Fostering Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Education: Tutorial Based on the AI-READI Bootcamp
Bibliographic record
Abstract
Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into biomedical research requires a workforce fluent in both computational methods and clinical applications. Structured, interdisciplinary training opportunities remain limited, creating a gap between data scientists and clinicians. The National Institutes of Health's Bridge to Artificial Intelligence (Bridge2AI) initiative launched the Artificial Intelligence-Ready and Exploratory Atlas for Diabetes Insights (AI-READI) data generation project to address this gap. AI-READI is creating a multimodal, FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) dataset-including ophthalmic imaging, physiologic measurements, wearable sensor data, and survey responses-from approximately 4000 participants with or at risk for type 2 diabetes. In parallel, AI-READI established a year-long mentored research program that begins with a 2-week immersive summer bootcamp to provide foundational AI/ML skills grounded in domain-relevant biomedical data. Objective: To describe the design, iterative refinement, and outcomes of the AI-READI Bootcamp, and to share lessons for creating future multidisciplinary AI/ML training programs in biomedical research. Methods: Held annually at the University of California San Diego, the bootcamp combines 80 hours of lectures, coding sessions, and small-group mentorship. Year 1 introduced Python programming, classical ML techniques (eg, logistic regression, convolutional neural networks), and data science methods, such as principal component analysis and clustering, using public datasets. In Year 2, the curriculum was refined based on structured participant feedback-reducing cohort size to increase individualized mentorship, integrating the AI-READI dataset (including retinal images and structured clinical variables), and adding modules on large language models and FAIR data principles. Participant characteristics and satisfaction were assessed through standardized pre- and postbootcamp surveys, and qualitative feedback was analyzed thematically by independent coders. Results: Seventeen participants attended Year 1 and 7 attended Year 2, with an instructor-to-student ratio of approximately 1:2 in the latter. Across both years, postbootcamp evaluations indicated high satisfaction, with Year 2 participants reporting improved experiences due to smaller cohorts, earlier integration of the AI-READI dataset, and greater emphasis on applied learning. In Year 2, mean scores for instructor effectiveness, staff support, and overall enjoyment were perfect (5.00/5.00). Qualitative feedback emphasized the value of working with domain-relevant, multimodal datasets; the benefits of peer collaboration; and the applicability of skills to structured research projects during the subsequent internship year. Conclusions: The AI-READI Bootcamp illustrates how feedback-driven, multidisciplinary training embedded within a longitudinal mentored research program can bridge technical and clinical expertise in biomedical AI. Core elements-diverse trainee cohorts, applied learning with biomedical datasets, and sustained mentorship-offer a replicable model for preparing health professionals for the evolving AI/ML landscape. Future iterations will incorporate additional prebootcamp onboarding modules, objective skill assessments, and long-term tracking of research engagement and productivity.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.004 | 0.005 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.003 | 0.004 |
| Open science | 0.002 | 0.006 |
| Research integrity | 0.002 | 0.007 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.021 | 0.012 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".