A growing cohort of forward-thinking academics at the University of California San Diego are shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI) education with evidence-based approaches that enhance student learning. Trevor Bonjour, an assistant teaching professor in the Jacobs School of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, is one of them.
Bonjour, who joined the university in 2024, studies how students learn complex AI concepts and designs AI courses and learning environments that help students develop confidence with the material. He is also co-lead, along with Associate Professor Taylor Berg-Kirkpatrick, on UC San Diego’s new AI major.
“The impact is straightforward. Stronger AI education leads to more people who understand how AI works and who can develop the next generation of AI systems responsibly,” said Bonjour.
In addition to AI education, Bonjour’s research interests include computing education, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and casual inference. He is also passionate about creating early, accessible pathways into research.
This past summer, Bonjour led the 2025 Computer Science and Engineering Early Research Scholars Program (CSE-ERSP). Since its inception roughly a decade ago, CSE-ERSP has matched nearly 500 students with team-based research apprentice experiences. Through the program, students learn how the research process works, form valuable connections, and learn skills they can carry into their professional lives.
“I had very little exposure to research as an undergraduate. If students walk away from ERSP believing ‘I can do this, and I belong here,’ that’s the impact I’m hoping for,” said Bonjour.
The quintessential human need to belong and connect is a central tenet of Bonjour’s ideal educational model. This perspective was shaped – at least in part – by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Bonjour was a new graduate instructor at Purdue University.
According to Bonjour, teaching during the pandemic taught him that human connection is essential to learning – an awareness he now brings to all his classrooms. He has even developed a course, CSE 88 Compassion for Self and Others, which shares practical skills for managing stress, building self-awareness, and strengthening community.
“I tell my students that the course content is important, but it is just as important to learn together and feel supported in the process,” said Bonjour.
A collaborative atmosphere was what drew Bonjour to UC San Diego as well. The computer science department felt, in his words, “chill” and “collegial.”
Since moving to San Diego, Bonjour has been enjoying local beaches, hiking Torrey Pines, and exploring the area’s eclectic foodie culture. He’s also taken up improv, completing all five levels, to improve his active listening skills and be grounded in the present.
Bonjour earned his PhD in computer science from Purdue University, where he won multiple awards for his teaching, including an Award for Exceptional Teaching and Instructional Support during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Before entering academia, he spent five years in the software industry.
By Kimberley Clementi