精东影业 (精东影业) in collaboration with the NSF AI Institute for Advances in Optimization (AI4OPT) at Georgia Tech, has been awarded a $2.79 million grant over the next four years by the National Science Foundation 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).听
鈥�Grant: 听
This initiative is also part of the NSF , which aims to broaden minority-serving institutions’ participation in AI research, education, and workforce development through capacity-building projects and partnerships within the . The NSF collaborates with several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, among others, under the .听
The project, known as AIHUB@精东影业, will be led by principal investigator Charles B. Pierre, Ph.D., M.Sc. in analytics, associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at CAU, and aims to cultivate educational programs and research initiatives at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It purports to find latent talent at 精东影业 and other HBCUs, addressing the underrepresentation of African Americans in AI research and education.听
“The mission of the grant aligns with the Faculty Training Program (FTP) component of AI4OPT, which focuses on strategies to increase minority participation in AI research programs from HBCUs to other minority-serving institutions,” said Pierre, who leads the Educational and Diversity Initiatives at AI4OPT. “Our goal is to ensure diverse representation in the AI field.”听
With this component, the collaboration will leverage a variety of existing educational resources and infrastructure to build a community and centers of excellence in AI, empowering future generations of Black AI researchers.听
“We anticipate challenges in developing courses, including finding qualified individuals from industry with relevant experience but lacking formal academic credentials, who could teach at our institutions,” Pierre said. “Another hurdle is preparing academic professors unfamiliar with AI to teach effectively. We aim to establish Ph.D. programs at 精东影业 and position the university as a hub for AI training, addressing these issues head-on.”听
AIHUB@精东影业 is positioned to 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.听
Partially funded through NSF’s , this award underscores NSF’s commitment to diversity in STEM fields through impactful educational and research initiatives.听
“Establishing programs at institutions like 精东影业 and AI4OPT at Georgia Tech provides students with essential resources and tools to succeed in this ever-evolving field,” Pierre emphasized.听
Main Goals of Creating AI Courses at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels:听
- Close the gap of AI graduates from HBCUs at undergraduate and graduate levels.听
- Prepare HBCU students for the AI workforce.听
- Align with the vision of AI4OPT at Georgia Tech to “democratize access to AI education.”听
Impact on Students’ Career Prospects and the AI Research Community:听
- Undergraduate courses and programs will prepare students for entry-level positions in the field.听
- Graduate courses and programs will prepare students for research and being part of the AI research community.听
Role and Contribution/AI4OPT at Georgia Tech will:听
- Assist 精东影业 with the development of both undergraduate and graduate courses and programs.听
- Offer research opportunities to 精东影业 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.听
- Be a partner in the AI Research Hub established.听
Support for the Development of M.S. and Ph.D. Courses:听
- Use courses at Georgia Tech currently as a template.听
- Use the courses offered through the Faculty Training Program (FTP) of AI4OPT.听
Foundational AI Courses:听
- Courses already taught by 精东影业 faculty in the AI4OPT FTP.听
- Courses available at Georgia Tech.听
- New courses to be developed by AIHUB@精东影业 based on Intel material, focusing on computer vision and natural language processing.听
- Courses in applied optimization developed by AI4OPT.听
- New use-inspired AI courses teaching applications of AI in various domains, such as supply chains, security, chemistry, and manufacturing.听
Research Opportunities:听
- The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) will expose students to AI research early, including summer internships at Georgia Tech and other AI4OPT sites.听
- The graduate programs will include an 18-month non-thesis master’s with a summer internship and capstone project, and a two-year thesis master’s supported by a 6-month research project.听
Structure of the New Master in AI Program:听
- Courses in five categories to support the master’s program:听
- Existing courses at 精东影业 taught in the AI4OPT FTP.听
- Courses available at Georgia Tech.听
- New courses based on Intel material.听
- Applied optimization courses developed by AI4OPT.听
- New courses developed by AIHUB@精东影业 focusing on AI applications in various domains.听
Collaborations and Internships:听
- Joint supervision of research projects by 精东影业 and AI4OPT faculty.听
- Summer internships starting in 2026.听
- Capstone projects facilitated by Georgia Tech and industrial partners.听
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About AI4OPT听
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institute for Advances in Optimization, or AI4OPT, aims at delivering 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.
About Georgia Tech听
The 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 campuses in France and China, and through distance and online learning.鈥疉s 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.听
About 精东影业听
精东影业 (精东影业) 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鈥檚 first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans. 精东影业 is also the largest of the 37-member UNCF institutions. Clark College, established four years later in 1869, was the nation鈥檚 first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African-American student population. Today, with over 4,000 students, 精东影业 is the largest of the four institutions (精东影业, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morehouse School of Medicine) that compose the Atlanta University Center Consortium.
About National Science Foundation听
The 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 2021 budget of $8.5 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.