The AI Ethics Lab welcomes its second cohort of student research assistants majoring in digital studies, political science, computational mathematics, biology and chemistry, and English. Thanks to generous support from the Digital Studies Center, students will receive a weekly stipend to advance the lab’s research projects.
Aarianna Aughtry is a sophomore at Rutgers University-Camden, studying Computer Science and Digital Studies. As a research assistant at the AI Ethics Lab within the Digital Studies Center, she supports projects at the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, and law, with a keen interest in artists’ rights in the age of AI. When she’s not exploring ethical dilemmas in technology, Aarianna enjoys reading novels, listening to music, and getting lost in television dramasᅳalways hoping a kitten might serendipitously fall into her arms. She aims to bring a humanitarian perspective to ensure that breakthrough AI technologies are responsible and benefit everyone.
Laiba Mehmood is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University-Camden, majoring in Political Science. Her research focuses on labor rights, economic and financial practices, and the freedom of movement. As she continues her studies, she is dedicated to exploring ways in which policy and law can better support vulnerable workers and communities. Laiba plans to attend law school to further pursue her passion for advocating for human rights and corporate accountability.
Aadith Muthukumar is currently a freshman at Rutgers University majoring in Applied and Computational Mathematics. He is hoping to gain new insight into AI through research and internships while also trying to enter the field of financial law. In his free time, Aadith joins math competitions, chess tournaments, and produces movies and videos.
Amisha Rastogi is a freshman at Rutgers University-Camden pursuing a Biological Science major and a Chemistry minor. As a research assistant at the AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University, she focuses on the human rights of Health, Privacy, and Peace with specific attention to vulnerable populations of Persons with Disabilities and People Experiencing Poverty. Through combined efforts in research, rigorous academics, and community-based experiential learning, Amisha hopes to become a physician-scientist who prioritizes personal advocacy, human rights, and ethics.
Elikemuel “Kemy” Rodriguez is an undergraduate student at Rutgers-Camden, majoring in English with minors in Digital Studies and Political Science. His research centers on digital technology in politics, with particular interests in AI development, political speech, data collection, propaganda, and technology ethics. Previously, he worked as a researcher at the Digital Studies Center at Rutgers, where he studied the portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters in media and explored video games as a medium for studying mental health. Kemy aims to continue researching the impact of media and emerging technologies in sensitive areas to help develop ethical guidelines that promote the safe advancement of technology and society.