Earlier this month, electrical engineering and computer science researchers from around the world came together at MIT for the twelfth annual Rising Stars Workshop. The event welcomed graduate students and postdocs of historically underrepresented genders who are interested in pursuing academic careers in the field.
Research scientist Yosuke Tanigawa and Professor Manolis Kellis at MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have developed a novel methodology in human genetics to address an often-overlooked problem: how to handle clinical measurements that fall "below the limit of quantification" (BLQ). Recently published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, their new approach, "hypometric genetics," utilizes these typically discarded measurements to enhance genetic discovery, with significant implications for personalized genomic medicine and drug development.
Two of the trickiest qualities to balance in the world of machine learning are fairness and accuracy. Algorithms optimized for accuracy may unintentionally perpetuate bias against specific groups, while those prioritizing fairness may compromise accuracy by misclassifying some data points.
In the classic cartoon “The Jetsons,” Rosie the robotic maid seamlessly switches from vacuuming the house to cooking dinner to taking out the trash. But in real life, training a general-purpose robot remains a major challenge.
