OCTOBER 16, 2023 — The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $2.8 million to researchers from MATRIX: The UTSA AI Consortium for Human Well-Being to bolster research capacity in the field of neuro-inspired artificial intelligence. Neuro-inspired AI stands as a strategic research area at UTSA, with researchers leveraging insights from the human brain to inform and advance artificial intelligence.
The funding will establish the ExpandAI Partner Institute, which is a collaboration between UTSA and the AI Institute for Edge Computing Leveraging Next-generation Networks (ATHENA). ATHENA is a multi-university and transdisciplinary center led by Duke University and funded by the NSF to amplify ongoing research, educational programs, and partnerships with minority-serving institutions like UTSA.
“This partner AI Institute will be the basis of a mutually beneficial collaboration between MATRIX and ATHENA,” said Dhireesha Kudithipudi, UTSA Robert McDermott Endowed Chair in Engineering and the founding director of MATRIX AI Consortium.
This graphic depicts the collaboration between UTSA and the AI Institute for Edge Computing Leveraging Next-generation Networks.
“Our shared goal is to produce resilient AI algorithms and hardware while nurturing the development of talented students through multiple forms of mentoring,” added Kudithipudi, who is the lead on the project.
The project is supported by a team of MATRIX thrust leads and UTSA faculty, including Amina Qutub, Gabriela Ciocarlie, Panagiotis Markopolous, Murtuza Jadliwala, Fidel Santamaria, and Itamar Lerner.
In this collaboration between MATRIX and ATHENA, researchers will develop AI technologies that prioritize societal impact and the cultivation of the next generation of AI educators and workforce talent. Rooted in inspiration drawn from the human brain, researchers will craft computational models and engineer AI systems for edge devices.
Over the course of four years, the project will provide support for approximately 28 graduate fellows and 10 faculty members from both organizations. Additionally, around 100 students will be able to participate in various research and educational activities.
Yiran Chen, director of the NSF AI Institute ATHENA, expressed enthusiasm about the mutually beneficial collaboration with UTSA.
“This ExpandAI partnership is a transformative endeavor that addresses critical educational and research needs in AI, particularly in underserved communities. The ATHENA team members at Duke are enthusiastic about dedicating their expertise to this remarkable project and eagerly anticipate a productive and mutually beneficial collaboration with the colleagues at UTSA,” Chen said.
James Donlon, program director at NSF, highlighted the significance of the ExpandAI Program within the AI Institutes Program, which expands the nationwide network of AI Research Institutes focusing on new methods for strengthening AI. He emphasized NSF's commitment to fostering a diverse interdisciplinary research community for the advancement of AI and AI-powered innovation.
“We are proud of this new partnership for exemplifying the potential for AI Institutes to broaden their impact as nexus points for collaborative efforts and for the whole research community to join in advancing collaboration in AI research, education, and workforce development through new partnerships,” Donlon said.
The research effort comprises four key thrusts:
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
