{"675561":{"#nid":"675561","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AI Hub Planned for CAU Under $2.79M NSF Grant with AI4OPT at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EClark Atlanta University (CAU), in collaboration with Georgia Tech\u2019s NSF Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT), has been awarded a four-year $2.79 million grant (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/awardsearch\/showAward?AWD_ID=2402493\u0022\u003EAward ID 2402493\u003C\/a\u003E) by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create an AI Hub. This collaborative effort aims to advance AI education and research at minority-serving institutions, particularly historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis initiative, part of the NSF \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/new.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/expanding-ai-innovation-through-capacity-building\u0022\u003EExpandAI\u003C\/a\u003E program, aims to boost minority-serving institution participation in AI research, education, and workforce development through capacity-building projects and partnerships within the NSF-led National AI Research Institutes ecosystem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuilding an AI community is no easy feat, but the CAU-GT\/AI4OPT collaboration is prepared to meet it. The project, known as AIHUB@CAU, will be led by principal investigator Charles B. Pierre, associate professor in CAU\u2019s Department of Mathematical Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The mission of the grant aligns with the AI4OPT Faculty Training Program, which focuses on strategies to increase minority participation in AI research programs from HBCUs to other minority-serving institutions,\u0022 said Pierre, who also leads the Educational and Diversity Initiatives at AI4OPT. \u0022Our goal is to ensure diverse representation in the AI field.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe collaboration will use existing educational resources and infrastructure to build centers of excellence in AI and a community of empowered Black AI researchers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We anticipate challenges in developing coursework, including finding qualified industry professionals to teach and preparing academic professors unfamiliar with AI,\u0022 Pierre said. \u0022Our aim is to establish Ph.D. programs at CAU and position the university as a hub for AI training, addressing these issues head-on.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAIHUB@CAU will integrate industry partnerships to accelerate curriculum development and real-world applications. It expands AI education beyond machine learning to encompass decision-making and applications in fields like business analytics, cyber-physical security, and operations research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPartially funded through NSF\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/new.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/louis-stokes-alliances-minority-participation\u0022\u003ELouis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation\u003C\/a\u003E program, this award underscores NSF\u0027s commitment to diversity in STEM fields through impactful educational and research initiatives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Establishing programs at institutions like Clark Atlanta University and AI4OPT at Georgia Tech provides students with essential resources and tools to succeed in this ever-evolving field,\u0022 Pierre noted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGoals and Structure of the AI Education Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMain Goals of Creating AI Courses at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClose the gap of AI graduates from HBCUs at undergraduate and graduate levels.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPrepare HBCU students for the AI workforce.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAlign with the vision of AI4OPT at Georgia Tech to \u0022democratize access to AI education.\u0022\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImpact on Students\u0027 Career Prospects and the AI Research Community:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUndergraduate courses and programs will prepare students for entry-level positions in the field.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGraduate courses and programs will prepare students for research and participation in the AI research community.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERole and Contribution:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAI4OPT at Georgia Tech will assist CAU with the development of both undergraduate and graduate courses and programs.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOffer research opportunities to CAU students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAI4OPT at Georgia Tech will be a partner in the established AI Research Hub.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupport for Development of MS and Ph.D. Courses:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUse current courses at Georgia Tech as a template.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUse the courses offered through the Faculty Training Program (FTP) of AI4OPT.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFoundational AI Courses:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECourses already taught by CAU faculty in the AI4OPT FTP.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECourses available at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENew courses to be developed by AIHUB@CAU based on Intel material, focusing on computer vision and natural language processing.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECourses in applied optimization developed by AI4OPT.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENew use-inspired AI courses teaching applications of AI in various domains, such as supply chains, security, chemistry, and manufacturing.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch Opportunities:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Undergraduate Research Program (URP) will provide students with early exposure to AI research, including summer internships at Georgia Tech and other AI4OPT sites.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe graduate programs will include an 18-month non-thesis master\u0027s degree with a summer internship and capstone project, and a two-year thesis master\u0027s degree supported by a six-month research project.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStructure of the New Master in AI Program:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECourses in five categories to support the master\u2019s program:\u003Col type=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExisting courses at CAU taught in the AI4OPT FTP.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECourses available at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENew courses based on Intel material.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EApplied optimization courses developed by AI4OPT.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENew courses developed by AIHUB@CAU focusing on AI applications in various domains.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollaborations and Internships:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul type=\u0022disc\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJoint supervision of research projects by CAU and AI4OPT faculty.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESummer internships starting in 2026.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapstone projects facilitated by Georgia Tech and industrial partners.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout AI4OPT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institute for Advances in Optimization, or AI4OPT, aims to deliver a paradigm shift in automated decision-making at massive scales by fusing AI and Mathematical Optimization (MO) to achieve breakthroughs that neither field can achieve independently. The Institute is driven by societal challenges in energy, logistics and supply chains, resilience and sustainability, and circuit design and control. To address the widening gap in job opportunities, the Institute delivers an innovative longitudinal education and workforce development program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is a top 10 public research university developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute offers business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, and sciences degrees. Its nearly 40,000 students, representing 50 states and 149 countries, study at the main campus in Atlanta, at international campuses, and through distance and online learning. As a leading technological university, Georgia Tech is an engine of economic development for Georgia, the Southeast, and the nation, conducting more than $1 billion in research annually for government, industry, and society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Clark Atlanta University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClark Atlanta University was formed with the consolidation of Atlanta University and Clark College, both of which hold unique places in the annals of African American history. Atlanta University, established in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, was the nation\u2019s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. CAU is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. CAU, established four years later in 1869, was the nation\u2019s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African American student population. Today, with over 4,000 students, CAU is the largest of the four institutions (CAU, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that comprise the Atlanta University Center Consortium.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout National Science Foundation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EClark Atlanta University has received a $2.79 million NSF grant to establish an AI Hub in collaboration with the AI4OPT Institute at Georgia Tech. Led by Charles B. Pierre, the initiative aims to advance AI education and research at HBCUs, addressing underrepresentation in the field.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Clark Atlanta University, with AI4OPT at Georgia Tech, received a $2.79 million NSF grant to advance AI education and research at HBCUs, led by Charles B. Pierre."}],"uid":"36348","created_gmt":"2024-07-22 22:15:50","changed_gmt":"2024-07-22 22:19:28","author":"Breon Martin","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674402":{"id":"674402","type":"image","title":"AIHUB@CAU","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAI Hub Planned for Clark Atlanta University with $2.79M NSF Grant.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1721686603","gmt_created":"2024-07-22 22:16:43","changed":"1721686603","gmt_changed":"2024-07-22 22:16:43","alt":"AIHUB@CAU","file":{"fid":"257907","name":"AIHUB@CAU.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/22\/AIHUB%40CAU.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/22\/AIHUB%40CAU.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2232503,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/22\/AIHUB%40CAU.png?itok=OJYIw3MU"}}},"media_ids":["674402"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188369","name":"AI-CARING"},{"id":"188370","name":"AI4OPT"},{"id":"193860","name":"Artifical Intelligence"},{"id":"193212","name":"AI4OPT, Artifical Intelligence, Optimization"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBreon Martin\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI Research Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["breon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}