Raul Deju Institute for Artificial Intelligence
Our Mission
The mission of the Raul Deju Institute for AI (aka AI Institute) is to support research and education with AI infrastructure, cultivate talent pipelines, and ignite new partnerships to solve real-word problems.
Our Vision
The AI Institute acts as an amplifier by providing an umbrella and bring together all students, faculty and staff working with any aspect of AI in their studies and research.
1- Enhanced Research Competitiveness
The AI Institute will accelerate research by providing interdisciplinary excellence across the diverse research fields at NMT, including water resource and technology, energy initiatives, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and bioscience.
2- Infrastructure
The AI Institute will provide specialized AI facilities with support expertise for project development and implementation.
3- Talent Pipeline
The AI Institute will support development and delivery of specialized degree programs and certificates to prepare a skilled AI-ready workforce for New Mexico, including in AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Quantum.
4- Industry Partnerships
The AI Institute will ignite new collaborations and connections with industry, including through partnerships with the New Mexico AI Consortium and universities.
Our Projects
1- Research
The AI Institute will provide expertise through connecting NMT principal investigators who are interested in incorporating AI into their research projects, with faculty, staff and student experts to receive expert advice and new collaborations for AI in research in diverse disciplines, including water resource and technology, energy initiatives, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, quantum and bioscience.
2- Infrastructure
The AI Institute will provide access, training, and staff support for AI-capabilities in the High Performance Computing infrastructure and through connections with external partners.
3- Talent Pipeline
The AI Institute will work closely with faculty in diverse departments for development of an AI minor and certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
4- Industry Collaborations
The AI Institute will support researchers in making new collaborations with industry and university partners.
Our Team
Dr. Jun Zheng
Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Member Steering Committee, New Mexico AI Consortium
Dr. John Naliboff
Associate Professor, Earth and Environmental Science
Lead High Performance Computing Infrastructure
Michael Smith
Director, Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis (ICASA)
About Dr. Deju
Dr. Raul Deju earned his B.S. in Mathematics and Physics and his Ph.D. in Geosciences (Hydrology) from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. As a scientist, global executive, and philanthropist, he has held top-tier leadership roles, including CEO, COO, and Division President for multi-billion-dollar firms such as Waste Management, URS Inc., and International Technology Corporation.
A veteran entrepreneur and private equity leader, he has served as a Partner at Brightstar Capital Partners and Chairman of Amerit Fleet Solutions. Dr. Deju is also a prolific author of nine books—including his autobiography, Yes, I Can: And So Can You!—and over 200 technical papers.
His philanthropic impact is centered on innovation and education, notably through the founding of the Raul Deju Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the establishment of the Raul and Shari Deju Endowment for Hydrologic Innovation, and the Raul and Shari Deju University House at his alma mater. He remains a dedicated mentor to service-disabled veterans and was honored with the 2015 Chuck Smith Lifetime of Entrepreneurship Award from John F. Kennedy University.