Bloomington University is proud to announce the launch of its cutting-edge AI & Machine Learning Research Center (AIMLRC), a transformative initiative that positions the university at the forefront of artificial intelligence research in the Caribbean and Latin American region.
The AIMLRC represents a $12 million investment in infrastructure, talent, and research capabilities, made possible through strategic partnerships with leading technology companies and a commitment to advancing AI education and research in emerging markets.
Investment & Infrastructure
The center occupies 15,000 square feet of purpose-built research space, featuring state-of-the-art computing infrastructure, collaborative workspaces, and specialized laboratories for machine learning experimentation, computer vision research, and natural language processing development.
Industry Partnership Network
The AIMLRC has been established through groundbreaking partnerships with leading technology companies who share our vision of democratizing AI education and research:
Microsoft
Azure AI PartnershipNVIDIA
GPU ComputingAWS
Cloud InfrastructureIBM
Research CollaborationThese partnerships provide our students and researchers with access to enterprise-grade tools, cloud computing resources, and mentorship from industry experts, ensuring that research conducted at the AIMLRC meets the highest global standards.
Research Focus Areas
The center will concentrate its research efforts on areas with significant potential for regional and global impact:
AI for Healthcare
Developing diagnostic tools and predictive models for tropical diseases, medical imaging analysis, and healthcare resource optimization for island nations.
Climate & Environment
Machine learning models for hurricane prediction, coral reef monitoring, and sustainable resource management in Caribbean ecosystems.
NLP for Low-Resource Languages
Building language models and translation systems for Papiamentu, Caribbean Spanish, and other underrepresented languages.
Financial AI
Research in algorithmic trading, fraud detection, and financial inclusion technologies for emerging markets.
World-Class Facilities
The AIMLRC features cutting-edge infrastructure designed to support groundbreaking research:
High-Performance Computing
NVIDIA DGX cluster with 500+ A100 GPUs for large-scale model training
Collaboration Hub
Open workspace designed for interdisciplinary research teams
Robotics Lab
Testing environment for AI-powered robotics and autonomous systems
Data Center
Secure, climate-controlled facility with 10PB storage capacity
Innovation Studio
Dedicated space for hackathons, workshops, and industry events
Research Data Lab
Curated datasets for healthcare, climate, and language research
Leadership Vision
"The AI & Machine Learning Research Center represents our commitment to positioning the Caribbean as a hub for technological innovation. We're not just training AI practitioners—we're developing solutions to challenges unique to our region, from climate resilience to healthcare accessibility. This center will produce research that makes a real difference in people's lives."
🎓 New Academic Programs
The launch of the AIMLRC coincides with the introduction of three new degree programs: MSc in Artificial Intelligence, MSc in Data Science & Machine Learning, and a PhD in Computational Intelligence—all accepting applications for the Fall 2026 intake.
Opportunities for Students & Researchers
The AIMLRC offers numerous opportunities for the BU community:
- Research Assistantships: Paid positions for graduate students working on cutting-edge projects
- Industry Internships: Placements with partner companies including Microsoft, NVIDIA, and AWS
- Undergraduate Research: Summer research programs for high-achieving undergraduates
- Visiting Researcher Program: Opportunities for international scholars to collaborate on projects
- Startup Incubator: Support for students launching AI-focused ventures
Get Involved
Students interested in joining the AIMLRC community can apply through the Faculty of Technology portal. The center welcomes collaborators from all faculties, recognizing that the most impactful AI research often occurs at the intersection of technology with other disciplines like healthcare, business, environmental science, and the humanities.
For partnership inquiries, research collaborations, or media requests, please contact the AIMLRC office at aimlrc@bu.edu.cw.