Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Connecticut received a $723,850 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Office of Multidisciplinary Activities under the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences program (CFDA 47.075), effective September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2029. The award funds computational modeling research examining how the brain integrates sensory information with expectations—a process fundamental to human perception and central to artificial intelligence (AI) design. Using spoken-word recognition as the primary research domain, the project will develop and compare multiple computational models, including recurrent neural networks and predictive-coding architectures, to identify mechanisms underlying predictive processing and validate findings against empirical signatures of human speech perception.

Beyond core research deliverables, the project generates applied educational products designed to broaden impact and workforce development. Outputs include training in computational skills for graduate and undergraduate students, development of free lesson plans and educational materials introducing AI concepts to elementary and middle-school classrooms, and design principles for more robust and interpretable AI systems applicable to industry. These complementary deliverables align with NSF's emphasis on broader impacts while positioning research findings to enhance American technological competitiveness and strengthen the pipeline of students entering computational science fields.