Summary

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure awarded a $897,758 Project Grant to Sustainable Horizons Institute on March 1, 2026, through the Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070). The award supports the Sustainable Research Pathways for NAIRR (SRP-NAIRR) initiative, which expands access to the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot by establishing collaborative research partnerships between existing NAIRR researchers and faculty and student teams from underrepresented institutions and backgrounds. The program delivers a structured 10-week summer research experience designed to cultivate AI talent, build connections across the research community, and provide training opportunities to participants who are new to or underengaged with the NAIRR Pilot.

The initiative employs evidence-based recruitment and talent development techniques to match experienced NAIRR researchers with emerging researchers across the United States, with particular emphasis on broadening participation among underrepresented groups in AI research. Participating teams present their research results at national professional society conferences, creating pathways for sustained engagement with NAIRR resources and advancing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI research capability. The project is scheduled for completion on January 31, 2028, and will be performed at the awardee's location in Palm Desert, California.