BLISS

Boston LLMs Initiative for Social Scientists

BLISS organizes a funded workshop series teaching social science researchers how to use large language models in their work, discuss limitations and biases.

Applications close August 20, 2025

BLISS Workshop Series

What

3-day (each Friday) intensive workshop series on Large Language Models

Who

Graduate students and early-career researchers in Greater Boston

Why

Learn the utility of LLMs in social science research through foundations and applications

Meet the Team

Yunus Emre Tapan

Yunus Emre Tapan

PhD Student, Political Science

Northeastern University

Researching social networks & political narratives through computational methods | Exploring generative AI applications in social science research

Burak Ozturan

Burak Ozturan

PhD Student, Network Science

Northeastern University

Investigating the online social networks and extracting insights using digital human data

Fall 2025 Workshops

Week 1

LLM Fundamentals

Understanding the basics of large language models and their applications in social science research

Week 2

Hands-on with HuggingFace & APIs

Practical experience with popular LLM platforms and API integration

Week 3

Advanced Applications & Your Research

Applying LLMs to your specific research questions and projects

1 session per week, 3 hours each
Northeastern University

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need programming experience?

Yes! Just basic programming knowledge is required. We'll provide resources to help you get up to speed.

Is it really free?

Yes, the workshop series is completely free and funded by The NULab for Digital Humanities and Computational Social Science.

What's the time commitment?

3 sessions over 3 weeks, totaling 9 hours of intensive learning and hands-on practice.

Who can apply?

Graduate students and early-career researchers affiliated with Greater Boston area institutions.

Can I attend virtually?

No, unfortunately this is an in-person workshop series to facilitate hands-on learning and networking.

Ready to Join BLISS?

Requirements

  • Currently enrolled graduate student or early-career researcher
  • Affiliated with Greater Boston area institution
  • Can commit to all 3 sessions
  • Have research interests that align with LLM applications in social sciences
  • Available for in-person attendance at Northeastern University

Application Form