Boston SPHERE

We are working with academic partners across Boston to advance workforce development, research, and health equity.

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Boston SPHERE (Strengthening Public Health-Academic Partnerships in Education, Research, and Equity) is a first-of-its-kind coalition. 30+ local academic and research partners are uniting around a shared commitment to the health and well-being of all Boston residents.

The coalition focuses on three core pillars:

Research and Innovation

Workforce and Education

Health Equity and Public Programming

Learn more and get involved below.

Questions? Contact us:
info@bphc.org
617-534-5395
1010 Massachusetts Ave.

2nd Floor

Boston, MA 02118

AI Insight to Impact Innovation (I³) Initiative

AI Insight to Impact Innovation

Boston holds among the richest concentrations of AI talent in the country. Yet AI expertise rarely addresses persistent public health problems. Our AI Insight to Impact Innovation (I³) initiative aims to close the gap between AI’s potential and current practices addressing critical public health issues.

We're bringing together Boston's AI leaders through the I³ Collaborative. Together, they will establish shared standards for responsible AI use and identify which priority public health problems academic partners can partner with BPHC to solve.

The I³ Accelerator will then turn some of those problems into funded projects. Teams of fellows and advisors will pair up with our staff to build and test real tools to help address priority problems.

Join the I³ Collaborative

The I³ Collaborative brings together AI leaders to share lessons learned and identify opportunities to solve critical public health problems.

What you need to know

The I³ Collaborative is open to researchers, faculty, public health and healthcare practitioners, technologists, community partners, industry leaders, government partners, and others currently leading advancements in adopting responsible AI for the public good.
The Collaborative is intended both for people actively developing AI solutions and for those who bring implementation experience in using AI innovation to address important problems.
Joining the Collaborative connects you to opportunities such as community-of-practice meetings, topical working groups, shared tools and resources, learning sessions, and opportunities to collaborate on emerging public health priorities.

Get involved

Complete the interest form below to receive information about upcoming meetings and opportunities to participate.

Submit Form

Apply to the I³ Accelerator Program

I³ Accelerator pairs fellows and advisors with Boston Public Health Commission staff to develop and test AI and data science solutions to real public health priorities.

What you need to know

This is a paid internship opportunity with Boston Public Health Commission. You do not need to be a currently enrolled student to apply. Cross-institutional teams are welcome to apply.
Teams of fellows and advisors will work directly with Boston Public Health Commission subject matter experts. These experts will ensure projects meet Health Commission needs. They will also support moving projects from concept to implementation.
Fellows will do the hands-on project work. Advisors provide technical, academic, industry, or subject-matter expertise.
Projects can range from practical workflow improvements and tools to advanced analytics, forecasting models, data infrastructure, and other implementation-focused innovations. Applicants can respond to a challenge on the Project Wishlist or propose a new idea relevant to the Health Commission.
Most projects are expected to run approximately 8-12 weeks and are expected to start in January 2027. Proposed project periods should be included in the applicant's proposal.

View Project Wishlist Read FAQ

How to apply

Review the Project Wishlist or propose a new idea relevant to the Health Commission.
October 15 – November 5: Submit an application question or sign up for optional office hours. You can use office hours to discuss the problem, data, feasibility, and relevancy to the Health Commission. The question submission form and office hours are optional and not used as a screening step.
Submit the full proposal by Friday, November 6 at 5 p.m.

Apply

accelerator timelime

October 15, 2026: Call for proposals opens and initial Project Wishlist published
October 15 – November 5, 2026: Optional question submission form and office hours; Project Wishlist continues to grow
November 6, 2026: Final proposals are due
November 2026: Boston Public Health Commission reviews and matches applicants with subject matter experts
Late November – Early December 2026: Funding decisions are announced
December 2026: Applicants work on project refinement, contracting, security, onboarding, and data-access preparation
Mid-January 2027: Accelerator cohort launches
Spring 2027: Teams work on projects and deliverables

Grand Rounds

Join a virtual community conversation with Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public for the City of Boston and Dr. Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General. Together, they will discuss the future of public health and healthcare in our country, health equity, and Boston’s Live Long and Well Agenda. Sharing public health priorities with students, researchers, and faculty across Boston is a distinct way that Boston SPHERE can help align our work for the health of residents and communities across our city.

The inaugural Boston Public Health Commission Grand Rounds will take place on Thursday, October 29 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register below or watch the conversation live on YouTube.

Submitted questions will be selected and invited to engage with the speakers live during grand rounds. Please submit questions by Friday, October 23 via the registration link below.

Watch on YouTube

Workforce Development

We're building pathways to train, upskill, and retain the next generation of public health professionals, researchers, and frontline workers.

In September 2026, Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and University of Massachusetts Boston announced a groundbreaking partnership that will provide college students with hands-on training and experience in urban public health. The students will then deliver public health education in high schools across the city.

The partnership between UMass Boston’s Department of Urban Public Health and BPHC will offer internships this fall to the first class of seniors in the three-year-old degree program. It deepens the partnership between the City and its only public research university and further strengthens Boston’s longstanding commitment to ensuring all residents can live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Learn more