Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Clemson University's Division of Research received a $417,473 Project Grant awarded July 1, 2026, under the National Science Foundation's Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070). The five-year award (completion date June 30, 2031) funds development of a unified algorithmic framework to improve the efficiency, adaptability, and scalability of modern deep learning systems. The research addresses the challenge of reducing computational expense and energy consumption in artificial intelligence (AI) systems to enable broader access and deployment on standard hardware platforms. Key research activities include: (1) efficient fine-tuning of large models through minimal parameter updates with structured representations and improved initialization; (2) design of efficient model architectures that scale to long inputs and multiple data types by reducing computational costs of core operations; and (3) development of techniques for addressing additional scalability and efficiency constraints (as indicated by truncated program description).

The award integrates research with educational outcomes through curriculum development, multi-level student mentoring, and workforce development initiatives designed to build skilled personnel for technological innovation and economic growth. The project addresses critical real-world applications requiring speed and reliability, including autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mobile systems, while reducing the environmental impact and deployment costs associated with large-scale computing infrastructure.