The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good (ECG) is proud to announce the 2025-2026 cohort of Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab Graduate Fellows, chosen from a highly qualified pool of more than 20 candidates.
The Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab Graduate Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind experiential learning program for Notre Dame doctoral students interested in applied technology ethics research. Housed in the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, the Tech Ethics Lab Fellowship is a year-long academic experience in which fellows form intellectual community, advance their scholarly and professional development, and contribute to the vibrant interdisciplinary network of the institute.
The fellowship year culminates in a twelve-week, fully funded, applied research experience with IBM, during which they will work on a problem of practice to learn more about the contexts in which their technical or theoretical work is carried out. Through this placement, fellows gain an opportunity to experience firsthand the world of technology development and governance design to inform their research projects and expand their professional horizons.
"We're very excited about this new component of the Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab Graduate Fellowship," says Adam Kronk, director of research and external engagement for ECG. "Wherever possible, fellows will be embedded on-site in an IBM facility next summer, with each participant matched to projects based on industry research needs and their specific interests and skillset. It's hard to imagine a better opportunity and it's an exciting example of our deep partnership with IBM bearing fruit that benefits both organizations."
Throughout the year, fellows will participate in ECG seminars, receive guidance on research, and will have opportunities to help communicate the Lab's scholarly research to technology developers and industry professionals.
The 2025-2026 Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab Graduate Fellows are:
- Mariana Fernandez-Espinosa, Ph.D. candidate in computer science and engineering, University of Notre Dame
- Adnan Hoq, Ph.D. candidate in computer science and engineering, University of Notre Dame
- Ozioma “Ozzie” Oguine, Ph.D. candidate in computer science and engineering, University of Notre Dame
- Anna Sokol, Ph.D. candidate in computer science and engineering, University of Notre Dame
- Annalisa Szymanski, Ph.D. candidate in computer science and engineering, University of Notre Dame
Applications for the 2026-2027 Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab Graduate Fellowship program will open in the fall. To learn more about the fellowship program, please visit ECG’s website.
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The Notre Dame–IBM Technology Ethics Lab, a critical component of the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good and the Notre Dame Ethics Initiative, promotes interdisciplinary research and policy leadership in technology ethics and is supported by a $20-million investment from IBM.