This article is part two of a two-part series on NSF-funded AI research by professors in Purdue Polytechnic’s Department of Computer and Information Technology.

Romila Pradhan has been awarded as an early-career innovator by the National Science Foundation. She'll be trying to fix one of the most pressing concerns with AI and machine learning: are these programs learning to reflect humans' own prejudices?

Anne Lucietto from Purdue Polytechnic's School of Engineering Technology has teamed up with a wide range of researchers to investigate disparities between African American student enrollment in engineering technology compared to other demographic groups. Lucietto was awarded nearly $300,000 by the National Science Foundation to undertake the project.

A Purdue Polytechnic Institute professor’s research on soft robotics could identify a new way to entice more women to consider STEM-related careers.

Eric Matson, associate professor of computer and information technology, and Julia Taylor, assistant professor of computer and information technology, are members of the NSF I/UCRC along with faculty from other Purdue colleges to help industry with research and development.

Alejandra Magana, assistant professor of computer and information technology, has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award.

The $500,000 award, to be used over five years, will fund Magana’s research on identifying the best way to incorporate modeling and simulation practices into undergraduate engineering education.

Teachers from four Indiana middle schools will be trained this month to get their students TECHFIT.

The National Science Foundation-funded program, led by College of Technology professors from Purdue University, combines technology lessons with fitness activities.

Researchers are betting that high school courses in guitar making are an effective way to encourage 19,000 students to continue studying STEM subjects.

The National Science Foundation agrees, and it has awarded the same group a three-year grant to take their curriculum to technology teachers across the country. The project is titled “LEAD Guitars in STEM.”

Tom Hacker, associate professor of computer and information technology, led an inaugural cyberinfrastructure workshop in Arlington, Va., in June with Suzanne Shontz, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at The Pennsylvania State University.

Funded by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) new Office of Cyberinfrastructure, the workshop brought together the country’s leading young researchers (NSF CAREER award recipients) to discuss new topics in the field. Hacker and Shontz are both recent NSF CAREER awardees.

Photo: Jeff Ackerman and Justin Siepel (far right) meet with client prospects as part of their NSF i-Corps project.)

Musculoskeletal injuries are the second most common reason to go to the doctor and cost $850 billion a year in the United States alone. Through their National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research on robotics, a Purdue graduate student and his advisor have created a device to help alleviate such injuries for people who carry heavy luggage, briefcases and even medical stretchers.