Mayank Kejriwal, Ph.D.

Emerging Broader Impacts Leader

Research Associate Professor & Principal Scientist, University of Southern California

My project used AI and network science to combat human trafficking. By mining indicators from the open web and building massive “knowledge graphs,” my collaborators and I built a system called the Domain-Specific Insight Graphs (DIG) that identifies patterns of exploitation that were previously invisible to investigators. DIG has been deployed to over 200 law enforcement agencies across the U.S., fundamentally transforming how cases are handled — in some jurisdictions, trafficking-related investigations rose from 1% to over 60%. I believe this project won the ARIS Award because it successfully bridges the “valley of death” between academic research and real-world societal impact. DIG is an operational tool that helps rescue victims and dismantle criminal networks. By grounding advanced technology in long-term trust-building with domain experts and focusing on the “last mile” of implementation, we’ve shown how research can directly improve public welfare and safety.

I am a researcher at the University of Southern California specializing in AI for social good. My work sits at the intersection of knowledge graphs and network science, with a focus on solving humanitarian crises. My career is defined by a mission to apply technical rigor to “wicked” issues, most notably modern slavery. Beyond my peer-reviewed publications, I am a dedicated science communicator, reaching over 100,000 readers through The Conversation and appearing in the documentary Cloudwalkers to demystify AI for the public. I believe the true measure of research is its human impact. My goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists to focus on creating measurable, ethical change. This award recognizes my commitment to ensuring that advanced technology serves the public interest and addresses pressing global challenges. I also created a startup called GRAIL (grail.page) that is looking to democratize science fundraising and writing.