Dr. Daniel Pittman
Dr. Pittman leads research at the intersection of Data Science, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, and Human-Computer Interaction. His work spans statewide data platforms, natural language interfaces, and production mobile and web applications that serve educational, civic, and sustainability-focused communities.
His eighteen-year industry career as a software engineer and architect informs his approach to building scalable, maintainable, real-world systems that are grounded in user needs.
Research Interests
- Data Science and Machine Learning
- Large Language Models and Natural Language Processing
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Applied AI for Community Impact
- Cloud-Based Platform Development
Current Projects
Principal Investigator:
- Colorado Sustainability Hub - NSF CISE-MSI Award ($1,202,085)
- Peer Support Hub - MSU Denver
Co-Principal Investigator:
- RILE Connect - SIPA GovGrants ($495,922)
Project Director & Faculty Mentor:
- Roadrunner Connect - MSU Denver Campus Engagement Platform
Research Vision
Dr. Pittman’s research explores how intelligent systems can support evidence-informed decision making by connecting people with data in practical and meaningful ways. This includes:
- Developing natural language assistants for sustainability information
- Creating frameworks for evaluating large language models in domain-specific settings
- Building cloud-based platforms for education and community ecosystems
- Designing user-centered applications that support public access to information
Contact
Interested in research opportunities or collaborations? Contact Dr. Pittman at dpittma8@msudenver.edu.
Dr. Ranjidha Rajan
Dr. Rajan’s research focuses on advancing AI for Good, civic technology, and human-centered computing to strengthen how communities learn, collaborate, and access opportunities. Her work integrates AI-augmented inquiry-based learning, data visualization, learning analytics, and network science to design tools that democratize data, improve educational equity, and support public-benefit ecosystems.
Research Interests
- AI for Good and Responsible AI Systems
- Civic Technology and Human-Centered Computing
- Learning Analytics and Educational Technology
- Data Visualization and Network Science
- AI-Augmented Inquiry-Based Learning
Current Projects
Principal Investigator & Project Director:
- RILE Connect - SIPA GovGrants ($495,922)
Co-Principal Investigator:
- Peer Support Hub - MSU Denver
Additional Research Initiatives
MentorMap: Network-Driven Mentorship Analysis Using social network analysis and graph database technologies to model, query, and visualize mentorship ecosystems across academic, professional, and community settings.
Canvas Learning Analytics Analyzing learning management system activity logs to model student engagement patterns and support early alerts, instructional redesign, and equitable teaching practices.
AI-IBL for Data Visualization Exploring how generative AI can help students practice deeper, more meaningful questioning during exploratory data analysis.
Contact
Interested in research opportunities or collaborations? Contact Dr. Rajan at rranjidh@msudenver.edu.
Alyssa Williams
Alyssa Williams is the Technical Project Manager for the C3 Lab. Her role blends project management — timelines, deliverables, sprint planning, and stakeholder communication — with hands-on technical leadership: code review and architectural guidance for student developers, AWS cloud infrastructure, API and data-integration work across the lab’s projects, and QA / system testing across releases. She also leads the lab’s onboarding for new student researchers (development environment setup, GitHub workflows, coding standards).
An MSU Denver Computer Sciences alumna, Alyssa first joined the team as Project Manager for the Colorado Sustainability Hub (NSF Award #2318730) in 2023 and stepped into the lab-wide Technical Project Manager role in 2026 as the C3 Lab’s portfolio expanded. She is also a research collaborator on the lab’s scholarly output — co-author on the lab’s ACM COMPASS 2025 paper, and a faculty co-mentor for undergraduate researchers presenting at the MSU Denver Undergraduate Research Conference each year since 2024.
Responsibilities
- Technical leadership — code review, architectural guidance, AWS cloud infrastructure, API and data integration across Sustainability Hub, RILE Connect, and Roadrunner Connect, plus QA and system testing.
- Project coordination — timelines, deliverables, Agile workflow (sprint planning, backlog management, feature scoping), and reporting across all four active lab projects (Sustainability Hub, RILE Connect, Peer Support Hub, Roadrunner Connect) spanning federal (NSF), state (SIPA), and institutional (MSU Denver) funding sources, in coordination with partner institutions at CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, University of Northern Colorado, and University of Denver.
- Student researcher mentoring — onboarding (environment setup, GitHub workflows, coding standards), day-to-day technical guidance, and coordination across the lab’s multi-cohort undergraduate and graduate research team.
- Community engagement for the Sustainability Hub, including listening sessions, stakeholder outreach, and the Hub’s pilot with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment.
Contact
For questions about lab operations, student research opportunities, or project coordination: awill157@msudenver.edu.
Join the Lab
The C3 Lab welcomes students from Computer Science, Data Science and Machine Learning, and Computer Security programs who are interested in applied research with community impact. Students work on production software systems, contribute to federal and state-funded research, and help build platforms that directly benefit Colorado communities.
Interested in joining? Complete our Student Interest Form to express your interest in the lab!
You can also contact a co-director directly about research direction and opportunities, or reach out to our Technical Project Manager Alyssa Williams for questions about ongoing student research roles and project coordination.