M.S. Biomedical Data Science student Dyani Peterson has received an AIM-AHEAD Research Fellowship. She is the first Meharry student and the only master’s student from any institution to earn this distinction.
During the year-long fellowship, Peterson will pursue a research project focused on using machine learning for autism prediction. Her interest lies in simplifying the prediction timeline for medical conditions.
The AIM-AHEAD Research Fellowship Program engages a group of early-career researchers in biomedical studies. These studies involve using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methodologies on biomedical data, clinical and genomic cohorts to address health research challenges.
“I’m really interested in looking into medical diseases and trying to simplify the prediction timeline while incorporating AI and what I’m learning in my master’s program,” she said.
Her distinct approach incorporates demographic data, such as ethnicity and location, into the predictive models.
“There have been similar studies, but none that apply AI to demographics—like your ethnicity and where you live—to predict if your child has autism,” she explained.
The time commitment for the fellowship is significant, but so is the impact. She is gaining significant research experience that exceeds the typical master’s program. The fellowship includes funding and access to AIM-AHEAD’s robust resources—including training, data, and infrastructure—to accelerate the development of essential AI/ML research skills.
Peterson meets with her AIM-AHEAD mentor weekly to discuss the project. She plans to present a research poster at a conference in the summer of 2026 and will submit her final report that fall.
“The main goal for the program is to publish our work,” she said.
Her research on autism prediction will also be the focus of her capstone. Peterson looks forward to further pursuing this vital area as a Ph.D. Biomedical Data Science student, ultimately aiming to make early, accurate diagnoses more accessible for all populations.
