index.html

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title: Home
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<section class="hero">
  <div class="hero-container">
    <h1 class="hero-title">
      <span class="highlight">C3</span> Lab
    </h1>
    <p class="hero-subtitle">
      Community-Centered Computing Lab
    </p>
    <p class="hero-tagline">
      A research lab in the <a href="{{ site.lab.department_url }}">Department of Computer Sciences</a> at <a href="{{ site.lab.university_url }}">Metropolitan State University of Denver</a>
    </p>
    <div class="hero-cta">
      <a href="{{ '/about/' | relative_url }}" class="btn btn-primary">Learn More</a>
      <a href="{{ '/projects/' | relative_url }}" class="btn btn-outline">Our Projects</a>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

<section class="section">
  <div class="section-container">
    <header class="section-header">
      <h2 class="section-title">Our Mission</h2>
      <p class="section-subtitle">
        Designing and building technologies that support communities through accessible data systems, applied AI, and user-centered computing.
      </p>
    </header>

    <div class="mission-content" style="max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center;">
      <p>
        The C3 Lab supports research and development projects that create technology for communities, including statewide data platforms, conversational AI systems, STEM ecosystem tools, and campus engagement applications.
      </p>
      <p>
        Our work emphasizes <strong>human-centered computing</strong>, <strong>applied AI</strong>, <strong>LLM-driven interfaces</strong>, <strong>data engineering</strong>, <strong>geospatial integration</strong>, and <strong>accessible design</strong>.
      </p>
      <p>
        Students in the C3 Lab work on production software systems, contribute to federal and state-funded research, and help build platforms that directly benefit Colorado communities and MSU Denver.
      </p>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

<section class="section section-alt">
  <div class="section-container">
    <header class="section-header">
      <h2 class="section-title">Current Projects</h2>
      <p class="section-subtitle">
        Research initiatives serving Colorado communities
      </p>
    </header>

    <div class="projects-grid">
      <article class="project-card">
        <h3 class="project-card-title">Colorado Sustainability Hub</h3>
        <span class="project-card-funding">NSF Award #2318730</span>
        <p class="project-card-description">
          A statewide sustainability-data platform integrating AI, geospatial systems, and natural language interaction. Features Bili, an AI-powered assistant for exploring Colorado's environmental data.
        </p>
        <a href="{{ '/projects/sustainability-hub/' | relative_url }}" class="project-card-link">
          Learn more
        </a>
      </article>

      <article class="project-card">
        <h3 class="project-card-title">RILE Connect</h3>
        <span class="project-card-funding">SIPA GovGrants</span>
        <p class="project-card-description">
          A statewide STEM mentorship and opportunity-matching platform connecting K-12 schools, higher education, nonprofits, and industry partners across Colorado.
        </p>
        <a href="{{ '/projects/rile-connect/' | relative_url }}" class="project-card-link">
          Learn more
        </a>
      </article>

      <article class="project-card">
        <h3 class="project-card-title">Roadrunner Connect</h3>
        <span class="project-card-funding">MSU Denver</span>
        <p class="project-card-description">
          MSU Denver's all-in-one platform for campus event discovery and engagement, featuring map-based browsing, check-ins, and a feather rewards system. Built by students, for the community.
        </p>
        <a href="{{ '/projects/roadrunner-connect/' | relative_url }}" class="project-card-link">
          Learn more
        </a>
      </article>

      <article class="project-card">
        <h3 class="project-card-title">Peer Support Hub</h3>
        <span class="project-card-funding">MSU Denver</span>
        <p class="project-card-description">
          A unified platform for coordinating SI, TA, and LA peer support programs at MSU Denver. Streamlines faculty applications and improves equitable distribution of peer support resources.
        </p>
        <a href="{{ '/projects/peer-support-hub/' | relative_url }}" class="project-card-link">
          Learn more
        </a>
      </article>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>

<section class="section">
  <div class="section-container">
    <header class="section-header">
      <h2 class="section-title">Our Team</h2>
    </header>

    <div class="team-grid">
      <div class="team-member">
        <img src="{{ '/assets/images/pittman.jpg' | relative_url }}" alt="Dr. Daniel Pittman" class="team-photo">
        <h3 class="team-name"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpittman1/">Dr. Daniel Pittman</a></h3>
        <p class="team-role">Co-Director</p>
        <p class="team-title">Associate Professor, Computer Sciences</p>
        <p class="team-bio">
          Research focus: Data Science, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, Human-Computer Interaction
        </p>
      </div>

      <div class="team-member">
        <img src="{{ '/assets/images/rajan.jpg' | relative_url }}" alt="Dr. Ranjidha Rajan" class="team-photo">
        <h3 class="team-name"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ranjidha-rajan-488548b0/">Dr. Ranjidha Rajan</a></h3>
        <p class="team-role">Co-Director</p>
        <p class="team-title">Assistant Professor, Computer Sciences</p>
        <p class="team-bio">
          Research focus: AI for Good, Civic Technology, Human-Centered Computing, Learning Analytics
        </p>
      </div>

      <div class="team-member">
        <img src="{{ '/assets/images/williams.jpg' | relative_url }}" alt="Alyssa Williams" class="team-photo">
        <h3 class="team-name"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chillyssa/">Alyssa Williams</a></h3>
        <p class="team-role">Technical Project Manager (TPM)</p>
        <p class="team-title">Computer Sciences</p>
        <p class="team-bio">
          Technical and operational leadership across the lab — cloud infrastructure, code review, Agile workflow, and student developer mentorship.
        </p>
      </div>
    </div>

    <p class="text-center mt-lg">
      <a href="{{ '/team/' | relative_url }}" class="btn btn-primary">Meet Our Team</a>
    </p>
  </div>
</section>

<section class="section section-alt">
  <div class="section-container">
    <header class="section-header">
      <h2 class="section-title">Latest Updates</h2>
    </header>

    <div class="updates-list">
      {% for post in site.posts limit:3 %}
      <article class="update-item">
        <p class="update-date">{{ post.date | date: "%B %d, %Y" }}</p>
        <h3 class="update-title">
          <a href="{{ post.url | relative_url }}">{{ post.title }}</a>
        </h3>
        <p class="update-excerpt">{{ post.excerpt | strip_html | truncate: 200 }}</p>
      </article>
      {% endfor %}
    </div>

    <p class="text-center mt-lg">
      <a href="{{ '/updates/' | relative_url }}" class="btn btn-outline" style="border-color: var(--color-secondary); color: var(--color-secondary);">View All Updates</a>
    </p>
  </div>
</section>

<section class="section join-section">
  <div class="section-container">
    <header class="section-header">
      <h2 class="section-title">Join the C3 Lab</h2>
      <p class="section-subtitle">
        Work on real projects that impact Colorado communities
      </p>
    </header>

    <div class="join-content" style="max-width: 700px; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center;">
      <p>
        We welcome students from Computer Science, Data Science and Machine Learning, and Computer Security programs who are interested in applied research with community impact.
      </p>
      <p>
        Students in the C3 Lab work on production software systems, contribute to federal and state-funded research, and help build platforms that directly benefit Colorado communities.
      </p>
      <p class="text-center mt-lg">
        <a href="https://forms.office.com/r/6wgNT9HscW" class="btn btn-primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Express Interest in Joining</a>
      </p>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>