Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Computing and Communication Foundations awarded Dartmouth College $460,590 under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) for a five-year CAREER project running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. This award supports research into artificial intelligence (AI) systems that leverage human cognitive principles to develop more interpretable, generalizable, and collaborative AI models. The project delivers three primary research outputs: (1) computational methods to generate concept graphs aligned with brain activity and learner interactions, supporting applications in brain decoding and personalized learning; (2) investigation of how human-like structural principles such as logical equivariance and compositionality can be recognized and acquired by large language models; and (3) development of collaborative AI agents modeled on principles of human social interaction and coordination.

The research addresses significant gaps in current AI systems by using graph structures as a unifying framework between human cognition and artificial intelligence. Deliverables include neuroscience applications through computational tools for studying cognitive organization and brain activity, education applications through personalized learning tools that map students' knowledge organization and provide individualized feedback, and AI advancement through systems better aligned with human intelligence principles. The project is performed at Dartmouth College's Hanover, New Hampshire facilities and contributes to NSF's broader mission of supporting foundational and applied research across computing and information science and engineering.