The initiative aims to democratize artificial intelligence and machine learning, making these cutting-edge technologies available to researchers across diverse academic institutions. The support will extend even to smaller community colleges and historically black colleges and universities, fostering inclusivity in the scientific community.
The Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati and the Ohio Supercomputer Center, has secured a significant $5.1-million grant from the National Science Foundation in an ambitious endeavor to harness the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in research.
The five-year plan aims to bridge the knowledge gap by providing expert support to all academic institutions in Ohio, fostering innovation, and advancing scientific discovery, the Case Western Reserve University said in a press release.
Project leader Vipin Chaudhary, the Kevin J. Kranzusch Professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Data Sciences at the Case School of Engineering, emphasized the need for accessible expertise in AI and machine learning.
“Everyone wants to use AI and machine learning right now, but not everyone is an expert or knows what it can actually do for them,” he said.
“We’re going to provide the experts to help researchers from various disciplines understand and integrate the latest AI and machine learning capabilities into their work. Think of them both as evangelists for using the technology and trainers for using it effectively,” he added.
The initiative, part of a broader NSF strategy, aims to democratize AI and machine learning, making these cutting-edge technologies available to researchers across diverse academic institutions. Ensuring the reliability, understandability, and value of these tools is paramount in shaping the future of research.
The CWRU-led team will hire four AI experts, two of whom will be stationed at CWRU and one each at UC and other institutions, to offer tailored mentoring and training for AI users.
The support will extend even to smaller community colleges and historically black colleges and universities, fostering inclusivity in the scientific community.
The AI experts will not only provide personalized guidance but also contribute to research, write technical papers, deliver tutorials at major conferences and workshops, and develop comprehensive training materials. Initial projects will focus on materials data science, agricultural data science, and biomedical engineering, where AI and machine learning can yield transformative breakthroughs.
The Ohio Supercomputer Center’s crucial role in this initiative cannot be overstated. It serves as a state-of-the-art, high-performance computing resource for academic research, education, and industry innovation. In early 2023, the center launched Ascend, its first computing cluster designed to bolster research on AI and related technologies.
David Hudak, executive director of OSC and co-principal investigator on the grant, expressed the center’s commitment to supporting the training and education of cyberinfrastructure professionals in the realm of AI, machine learning, and data analytics.
The University of Cincinnati, equally enthusiastic about this partnership, will lend its expertise to faculty researchers across departments, with particular emphasis on biosciences.
“One of our priorities is showing researchers how we can help them scale up their work. That’s the fun stuff—to think big and solve bigger problems,” said UC’s Director of Research Technologies Jane Combs.
At CWRU, the new AI trainers will collaborate with faculty researchers from various disciplines to unlock the full potential of the university’s recently acquired $1 million supercomputer.
The new computing power, generously supported by the NSF and Ohio Department of Education Action Fund, is expected to provide a tenfold increase in computational capabilities, propelling the university to the forefront of AI research.
