Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

The National Science Foundation's Division of Computing and Communication Foundations awarded $152,143 to Old Dominion University Research Foundation (via the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program, CFDA 47.070) effective October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, to establish a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site focused on Graph Learning and Network Analysis (GRALNA). The site will host 10 undergraduate students each summer to receive research training in the theoretical foundations and practical applications of graph machine learning and network analysis. The program will address real-world complexities in graph and network data derived from diverse domains including the Internet of Things, social networks, brain networks, molecular structures, and protein-protein interaction networks.

The REU Site will deliver comprehensive research training and professional development services through orientation workshops, invited lectures, hands-on research projects, student presentations, technical demonstrations, and career development activities. The program aims to advance theoretical understanding of graph learning and optimization while developing new methodologies for handling data complexity, with particular emphasis on recruiting students from primarily undergraduate institutions to build a competitive next-generation artificial intelligence and network science workforce. Participants will enhance research skills, oral communication, and written communication competencies while contributing to cutting-edge research at a major research institution.