Learning Science Lab | Faculty Innovation Fellows

The NYU Stern Faculty Innovation Fellows program helps faculty address a challenge in their teaching and make a meaningful improvement to a course. As a yearlong partner, the Learning Science Lab helps faculty research possible approaches, design and implement an experiment — including technology when it fits — and collect and review data about the student experience.

Faculty bring their knowledge of the course and their students. The LSL team brings learning design expertise, research-informed ideas, and practical support to help turn a challenge into an approach faculty can try and learn from. Fellows gain thought partners throughout the process and insight into what works for their students.

How the fellowship works

Fellows participate throughout the year by providing feedback, assisting with data collection, and meeting regularly with the LSL team. A collaboration may include the following steps:

1. Define the challenge — The faculty member and LSL team discuss the course, its goals, and a problem or opportunity they want to address.
2. Research and design an experiment — Together, they explore possible approaches and develop one to try, such as a teaching strategy, learning activity, or technology tool.
3. Implement the approach — The faculty member puts the experiment into practice, with support from the LSL team, including help implementing technology when appropriate.
4. Collect data and learn from the results — Faculty and the LSL team review student feedback and other evidence to understand the experience and consider what to refine or carry forward.

Previous Faculty Innovation Fellows projects

Addressing student AI use: Amal Shehata, Accounting

Professor Amal Shehata worked with the LSL to respond to student feedback that an assignment critiquing AI output did not reflect how students actually used AI. She shifted the course toward foundational learning and active, device-free participation in class, while leaving room for more authentic AI use outside class. In a midsemester survey, 65.2% of students were somewhat favorable or favorable toward the no-device policy, and 76.1% said it helped them focus in class.

Personalizing student reflection: Brian Hanssen, Management Communication

Professor Brian Hanssen wanted to connect course concepts with students’ professional experience and goals. With the LSL, he explored using a customized chatbot to generate personalized reflection questions in welcome letters. He prepared letters for 35 students over two class sessions; he reported that students appreciated their personal relevance. The work also helped him consider how AI could support teaching across the Management Communication Program.

Developing AI feedback for business writing: Jeffrey Younger, Management Communication

Professor Jeffrey Younger partnered with the LSL to develop a custom GPT that gave students formative feedback on an AIM (Audience, Intent, Message) memo assignment. Students received AI feedback alongside peer feedback and used both as they revised. Among the 19 students who completed a post-assignment survey, 89% found the AI feedback helpful in creating their final draft, and 89% said they would like to see similar AI use in other courses.

Interested in becoming a Faculty Innovation Fellow?

Have an idea for a new teaching approach, learning technology, or classroom experiment? The Faculty Innovation Fellows program offers faculty a yearlong collaboration with the LSL, including project guidance and resources. Projects typically span two semesters.

Interested? Email learning.science@stern.nyu.edu by October 30, 2026, to apply.