Martha Bushong

Taking a byte out of Apple

Martha Bushong — Thu, 09 May 2024 11:36:28 +0000

Taking a byte out of Apple Martha Bushong Thu, 05/09/2024 - 07:36

A 2020 graduate of George Mason’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Iranian-born Farnoud Farahmand works for tech giant Apple in Silicon Valley doing a job he hadn’t thought about as an undergrad or even a grad student. Farahmand’s journey to California covered more miles than an American pioneer’s and his attitude mirrored the same qualities of curiosity, grit, and determination as those of Western settlers.

Farnoud Farahmand works on site at Apple in Silicon Valley three days a week.
Photo provided.

Farahmand said he chose Mason because he had family living in Virginia and found George Mason a good match for his goals, and his interest in digital design and embedded systems. “Mason had a good program. I saw there were some specializations in digital design and that was a great fit for me,” he said. Farahmand credits his PhD advisor, Professor Krzysztof (Kris) Gaj for teaching him the value of teamwork and nurturing his burgeoning curiosity.

“What I learned from Dr. Gaj was to be dedicated, do the hard work, and keep learning different topics. We used to have very long weekly meetings with him instead of meeting with each of his students in separately, he pulled us all together in one room at the same time,” said Farahmand. Sitting in long meetings with labmates, he learned about related topics and said that experience led him to his internships with Google.

Before the internship, Farahmand was focused on hardware implementation, but other people were working on side-channel analysis, and applied to Google online. “The thing is you don't know the positions. The job descriptions are very general when you apply for internships at Google. “The internship was mostly related to side-channel analysis but because I was in those meetings with Dr. Gaj and others for 2-3 years, I learned all these topics and then when I went for an interview when they asked all these questions, I was ready to answer.”

Farahmand’s advises current students to stay curious and don’t be afraid to learn about a different topic; take every chance you can to learn something new and different. “If I wanted to just focus on what I worked on from the beginning, which was doing digital design and implementing ciphers in hardware, then I maybe I wouldn’t have had the confidence for my internship interviews,” he said.

Farahmand thought that after interning successfully at Google he would be a good fit and applied for a job. Covid’s trajectory and downturn in the tech industry caused a detour that led him elsewhere. When he interviewed for a permanent position with Google, he said everything went well but at the height of the pandemic, the company wasn’t hiring. While he waited for Google’s hiring freeze to thaw, Apple came through with an offer.

That detour, and Farahmand’s new job, led to an opportunity in still another topic. The new job deals with modeling power based on the features that will be added in future generations of Apple electronics.

Farahmand had never worked on power optimization in his research but through his internship experience with side-channel analysis, its relationship to evaluating the power consumption of a chip, and power analysis and simulations, the hiring committee made the connection and offered him the position.

“It was a very good fit for the position and now that I’m working on it. I really like it. One thing that I see from students and for myself as well, we know very famous topics like digital design, verification, and physical design. These are very well-known positions, but sometimes there are available positions in good companies. We don't search for them, so we don't find them.” By keeping his options open, and looking for jobs in unexpected areas Farahmand discovered an unexpected path to success.

Topics

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

alumni

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

CEC Alumni

Mason Competitive Cyber welcomes everyone — no experience needed

Martha Bushong — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 22:43:30 +0000

Mason Competitive Cyber welcomes everyone — no experience needed Martha Bushong Thu, 09/28/2023 - 18:43

Learn About Mason Competitive Cyber

Students choose ��AV for a variety of reasons. Computer science sophomore Jax Dunfee came to Mason because of its strong competitive cyber club. Dunfee’s interest in competitive cyber began in high school and has continued into his college years. “When I was looking for colleges, I saw that Mason had a competitive cyber team. So, I investigated it, thought it was cool, looked into it more, and joined when I got here. I've always been into cybersecurity and competitive cyber is a great way to improve my skills.”

The Mason Competitive Cybe r (MCC) club is open to all and though it mostly comprises students in technical majors, the club welcomes everyone. The group meets twice weekly—virtually on Wednesdays and in person on Fridays. The Friday meeting sometimes includes presentations or talks from industry sponsors or professionals.

The club also competes in person at events sponsored by other universities like Virginia Military Institute and Virginia Tech. In September, MCC hosted its own international Capture the Flag (CTF) event that attracted more than 3,000 participants and over 1,600 teams. If you’re looking for the heart and soul of MCC, you’ll find it at CTFs. They’re also one of the best ways to learn about hacking and cybersecurity.

Jax Dunfee, in center with teammates Biplav Gautam left, Dylan Knoff on right

“The events are how we put theory in practice,” said Dunfee. “In classes, a lot of times you learn programming that builds a baseline for what you'll be doing in the industry, but frequently you don't have a lot of time to do that--put that theory into practice. But with CTF you get hands-on activities with your teammates and others.”

Dunfee describes CTF as a variety of challenges that can range from web app exploitation, binary exploitation, cryptography, or reverse engineering forensics. Teams receive a challenge and a description, that they must solve and then get a flag, and the flags are redeemed for points. The team with the most points wins.

Students who are interested in learning more about MCC can check out the website or attend one of the meetings. “We’re always looking for members,” said Dunfee. No experience necessary.

"The Mason Competitive Cyber Club has been competing in CTFs, and winning, since they formed in 2016. The club leadership and members do an excellent job learning from each other and teaching skills to new members, so as older students graduate and new students roll in, they just keep getting better and have a great time doing it. Club alumni are getting excellent jobs in the cybersecurity world, and they regularly give back to the organization by visiting, talking to members, and hiring our graduates." Jim Jones, Director, Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis Center and MCC faculty advisor

Topics

computer science

Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP)

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity

Students

College of Engineering and Computing hits new enrollment high

Martha Bushong — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:05:17 +0000

College of Engineering and Computing hits new enrollment high Martha Bushong Thu, 08/31/2023 - 19:05

In This Story

Kenneth Ball

Learn More About the College

Hear From Some of Our Students

Peaking at an all-time high of 40,000 students, ��AV is the largest public research university in Virginia and nearly one-third of those students are enrolled in the College of Engineering and Computing.

Our strong academic programs in CEC are recognized worldwide; we will enroll more than 3,000 students in CEC graduate studies in 2023 and nearly 8,000 undergraduates. As the plans for an expanded presence at Mason Square take shape, many students are taking classes in Arlington. The college reported on September 13 that 332 students were enrolled in courses at Mason Square. The course offerings at will be from an array of departments and programs.

“This record enrollment demonstrates the continued value and relevance of engineering and computing and offers a testament to CEC’s commitment to preparing students for the workforce of the future,” said Dean Ken Ball. The college’s growth has led to a ranking of #82 by U.S. News & World Report and its NSF research funding stands at #56 among public universities. This year its research awards also hit a record high of $116M.

As the university ramps up its presence in Arlington at Mason Square, the College will expand its footprint with a new data visualization lab and collaborative spaces in Van Metre Hall. Construction continues on Mason Square’s newest building, Fuse, which is scheduled to “top out” in November.

Fuse will be home to Mason’s Institute for Digital Innovation, and laboratories to support research in robotics, cybersecurity, AI, human-machine partnerships, quantum, digital arts, peace engineering, and the intersection of public policy and law with digital innovation. Fuse will also house new classrooms and learning labs to support the additional CEC students who will study at Mason Square, as well as space for collaboration with industry, government partners, and entrepreneurs.

Further south at the SciTech Campus the Life Sciences and Engineering Building will include labs for mechanical engineering, soft tissue engineering, and robotics. Currently, our SciTech Campus is the site for cutting-edge research in biofilm nanotechnology, used in medical applications.

Our faculty research teams receive millions of dollars of grant funding from institutions like the National Science Foundation, the U.S. military, and the National Institute of Health, for their innovative work in everything from apps, to bruise imaging, making the world a better place through the feats of engineering and computing at all levels.

We are a part of something big.

Topics

College of Engineering and Computing

Fuse at Mason Square

enrollment growth

Campus News

Cool lessons from Utqiaġvik, Alaska

Rena Malai — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 17:21:32 +0000

Cool lessons from Utqiaġvik, Alaska Rena Malai Wed, 08/23/2023 - 13:21

This summer, computer modeling and the Arctic ecosystem converged at the top of the world. Professor Elise Miller-Hooks and a team of National Science Foundation (NSF) researchers convened at the Barrow Arctic Research Center. These NSF Navigating the New Arctic researchers traveled to the remote location to attend the Permafrost and Infrastructure Symposium in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, some 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

The symposium brought together scientists, regional planners, village leaders, project managers, and federal and local policy makers. The team attended to learn and grow their research–and to share. Miller-Hooks described what she learned as massive.

“It was nothing like I expected. When I entered Utqiaġvik, I found myself in a tough environment with mostly dirt roads. The other researchers told me these roadways are built on permafrost,” she said. “Later on, they convinced me to lower myself into a cave underground to see 16,000-year-old permafrost.”

Elise Miller-Hooks analyzes permafrost in Utqiaġvik.

The people of Utqiaġvik live on the permafrost and they still fish and whale in the surrounding seas, as they have for centuries. Whaling is not a hobby, or for profit. They whale to survive. It is their food supply and more.

“It [whaling] is their culture. It is what they raise their kids to do. It's what their songs and dances are about. It's truly everything. They say that if you take that away from them, it's like killing them,” said Miller-Hooks. All of this could be threatened by more shipping traffic as the polar ice caps shrink and Arctic sea ice diminishes.

Most of the researchers at the symposium were there to study the permafrost which is thawing because of human-made climate change; when the permafrost thaws, the land under the structures that have been built on it sinks. Miller-Hooks described the situation as the base falling out from under them and said that they need to find solutions now, not tomorrow. With very limited access to materials, finding a solution is especially challenging.

Miller-Hooks’ research focuses on forecasting and modeling shipping and maritime transportation changes that will come as the permafrost thaws and the sea-level rises. She said she doesn’t get out in the field much in her line of work but found the experience life changing.

“What I learned from the community and tribal leaders was invaluable. I learned that they really want co-production. They want to be heard. They want us to understand what they know and bring it into our research. We must not ignore their experience and try to push research findings on them, but instead, learn together and jointly develop solutions.”

This idea crystalized after Miller-Hooks presented her research at the symposium. After her presentation, one of the village leaders expressed concern and skepticism about the math.

He said he thought she was looking at the wrong thing. He told her that more shipping in the Arctic would harm the whales and could harm whaling.

Miller-Hooks explained that her research creates the tools that can help forecast changing Arctic traffic, and how these projections and analyses can be used to help make cases to mitigate the impact on the whales and their breeding, other marine life, whale hunting, and indigenous people’s subsistence way of life.

“Now I have a much better understanding of the power of the results that we will get, and how they can be used from many new angles that I hadn't thought of,” she said. Miller-Hooks hopes to collaborate with the communities and work with them to uncover how increased maritime traffic and related industrial activity in the region will impact their way of life, and how the U.S. and other Arctic nations can prepare to do the right thing.

Research Sponsors: Funding for the symposium came from the NSF Arctic Sciences program, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Center for Safety Equity in Transportation, and UIC Science, a subsidiary of the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation providing logistical support to scientists and researchers working in Alaska's Arctic.

In This Story

Elise Miller-Hooks

Delve deeper into Mason's research in the Arctic

Learn more about research at Mason

Topics

Climate Research

Research

Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE)

College of Engineering and Computing

National Science Foundation

Sustainability Research

global climate change

CEIE Success Stories

CEC faculty research

CEC Global Engagement

Remembering Sid Dewberry

Martha Bushong — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 11:12:03 +0000

Remembering Sid Dewberry Martha Bushong Fri, 07/22/2022 - 07:12

In This Story

Kenneth Ball

Sidney O. Dewberry, a long-time friend and benefactor of the College of Engineering and Computing, died at his home in Arlington, Va. of natural causes on July 16, 2022. Dewberry co-founded his professional services firm in 1956. Since then, the firm has grown from a single-office, six-person civil engineering and surveying practice based in Northern Virginia to a nationwide consulting enterprise with more than 2,000 employees and 50 offices throughout the U.S.

“Sid was a visionary and a leader in the engineering field in Northern Virginia, but to the college, he was also a dear friend. His sense of community and generosity has had a tremendous impact‑‑establishing programs, supporting faculty, and inspiring students,” says College of Engineering and Computing Dean Ken Ball. “We will miss him greatly.”

Dewberry’s association with the college began in the late 1980s when he led efforts to form the CEC’s Urban Systems Engineering Institute, now known as the Civil Engineering Institute. The CEI Institute remains an active and engaged volunteer board that raises money, lends expertise, and supports student and faculty endeavors.

In 2012, the college’s civil engineering department was named the Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering in honor of the Dewberry’s extensive contributions to establishing and supporting the department. He was instrumental in establishing two faculty endowments for professorships, the first bearing his name in 2009 and the second honoring his long-time friends Bill and Eleanor Hazel in 2014.

"Sid will be remembered for so many years to come by the Mason community, especially our department which has been privileged by being named after Sid and his late wife, Reva,” says the department’s chair, Sam Salem.

Dewberry received multiple awards honoring his civic, charitable, and academic endeavors and his professional leadership including the CEC’s first-lifetime achievement award and ��AV Mason Medal the highest honor bestowed by the university. He was rector emeritus of the ��AV Board of Visitors, after serving an eight-year term as visitor and the last four as rector with a term ending June 2007.

Dewberry was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Reva, and his son, Michael Sidney Dewberry. He is survived by his son Barry K. Dewberry and wife Arlene Evans; daughter Karen S. Grand Pré and husband Bruce; son Thomas L. Dewberry and wife Christine; daughter-in-law Stephanie A. Dewberry; grandchildren Candace and Suzanne Grand Pré, and Michael, Katie, John, Kelly, Quinn, and Reagan Dewberry; his multiple great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Memorial services will be Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 – details on the website www.fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Topics

civil and infrastructure engineering

civil engineer

Research teams address multidisciplinary cyber challenges

Martha Bushong — Fri, 06 May 2022 17:43:57 +0000

Research teams address multidisciplinary cyber challenges Martha Bushong Fri, 05/06/2022 - 13:43

In This Story

Hemant Purohit

Vivian Genaro Motti

Whether you are an experienced software developer, a teen texting on a smartphone, or an older adult checking a bank statement, cybersecurity is part of your life. Humans and computers interact every minute of every day and cybersecurity is there to keep information safe and actions private. But normal human behavior can compromise safety and privacy.

In 2022, researchers funded by the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s (CCI) Northern Virginia Node (NoVa Node) will be exploring the impact of human behavior on cybersecurity systems. Divided into six teams, the researchers will seek to leverage the power of their academic expertise in the social sciences, and related fields. The teams include faculty from the Colleges of Engineering and Computing, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education and Human Development, and the School of Business. Each team will explore a different aspect of the problem as they aim to translate those understandings into solutions or areas for additional investigation that can impact the welfare of Virginians. Two of those teams are being led by faculty from the Department of Information Sciences and Technology.

“Human-Centric Training for Privacy and Security Controls: Bridging the Awareness Gap for Diverse Populations”

PI: Vivian Genero Motti, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), ��AV; Co-PIs: Samy El-Tawab, and Ahmad Salman, College of Integrated Sciences, James Madison University

If you retired from the workforce 25 years ago, before Wi-Fi, online shopping, banking, or smartphones, you are likely vulnerable to cyberattacks. In fact, older adults face a disproportionate risk of suffering cyberattacks; still, they do not have access to resources and educational materials suitable to meet their needs related to human behavior and privacy protection.

Vivian Motti and her team want to do something about that. They plan to reach out to underrepresented users and characterize their level of awareness about cybersecurity. Motti and her team believe that gaining a better understanding of these populations will help inform educational content development, providing content, language, and design aspects that are all suitable to their specific user profiles.

“By adopting a user-centric design approach, this project will ensure that cybersecurity training meets users' needs for minority groups. By involving older adults front and center in the research agenda, we will establish training contents that are appropriate to their level of understanding,” says Motti.  Also, besides following the training contents and retaining what they learn, they will be able to act and prevent potential attacks that could pose privacy risks.

"Characterizing Biases in Automated Scam Detection Tools for Social Media to Aid Individuals with Developmental Disabilities" 

PI: Hemant Purohit, CEC; Co-PIs: Géraldine Walther, CHHS; Matt Peterson, CHHS; YooSun Chung, CEHD 

Designers of scam detection tools often focus on improving the computational accuracy of the methods, especially those with state-of-the-art Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML)-based techniques, but their understanding of the diverse human behavior can be limited. This project aims to build a foundation for inclusive cybersecurity technologies to protect individuals with disabilities from online scams using a unique interdisciplinary collaborative approach between computing and non-computing researchers.

Specifically, the team’s objective is to uncover the biases in the existing scam detection techniques for social media using NLP and ML methods. “We will conduct Eye Tracking analyses using a labeled scam dataset of social media posts from existing literature on online cybersecurity and study the differences between the attention patterns of individuals with and without developmental disabilities when perceiving scam posts,” says Hemant Purohit.

The project hopes to gain insights that will support cybersecurity training development for reducing online fraud for individuals with special education needs. At the same time, the researchers want to identify limitations in automated scam detection tools and help create more effective cybersecurity tools that can protect user groups in our communities.

Topics

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI)

Giorgio Ascoli elected American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering fellow

Martha Bushong — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 13:11:59 +0000

Giorgio Ascoli elected American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering fellow Martha Bushong Thu, 03/17/2022 - 09:11

In This Story

Giorgio Ascoli

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the election of Giorgio Ascoli, University Professor, in the Department of Bioengineering at ��AV to its College of Fellows. Ascoli was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the AIMBE College of Fellows for outstanding contributions in the development of open-access resources for data science in the investigation of learning, memory, and neurodegeneration.

Ascoli says he dedicates this honor to the memory of Mike Buschmann. “Mike provided unwavering support--as a matter of lifestyle--to all who had the fortune to interact with him, junior, senior, peer, supervised, or supervising alike,” says Ascoli. “Mike was also a fellow of AIMBE and an inspiring role model for the profession and advancement of humankind. I'm especially proud that Mike was my nominator for this recognition, making the induction into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering particularly meaningful to me.”

The College of Fellows is comprised of the top two percent of medical and biological engineers in the country. The most accomplished and distinguished engineering and medical school chairs, research directors, professors, innovators, and successful entrepreneurs comprise the College of Fellows. AIMBE Fellows are regularly recognized for their contributions to teaching, research, and innovation. AIMBE Fellows have been awarded the Nobel Prize, the Presidential Medal of Science, and the Presidential Medal of Technology and Innovation. Many fellows are also members of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences.

“Giorgio’s recognition as Fellow of AIMBE reflects his many years of impactful research contributions that have transformed and accelerated the field of neuroscience and created mechanisms to more effectively translate knowledge into innovative solutions by engineers and scientists around the world,” says Executive Director of Mason’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation, Amy Adams.

Since 1991, AIMBE’s College of Fellows has led the way for technological growth and advancement in the fields of medical and biological engineering. AIMBE Fellows have helped revolutionize medicine and related fields to enhance and extend the lives of people all over the world. They have successfully advocated for public policies that have enabled researchers and business-makers to further the interests of engineers, teachers, scientists, clinical practitioners, and ultimately, patients. AIMBE Fellows are committed to giving back to the fields of medical and biological engineering through advocacy efforts and public policy initiatives that benefit the scientific community, as well as society at large.

A formal induction ceremony will be held during AIMBE’s 2022 Annual Event on March 25. Ascoli will be inducted along with 152 colleagues who make up the AIMBE Fellow Class of 2022.

Topics

Awards

Bioengineering research featured in the scientific journal Nature

Martha Bushong — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:26:36 +0000

Bioengineering research featured in the scientific journal Nature Martha Bushong Tue, 10/05/2021 - 13:26

In This Story

Giorgio Ascoli

The October issue of Nature features research by Mason researchers. Cover illustration provided by Nature.

Two recent research publications authored by bioengineering professor Giorgio Ascoli appear as the cover articles in the first issue of the October edition of the scientific journal Nature.

The thrust of Ascoli’s research involves developing technologies and models to investigate neural circuits from molecular to whole-brain scales. These technologies have implications for a better understanding of brain functions and brain diseases.

“The brain is the most complex object in the universe; it’s the seat of our inner lives and by far the most intelligent machine we know. Mapping all cell types in the brain amounts to establishing a ‘parts list,’ which is an essential step in reverse-engineering the functional circuit blueprint,” says Ascoli.

The Nature article, “A multi-modal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex,” discusses the methods and techniques used to generate a systematic, multi-modal strategy that can be extended to the whole brain. The article reports on the creation of a cell census and atlas of the motor cortex—the area of the mammalian brain that controls movement. The publication is the initial product of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN).

“The overarching goal of the BICCN is to leverage these technologies to generate an open-access reference brain cell atlas that integrates molecular, spatial, morphological, connectional and functional data for describing cell types in mouse, human and non-human primates,” says Ascoli.

Much like a population census that defines the characteristics of a group of people and informs decisions, cell census information aligned across species will be highly valuable for making rational choices about the best models for each disease and therapeutic targets.

The companion article “Cellular anatomy of the mouse primary motor cortex” characterizes, in detail, the connectivity architecture of the network of nerve cells making up the command center for movement in the mammalian brain. In this study, Ascoli is the first senior corresponding author of a large collaborative team that includes Mason doctoral graduate Manju Attili (now a lead data scientist at MITRE Corporation), Research Associate Professor Diek Wheeler, and colleagues from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, and the University of California, Los Angeles, among other institutions.

Bioengineering department chair Mike Buschmann envisions even more innovative applications for the research. He says, “The molecular and anatomical neuron atlas of the motor cortex that Giorgio and colleagues assembled provides a rigorous ground zero for a myriad of applications in brain-machine interfaces, biologically-inspired robotic controllers, active prosthetics, and artificial intelligence.”

Topics

Bioengineering

Neuroscience

CEC faculty research

College of Engineering and Computing launches new diversity initiative

Martha Bushong — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 22:43:08 +0000

College of Engineering and Computing launches new diversity initiative Martha Bushong Mon, 10/04/2021 - 18:43

��AV’s College of Engineering and Computing and the Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning (DOIL) invites students, faculty, and staff to participate in the launch of DOIL’s Computing and Engineering Diversity Resource Information Center (CEDRIC).

The events will occur during the week of October 25 and will showcase some of the information and resources available at CEDRIC. Attendees may ask questions, and engage with the panelists, presenters, and each other and discuss what useful resources and communities they have found or would like to see at the college.

The schedule is as follows:

Monday, October 25 (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) | Atrium

Belonging

Student groups and organizations will promote their mission, values, and resources for diverse students looking for peer communities that will support them socially, academically, and professionally.

Tuesday, October 26 (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) | Stackable Conference Rooms ENGR 1602, ENGR 2901, ENGR 3507

Leadership

Explore the on- and off-campus resources and opportunities available for diverse students, faculty, and staff within CEC to engage in leadership roles.

Wednesday, October 27 (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) | Computer Science Conference Room 4201

Access

Learn about research and funding opportunities available to diverse undergraduate and graduate students and hear from university resource centers and offices with information on support for fellowships, graduate schools, research, and study abroad opportunities.

Thursday, October 28 (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) | Research Hall 163

Success

Engage in our Career Services Sessions where industry advising experts discuss the resources available on campus for diverse students to get them career-ready to pursue a myriad of internship and employment opportunities.

Friday, October 29 (All Day) | Atrium

Transformation

Mix and mingle in the Atrium (socially distanced, of course) and view the recorded walk-through and virtual launch of CEDRIC.

Topics

diversity

Mason to participate in new five-year $20 million grant

Martha Bushong — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:55:51 +0000

Mason to participate in new five-year $20 million grant Martha Bushong Thu, 07/29/2021 - 06:55

The proliferation of technology, in particular emerging platforms and services that deploy sensors and artificial intelligence (AI), creates opportunities for improving society.

The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced a five-year, $20 million grant to establish an AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture (AIIRA – “eye-rah”) based at Iowa State University. The institute is one of 11 new National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes that NSF has established in 2021 with a total investment of $220 million. ��AV professor Aditya Johri will serve as a member of the institute’s education and outreach team.

AIIRA aims to transform agriculture by creating a new AI-driven framework for modeling plants at various agronomically relevant scales. The researchers will accomplish this by introducing AI-driven digital twins that fuse diverse data with siloed domain knowledge. They will deploy these twins across agricultural applications that directly impact the USDA Science Blueprint for crop improvement and production.

In his role on the team, Johri will work with an interdisciplinary cross-institutional team on the education, workforce development, and outreach components of the project. He will assist with the design of learning activities and their evaluation.

The collaboration between computer scientists, electrical and mechanical engineers, agriculture specialists, and computing and engineering education experts provides a unique multidisciplinary opportunity, says Johri. “This project addresses the Broadening Participation emphasis within computing education and will study how we can convey the complexities of what computing makes possible to more people,” he says.

Johri conducts research on technology workforce development. He says, “If we want to reap the benefits of AI equitably, we have to understand the actual needs of users and then translate research into practices that work for them. We accelerate this process by educating the end-user about how AI might serve their needs. And throughout this process, we have to ensure that AI-related developments are being designed and implemented ethically.”

To facilitate broader acceptance of this project’s technical work, the team will leverage a robust training framework to power education and workforce development through formal and informal educational activities.

“Our approach starts from recruitment practices through onboarding and training practices, and extends to our communication and teamwork,” says Johri. “In conjunction with the AIIRA learning community, we will embed inclusive excellence into our mentoring and advising practices.”

“I am delighted to announce the establishment of new NSF National AI Research Institutes as we look to expand into all 50 states,” says National Science Foundation director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “These institutes are hubs for academia, industry, and government to accelerate discovery and innovation in AI. Inspiring talent and ideas everywhere in this important area will lead to new capabilities that improve our lives from medicine to entertainment to transportation and cybersecurity and position us in the vanguard of competitiveness and prosperity.”

The new institutes join seven previously announced in August 2020 that are part of a $140 million federal effort to develop hubs for artificial intelligence research that address national needs.

“AIIRA is bringing together scientists and farmers, industry and government to adopt these technologies and encourage their adoption to more effectively transform agriculture to meet the needs of our growing and the increasingly climate-challenged planet,” project leaders wrote in a summary.

Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, the Joseph C. and Elizabeth A. Anderlik Professor in Engineering at Iowa State, will lead the institute. The institute also includes collaborators from the tech and agriculture industries, governments, commodity groups, and other organizations.

Partner expertise

Iowa State University – plant sciences, artificial intelligence, social sciences, business

Carnegie Mellon University – robotics, artificial intelligence

New York University Tandon School of Engineering– artificial intelligence

University of Arizona – cyberinfrastructure

University of Nebraska-Lincoln – agricultural research, diverse growing zones

��AV – education, workforce development, and outreach

University of Missouri – social sciences, economics

Iowa Soybean Association – outreach

This institute is funded by USDA-NIFA.

Learn more about the NSF AI Research Institutes by visiting nsf.gov.

For more on NSF's investments in AI, see the NSF Science Matters article, “Expanding the geography of innovation: NSF AI Research Institutes 2021.”

Topics

Artifical Intelligence

computing