The HUMAN Grant supports undergraduate students conducting research across various fields. Their projects include investigating deepfakes, developing AI chatbots that promote the humanities, collaborating with the Chicago History Museum and other community partners.
Research Assistants
Peter Aupperlee is a junior majoring in English Literature and minoring in Studio Art and Asian Studies with a concentration in Mandarin. He is an active member of College Magazine and The Dead Poets Society but is deeply passionate about exploring the intersection of literature, the arts, and technology. Outside of academia, Peter enjoys reading, art-making, writing, and exploring Chicago.
Sebastian M. Buzo is a junior student from Costa Rica pursuing a Computer Science major. Sebastian's contribution to the project involves the implementation of artificial intelligence, drawing upon his expertise in programming and technology. His primary motivation stems from the convergence of the humanities and technological progress, with the objective of leveraging these advances for the benefit of society. Beyond the academic environment, he pursues interests in photography and sports.
Niki Datangel is a senior from Seattle, Washington majoring in Politics with minors in Asian Studies and Legal Studies. She is deeply engaged in exploring the intersection of law, policy, and technology—especially how legal frameworks affect political processes and cross-cultural dynamics. When she’s not working on her research, she enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and spending time in Chicago.
Grayson Goan is a First-Year Art History major from Lexington, Kentucky with minors in Studio Art and Museum Studies. He is interested in pursuing research in Art History and its intersections with AI. Gray enjoys reading, thrifting, and going to art museums.
Brodie Kaufman (Class of 2026) is a French and Sociology & Anthropology double-major, minoring in Entrepreneurship. With her background, Brodie focuses her research on how emerging AI technologies impact the humanities. Brodie is passionate about demonstrating that people from all educational backgrounds should be informed about and engaged with developments in AI.
Ari Kazantceva is a senior student from Russia majoring in Studio Art and Computer Science. With an interest in both contemporary art making practices and emerging technology, they're excited to explore the intersections of art and artificial intelligence and ways of meaningfully and ethically engaging with AI in the modern world.
Madeline Mann is a sophomore from Sacramento, California. She is a Music major and a Cinema Studies minor and is interested in diving deeper into the connection between technology and the creation of music and other media projects. She is an active member of the Lake Forest College choir and likes to play the bass and write in her free time.
Kyle Moyo, a sophomore from Harare, Zimbabwe, is interested in pursuing a Data Science Major. He believes in blending the philosophical with the practical—asking critical questions about the Information Age and its assumptions while recognizing the real value of its tools. His academic pursuits focus on human-centered aspects of technology, including information architecture and humanistic data. Outside of his studies, Kyle enjoys reading, fiction writing and composing music.
Gloria Nakafu is a junior from Uganda, studying Art History and French. She is passionate about recognizing, advocating for, and lauding marginalized voices within the standard canon of humanities disciplines, and is interested in the roles that technology may play in accomplishing or curbing a more intersectional, inclusive society. Outside of academia, she enjoys reading, writing, and sewing.
Sammie Ross is an English major on the Writing track with a double minor in Educational Studies and AI Ethics. As a Writing Center tutor, active member of the theatre department, and singer in Concert Choir, she is interested in the combination of AI with the humanities as it pertains to writing and performing arts. In her free time, Sammie enjoys reading, going on walks, and journaling.
Isis Correa Tume is a sophomore student from Peru majoring in Economics and Computer Science with a minor in International Relations. Their main area of interest is machine learning and training of AI models.