Since the early 1960s, Missouri S&T has been recognized as a leader in computer science, offering some of the nation’s first courses in the field. Fast forward several decades, and S&T continues to be a computing leader with the launch of the MinerAI initiative. 
 
“Through MinerAI, we are bringing together all of Missouri S&T’s AI activities so we can have more university-wide synergy and broaden our teaching and research in the area,” says Dr. Jonathan Kimball, S&T’s Fred W. Finley Distinguished Professor and chair of electrical and computer engineering.  
 
“Artificial intelligence’s impact on society will only continue to grow, and as a premier technological university, it’s essential that we lead in both AI education and research to prepare our students for the careers of tomorrow.” 
 
Kimball says the initiative’s four main objectives include:  

• Creating a campuswide hub to connect students, faculty, staff and alumni with AI-related resources and services 

• Designing courses and programs to support AI users 

• Developing a new master’s degree in applied AI and expanding advanced AI coursework and research 

• Deploying new computing infrastructure to support and develop AI tools — similar to ChatGPT and other well-known models — for research, education and entrepreneurship. 

Kimball is leading efforts for the first two objectives, while Dr. Jay Park, S&T’s Kummer Endowed Chair of Computer Science, is focusing on the others. 
 
In January 2025, Dr. David Borrok, vice provost and dean of S&T’s College of Engineering and Computing, assembled a MinerAI taskforce to kick off the initiative. It started with a handful of S&T faculty members from computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and engineering management and systems engineering. 
 
Now, the initiative includes over 30 faculty members from the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, and the Kummer College of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development. Other faculty members teaching AI-centric courses or coordinating AI-related events are invited to participate as well. 
 
“MinerAI will bring together faculty members across the three colleges, helping them discover new resources and collaboration opportunities,” Borrok says. “It will be the go-to place for all things AI for our students, faculty, and staff — and will help identify ways for the university to introduce generative AI to students from a variety of backgrounds.” 
 
MinerAI is planning to host several workshops for everyday users of AI, as well as specialists. Borrok says the initiative will also collaborate with S&T’s Kummer Institute Center for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems and Center for Science, Technology and Society to introduce an annual symposium focused on the intersection of AI technologies and society. 
 
Learn more about MinerAI at minerai.mst.edu. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit  www.mst.edu.