Professor Mitra will enhance Te Herenga Waka’s existing leadership in Advanced AI, building the University’s capacity in the field, and ensuring Aotearoa is at the forefront of global advancements.
His role will involve promoting interdisciplinary research, mentoring future leaders in AI, engaging with government and industry, and fostering collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and international experts.
Professor Mitra will join Te Kura Mātai Pūkaha, Pūrorohiko—School of Engineering and Computer Science, and will work closely with researchers from disciplines across the University. He will work particularly closely with the internationally recognised researchers in Te Whiri Kawe—the Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (CDSAI), Aotearoa’s largest data science and AI research group.
Professor Mitra says he is delighted to join such an accomplished group of AI researchers.
“Generative AI and its applications have the potential to address societal problems and advance the productivity and quality of life of all New Zealanders.
“I want to enable the development of advanced AI in a safe and responsible manner through my research, teaching, and leadership activities here.”
The Chair is generously supported by alumnus Bob Dykes, a finance and tech expert who is passionate about promoting Aotearoa New Zealand’s capabilities in AI. Mr Dykes says he is thrilled with Professor Mitra’s appointment.
“He brings outstanding credentials to help advance AI in New Zealand, not only through the educational process, but also in supporting and advancing university-wide collaboration between academic researchers, Wellington UniVentures, AI Forum, AI Researchers Association, international experts, and local entrepreneurs.
“In my funding of this role, I look forward to supporting interdisciplinary AI research that improves New Zealand’s services and governance, while at the same time helping to mitigate socially disruptive change in New Zealand.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Bryony James says Professor Mitra’s appointment will further the University’s exceptional research and leadership in the field of advanced AI.
“Professor Mitra is a fantastic asset to Te Herenga Waka. He will help position us at the forefront of developments in AI and deepen Te Herenga Waka’s expertise in this fast-moving field.
“We are deeply grateful to Bob for his extraordinary support, which allows us to build on our existing momentum in the field of AI.”
Te Herenga Waka’s growing leadership in this space includes offering Aotearoa’s first postgraduate qualification in AI, and offering Aotearoa’s first undergraduate major in AI. Te Herenga Waka was also ranked 50th in the world and 1st in New Zealand for Artificial Intelligence in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
Professor Mitra was most recently a Research Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Africa. He was previously the Associate Dean for Research at the College of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University. While at Penn State, he co-founded and served as the inaugural director of the Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence.
Professor Mitra’s work as Chair will include research that seeks to improve language technologies, with a particular focus on building safe and resource-efficient large language models (LLMs).
His laboratory will also focus on increasing the productivity and effectiveness of automated solutions in domains such as healthcare, the environment, advancing science, disaster preparedness, and computational social sciences.