Stevens Launches DuckAI 2025 to Showcase AI Research and Innovation
Inaugural symposium positions Stevens as a collaborative hub for next-generation AI research and education
Stevens Institute of Technology took a powerful step in advancing its vision as a national leader in artificial intelligence at the first-ever DuckAI 2025 symposium on May 15, 2025.
A joint effort between the Center for Innovative Computing and Networked Systems (iCNS) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the event attracted more than 150 students, faculty, researchers and industry professionals.
The day-long program showcased emerging AI research, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthened ties between Stevens and the tech industry.
“We launched DuckAI 2025 to spotlight the groundbreaking AI research at Stevens and to build a stronger, more visible community around it,” said Hao Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who co-organized the program with Shucheng Yu, an associate professor in the department.
“AI has become central to many faculty and student-led initiatives, including our core Applied Machine Learning course, a cornerstone of the AI master’s program,” Wang noted. “This symposium gave us a dedicated platform to celebrate that work and invite collaboration.”
AI in action
DuckAI 2025 featured research on machine learning, networked intelligence, distributed systems and AI-driven system design — projects that directly align with the iCNS vision.
“We brought together strong research in AI, cybersecurity, computing systems and signal processing,” Wang explained. “Our interdisciplinary structure, combined with strong ties to industry and a culture of innovation, makes us an ideal place to host an event that crosses traditional boundaries and promotes real-world impact. Our department and the iCNS provide strong technical foundations, while industry partners help shape problem definitions and validate solutions. It’s a feedback loop that accelerates innovation.”
Leading the technical sessions were industry leaders from Google, IBM and Armistice Capital, and Shirantha Welikala, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
During the poster and demo session, nearly 30 student teams presented AI projects ranging from adversarial robustness in image classification to reinforcement learning in real-time strategy games, reflecting Stevens’ commitment to hands-on, progressive research.
For many, it was their first opportunity to explain their work to industry experts — and the impacts often reached even farther.
“Our project wasn’t just another academic milestone — it was personal,” said Fiza Pathan, Class of 2026, who is pursuing her master’s degree in machine learning. She and her team presented their research on “Multi-Class Depression Detection from User-Generated Text.”
“We used deep learning and transformer-based natural language processing models,” Pathan explained. “It is proving useful in understanding others’ mental states, just by how they express themselves in words. The goal is to create a quiet tool that listens when someone might not be able to speak.”
The students gained confidence and momentum as they presented to a broader audience, received meaningful feedback and made professional connections.
“We’re excited by the energy and talent of our students — and the possibilities created by deeper industry partnerships,” Wang said. “As AI continues to reshape every domain, Stevens is well-positioned to lead with research that is both rigorous and relevant.”
The symposium also attracted high school students such as Shelley Ma from McNair High School in Jersey City, who said, “It was an incredibly insightful experience, and I would love to attend more events like this!”
A catalyst for the future of AI
DuckAI 2025 demonstrated Stevens’ growing momentum in AI, fueled by faculty investment, cross-disciplinary collaboration and meaningful industry ties. With planning already underway for DuckAI 2026, the team aims to expand the event with additional poster sessions, workshops and panel discussions.
“DuckAI exceeded our goals, and it’s just the beginning,” said Wang. “We also want to build on this momentum to launch strategic joint research initiatives between Stevens and AI-focused companies. We’re investing in a future where Stevens isn’t just contributing to AI — it’s shaping where AI goes next.”
For more on Stevens’ AI initiatives, visit the Center for Innovative Computing and Networked Systems (iCNS) and Stevens Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
