Eager: distributed research experiences for undergraduates in artificial intelligence

The National Science Foundation Division of Information and Intelligent Systems awarded the Computing Research Association Inc. $400,000 on April 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to establish Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Artificial Intelligence (DREU-AI), a nationally coordinated program providing full-time summer research placements in artificial intelligence for undergraduate students across U.S. institutions.

The program delivers three core components. First, undergraduate students receive mentored full-time summer research experiences in AI research groups, working on projects spanning machine learning, trustworthy and interpretable AI, AI for science and engineering, multimodal modeling, and AI systems. Second, the program creates a coordinated national cohort through shared research discussions, milestone checkpoints, and professional development activities designed to develop research skills and prepare students for graduate study. Third, the program establishes a structured mentoring and evaluation framework supporting research mentors, aligning student research milestones across institutions, and enabling evidence-based assessment of program outcomes.

The award targets undergraduate students with limited access to AI research opportunities, particularly those at institutions without active AI research groups, to strengthen pathways into AI research and contribute to developing a skilled AI workforce. The period of performance runs from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028, with place of performance at Computing Research Association Inc.'s offices in Washington, DC.

Abstract

The computing research association (CRA) will establish distributed research experiences for undergraduates in artificial intelligence (dreu-AI), a nationally coordinated program that provides undergraduate students with mentored research experiences in artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming foundational to scientific discovery, engineering, healthcare, and many sectors of the national economy. Continued progress in AI depends not only on advances in algorithms and computing infrastructure, but also on developing a workforce capable of integrating machine learning, data science, and domain expertise to address complex real-world problems. However, many undergraduate students have limited access to research opportunities in AI, particularly at institutions without active AI research groups. By providing structured research placements and professional development opportunities, the program aims to strengthen pathways into AI research and contribute to the development of a skilled and innovative AI workforce. The project focuses on three main goals. First, the program will provide undergraduate students with full-time summer research experiences in artificial intelligence through placements in research groups across the united states. Students will work with research mentors on projects spanning areas such as machine learning, trustworthy and interpretable AI, AI for science and engineering, multimodal modeling, and AI systems. Second, the program will create a coordinated national cohort through shared research discussions, milestone checkpoints, and professional development activities that support students in developing research skills and preparing for graduate study. Third, the program will establish a structured mentoring and evaluation framework that supports research mentors, aligns student research milestones across institutions, and enables systematic assessment of program outcomes. The program builds on the proven distributed research experiences for undergraduates model developed by CRA. Through centralized coordination, rigorous mentoring practices, and national recruitment, the project will enable increased participation in AI research and strengthen the nation?s artificial intelligence workforce. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.