Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Missouri-Kansas City received a $200,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CFDA 47.070 – Computer and Information Science and Engineering) awarded October 1, 2026, with completion targeted for September 30, 2029. This collaborative research initiative will develop and deliver a curriculum-based undergraduate research experience program focused on artificial intelligence (AI) security and privacy across partner institutions. The core products include flexible educational modules—comprising labs, tutorials, assignments, and research activities—designed for integration into existing undergraduate computing courses across computer vision, speech and audio, and network systems domains. These instructional materials will address security and privacy vulnerabilities throughout the AI lifecycle and align with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework to enhance career-relevant competencies.

In addition to curriculum development, the project will produce research outputs documenting educational approaches that embed research into coursework, including project-based and competition-based learning methodologies. The program aims to strengthen undergraduate computing education by connecting classroom learning with practical research experiences while building professional competencies in communication, teamwork, and leadership. The modular design approach enables scalability and adoption across diverse undergraduate computing programs and institutions, with expected outcomes supporting workforce development in secure and responsible AI deployment.