Wichita State University is one of the recipients of a renewed $20 million grant as part of the AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML), of which WSU is a founding member.

The grant will be awarded to the IFML institutions over the next five years and is used to support the development of more advanced generative AI that is open-sourced, which enables broader adoption and fosters innovation across a wide range of fields.

Dr. Kaushik Sinha, associate professor of computing in WSU’s College of Engineering, is the principal investigator for Wichita State’s $1.27 million share of the grant, which will be used to continue Sinha’s research and fund graduate students and support workforce development.

“This investment highlights the significant capabilities of Wichita State University and will bolster the artificial intelligence research being conducted at WSU and support workforce development efforts in this emerging field,” said Sen. Jerry Moran. “AI is rapidly reshaping our economy and national defense, and research institutions like WSU are working to make certain the U.S. remains a leader in developing solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Congratulations to WSU on this well-deserved recognition.”

The IFML is headed by the University of Texas at Austin, and Wichita State will collaborate with other research universities across the country.

The grant comes from the National Science Foundation, in partnership with Capital One and Intel, as part of a larger $100 million investment in AI research and development, split between six institutes, comprised of over 30 institutions, with WSU being the only Kansas university awarded a grant.

“Wichita State is proud to contribute to the IFML’s mission of advancing trustworthy AI through Dr. Sinha’s research on improving machine learning reliability,” said Pierre Harter, associate vice president of research and industry engagement. “This collaboration with the NSF AI IFML also provides our students with applied learning experiences that build critical skills for tomorrow’s data-driven workforce.”

The renewed grant is a testament to WSU’s innovative research as a leading institution in the country. The NSF has ranked Wichita State number two in the nation for industry-funded engineering R&D and number eight for overall engineering R&D.

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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