Spearheading the movement is the Data Science and Informatics club (DSI), a student organization with an online membership of over 1,000 UF students and officially sponsored by the UF Artificial Intelligence and Informatics Research Institute (AIIRI) under Dr. Alina Zare. UF Information Technology Research Computing collaborates with DSI annually, providing the organization’s students with critical access to high performance computing resources to execute computationally intensive research projects.  

Among DSI’s current student-led projects is the reimplementation of Google’s Titans architecture. This machine learning framework enhances how AI models store and retrieve data by drawing inspiration from human-like recall mechanisms. Since the original codebase has not been released, the student team is reconstructing the system using available information found in published research papers. With HiPerGator’s computing power, they can efficiently manage the substantial computational demands needed to train and refine the architecture. Other exciting DSI-supported projects include using neural networks for early fire detection, developing deep reinforcement learning algorithms to optimize e-commerce portfolio allocation under dynamic conditions and screening hundreds of photovoltaic materials for space applications using quantum-level simulations.

By utilizing HiPerGator’s computing capabilities, DSI is equipping the next generation of data science and AI professionals with industry-level technical training to tackle complex problems and spur innovation.  

“A lot of the AI research that people eventually end up doing requires a lot of computational power, which is where HiPerGator comes in to save the day,” Matheus Kunzler Maldaner, president of DSI and a 2025 inductee to the UF Hall of Fame, said.

The organization also hosts workshops, such as an NVIDIA Deep Learning Workshop in partnership with UFIT Research Computing, training for statewide hackathons and the yearly AI Spring Symposium that brings together researchers and professionals for a full day of learning. In the past year, DSI hosted more than 20 technical workshops to help prepare students for their dream careers, whether in industry or academia.

“The enthusiasm of the students has been amazing,” Matt Gitzendanner, UFIT Research Computing training team manager, said. “Over 100 DSI students worked through four weeks, earning the Fundamentals of Deep Learning certification from NVIDIA! DSI has always been a great partner in putting on workshops to help students gain valuable skills."

Beyond project work and workshops, DSI members actively assist their peers online by sharing helpful technical resources and discussing opportunities, always maintaining the organization’s primary goal: to make knowledge accessible to all.

“My dad always says you just have to focus on your work and on helping others when you can,” Maldaner said. “Recognition will follow as a result of your efforts.”

And their hard work continues to pay off. DSI earned UF Student Life’s Student Organization of the Year award in addition to the UF Career Connections Center’s Career Influencer Award as recognition for their impact on student success and career development.

Looking ahead, Maldaner said he looks forward to future collaborative opportunities to continue promoting AI education to a broader audience and most importantly, ensuring it is accessible to all.

Pictured: UFIT Research Computing training manager Matt Gitzendanner with DSI president Matheus Maldaner and Internal Vice President Ishan Kumthekar.