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The Columbia–Dream Sports AI Innovation Center’s Call for Research Proposals is now closed. We are grateful for the strong interest and thoughtful submissions from researchers across Columbia University. We will share updates regarding future funding opportunities and upcoming Calls for Proposals in these research areas on this page. We encourage interested Columbia faculty and affiliates to check back for announcements.

For general inquiries regarding collaboration opportunities, please subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us at [email protected]

Overview

The AI Innovation Center is a collaborative effort between Columbia and Dream Sports, with a mission to develop and deploy advanced AI technology in sports and games. Through generous support from Dream Sports, the Center funds faculty-led research projects advancing cutting-edge AI innovation with meaningful impact across sports and beyond.

The Center’s research priorities include, but are not limited to:

  • Foundation models for user behavior modeling
  • Exploring the Efficacy of Reinforcement Learning Algorithms for Optimizing Long-Term Outcomes in Sequential Decision Processes
  • Learning and Forecasting the Dynamics of Complex Systems
  • Adaptive Algorithms for Dynamic Catalog Optimization Under Personalization Constraints
  • Causal Inference Methods for Assessing Long-Term Impacts in Temporally Extended Interventions
  • Statistical Methods for Networked Experimentation with Multiple Comparison Groups
  • Utilization of Foundation Models in Time Series Forecasting and Analysis

Special Interest in Sports Analytics

The following areas of innovation not only advance sports analytics but also offer broad potential applications across other domains, bridging sports technology with healthcare, business, and society to create transformative impacts:

  • Performance Prediction and Optimization: Leveraging AI to enhance athlete performance and overall outcomes.
  • Injury Prevention and Biomechanics: Developing tools to reduce injury risks and improve biomechanical understanding.
  • Game Strategy and Decision-Making Algorithms: Applying optimization techniques to refine strategic planning and execution.
  • Fan and User Engagement Analytics: Using data-driven methods to personalize and deepen engagement experiences.
  • Real-Time Data Processing and Interpretation: Building systems to analyze and interpret live data for immediate insights.

The Columbia-Dream Sports AI Innovation Center's second annual call for Doctoral Student Fellow Nominations is now closed. We sincerely thank Columbia faculty and students for their strong interest in the 2025-2026 fellowship cycle. We will post updates regarding future fellowship opportunities and nomination cycles on this page. Columbia faculty and students are encouraged to check back for announcements. 

For general inquiries about the Doctoral Student Fellowship program, contact us at [email protected]

The AI Innovation Center is a collaborative effort between Columbia and Dream Sports, with a mission to develop and deploy advanced AI technology in sports and games.

Each year, the Center will fund a select number of PhD Fellowships through generous support from Dream Sports, in the following research focus areas:

  • AI applications in sports
  • Deep learning for structured datasets
  • Simulation systems
  • Reinforcement Learning
  • Distributed machine learning
  • Time Series foundation models

 

A list of past Fellows can be found on the Center website.