February 25 – 27, 2026
In its eighth installment, the Current Innovations in Probability-Based Household Internet Panel Research (CIPHER) Conference expands its scope to include artificial intelligence (AI) as a new area of focus. As always, CIPHER builds on a rich legacy of methodological innovation, international collaboration, and emerging data modalities. Bringing together researchers, technologists, and policymakers, this year’s conference will explore how AI can enhance panel design, data quality, respondent engagement, and ethical governance. Join us as we chart the future of probability-based internet panels at the nexus of artificial intelligence and survey science.
Agenda
The preliminary agenda is now posted here. The program is as follows:
- February 25: UAS Data Use Workshop
- February 26: CIPHER and Reception
- February 27: CIPHER
Keynote
Trent D. Buskirk, Professor and Provost Fellow-Data Science and Professor Biostatistics at the School of Data Science and Joint School of Public Health at Old Dominion University, will present a keynote address titled:
Let’s Not Leave Probability Panels to Chance: Why AI Matters for Their Future
Designing Smarter, More Resilient Probability Panels for the AI Era
Conference Registration and Fees
CIPHER is free to attend in-person or virtually, but registration is required. To register for CIPHER and/or the UAS Data Use Workshop, please complete this form.
Location
The hybrid conference will take place February 25 – 27 in Washington D.C. at USC Capital Campus.
Attendees wishing to make use of CIPHER’s hotel room block at Kimpton Banneker Hotel should utilize this link to book their room before February 3.
Please note that speakers’ rooms will be booked by the CIPHER organizers.
UAS Data Use Workshop
In 2026, CIPHER will again offer the Understanding American Study (UAS) data use workshop. This is a half-day workshop for those interested in learning more about the UAS panel and its data and data products. The UAS is a probability-based online panel of over 15,000 respondents in the US, managed by the Center for Economic and Social Research at USC.
Scientific Committee
Arie Kapteyn, Tania Gutsche, Livia Montana, Marco Angrisani, and Francisco Perez-Arce (USC Center for Economic and Social Research); and Jan Karem Höhne (DZHW, Leibniz University Hannover).
Sponsorship
CIPHER is supported by funding from the Social Security Administration and the National Institute on Aging under grant U01AG077280.
Closed Captioning will be available.
For questions, please email Tarra Kohli (tkohli@usc.edu; d-cipher@usc.edu).