2026 EMERGai Institute
Applications are now open for the 2026 Expanding the Methods of Education Researchers with Generative AI (EMERGai) Institute.
EMERGai is an NSF-funded professional development institute and program for early- and mid-career STEM education researchers. The program addresses a critical need in STEM education research by empowering researchers employed at resource-limited colleges and universities to effectively and ethically leverage Generative AI tools and processes in their research workflow.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2026
Program Overview
The EMERGai Institute includes two phases: a week-long in-person workshop in summer 2026 followed by an online community of practice during the academic year.
In-Person Workshop
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Dates: July 20–24, 2026
Arrival: Participants should plan to arrive on July 19.
The in-person workshop will follow a progressive structure that moves through the research lifecycle. Topics include:
- Building foundational Generative AI literacies for research contexts
- Literature review and synthesis
- Research methods and data collection
- Data analysis
- Developing sustainable practices for continued learning
Online Community of Practice
During the academic year, scholars will participate in virtual gatherings that extend what they learned during the workshop and provide support as they complete their proposed research project.
Gatherings will include:
- Webinars
- Facilitated discussions
- Collaborative exploration
- Tool discovery
These activities will be co-designed with participants based on the group’s needs and interests.
Scholar Expectations
As part of the application, scholars will propose a STEM education research project. Selected participants are expected to:
- Attend the in-person workshop
- Fully participate in the online community of practice
- Complete their proposed research project by May 2027.