I am profoundly grateful to the Graduate Dean Advisory Panel for honoring me with the Doctoral Finishing Fellowship Award. This recognition represents not only acknowledgment of my research contributions but also provides essential support during this critical phase of my academic journey, enabling me to fully dedicate my efforts toward finalizing research that addresses critical safety challenges in high-risk industrial environments.
My academic journey began in the field of mining engineering. Throughout my professional development, I recognized the transformative impact of modern digital technologies on engineering disciplines. This insight highlighted the transformative potential of computational approaches in addressing complex engineering challenges, prompting me to expand my expertise through a master’s degree in computer science in 2022. Acquiring this interdisciplinary skill set deepened my interest in developing computational solutions for complex engineering problems through my research at the National Center of Artificial Intelligence.
To further strengthen my academic foundation and pursue pioneering research in this emerging field, I enrolled in the Ph.D. program in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Tech in August 2022. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Snehamoy Chatterjee, I have been able to pursue advanced research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and mining engineering.
My dissertation focuses on developing specialized large language models designed to comprehend and interpret safety-specific language. This work addresses a significant gap in occupational health and safety management, where current approaches often fail to fully capture the nuanced language present in safety documentation and incident analyses. By applying Large Language Models to safety domains, my research aims to enhance risk assessment protocols, incident analysis methodologies, and hazard identification processes across various industrial sectors.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the Graduate Dean Award Advisory Panel for granting me this Finishing Fellowship. This support enables me to dedicate my full attention to completing my dissertation and advancing the practical applications of my research findings. I am particularly appreciative of Dr. Chatterjee’s mentorship throughout my doctoral studies, as well as the comprehensive support provided by the faculty and staff of the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences.
As I conclude this phase of my academic journey, I anticipate continuing to explore the integration of artificial intelligence with engineering practices to enhance workplace safety and operational efficiency in industrial environments.