kenya

The BAI is part of a National Institute of Mental Health study, collaborating with Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital and Kenyan public health partners. The BAI is contributing to sentiment analysis in SMS and social media to help understand HIV prevention needs among young women in Kenya.

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Interested in collaborating with the BAI?

Click on the link below to contact the BAI about collaborating on a research project alongside our world class faculty.

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Previous Research Projects

Using AI to Battle COVID-19 (Partner: Clinton Health Access Initiative)

In partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Business Analytics and AI Initiative developed an AI (artificial intelligence) system that investigated, collated and curated myriad data sources (e.g. government, scientific, professional, public, advocacy, as well as social media, e.g. Twitter and Google Trends) to determine the nature of COVID-19 and, most importantly, understood the best practices for preventing its expansion and re-occurrence.

Building on IBM Watson Technology to Advance Sustainability in Coatings Industry (Partner: American Coatings Association)

As part of a project originally started under the former Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS), the Business Analytics and AI Initiative is working with the American Coatings Association (ACA) to develop a system that will provide current information on health and environmental studies or reported effects that may be emerging on materials of interest in the ACA members supply chains so that they can proactively guide their formulation changes.