The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) at the University of Illinois has selected Associate Professor Yun Huang for the 2024-25 Emerging Research Leaders Academy (ERLA). Designed for mid-career faculty to achieve research success, the program provides vital leadership and team science training to pursue large, multi-PI grants, lead campus research initiatives, enhance their own research programs, and ultimately position Illinois for research excellence.
Chosen from a pool of nearly 40 applicants, the 2024-25 cohort represents 15 units from eight colleges at Illinois. Throughout the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, the cohort will attend a series of monthly, in-person workshops designed to support the development of strategic leadership and management skills and inspire the application of those skills to research. Each three-hour workshop includes a presentation by an on- or off-campus subject expert and an interactive discussion or activity on topics such as leading and managing teams, building diverse and inclusive teams, mentoring, and effective research communication.
The 2024-25 cohort will develop a five-year action plan for their personal and research growth. On April 16, 2025, the cohort will present their action plans to peers, department heads, and other campus leaders, receiving certificates of completion and recognition as Emerging Research Leadership Scholars during the celebration reception.
Following participation in ERLA, members of the cohort will be invited to become IHSI affiliates, which includes ongoing engagement with and support from IHSI as they continue their leadership journey. Based on feedback from the 2023-24 ERLA cohort, program facilitators are also planning ERLA alumni events such as a center grant workshop and a 360-feedback assessment.
Huang specializes in human-AI interaction and social computing. She is passionate about developing systems that foster collaborative innovation between humans and AI, whether it is to conceive new services or enhance existing ones. Her work is sponsored by government agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Administration for Community Living, as well as companies such as OpenAI, Google, and IBM. Huang received her PhD from the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Irvine.