“This initiative reflects our broader commitment to grow research, scale our areas of excellence and prepare students to lead in a technology-driven future.” — Alexander N. Cartwright, �鶹ӳ����ý President

The institute will unite more than two dozen world-class faculty across multiple colleges who are advancing foundational and applied artificial intelligence (AI) in areas like computer vision, robotics, machine learning, healthcare, finance and mathematics. By bringing AI-related faculty, students, research, and partners together, the institute will serve as a nucleus for collaboration, driving education and discovery with real-world impact.

“AI is massively transforming how we live, work and learn. As Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University, �鶹ӳ����ý is uniquely positioned to lead in this critical space,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright.

With focus on research, applications-translation partnerships and education-workforce talent development, the IAI will:

• Unite an initial 25 faculty across four colleges — the College of Business, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Medicine, and College of Sciences — leveraging �鶹ӳ����ý’s expertise and scale to promote a truly collaborative, multidisciplinary approach.
• Promote collaboration across industry, government and community stakeholders — enhanced by �鶹ӳ����ý’s location in a thriving metropolitan region.
• Strengthen the AI skillset of all students so they can have competitive advantages as they enter the workforce.
• Support collaboration in research and education for other �鶹ӳ����ý faculty who are doing research in AI and on its applications, opening doors learn about AI and contribute to the enhancing its applications across disciplines.

Strengthening Impact Through AI

“By bringing together leading faculty, motivated students and forward-thinking partners, the institute will unlock new possibilities across disciplines.” — Mubarak Shah, IAI director

�鶹ӳ����ý’s momentum in AI is already strong. The university’s computer vision research ranks No. 8 nationally, with affiliated faculty publishing dozens of papers in premier venues and securing millions in external funding, including major awards from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Intelligence Advanced Research Project (IARPA), U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and industry. In the past two years, �鶹ӳ����ý’s AI Initiative has hired 11 faculty members across multiple colleges, with eight more joining this fall. Additionally, the Center for Research in Computer Vision (CRCV) will also be joining IAI.

“The Institute of Artificial Intelligence unites �鶹ӳ����ý’s AI strengths under one roof, creating a platform for high-impact research and talent development,” says Trustee Chair of Computer Science Mubarak Shah, who has been named inaugural director of the institute.

The institute will also support �鶹ӳ����ý’s AI for All Initiative, which integrates AI into teaching and learning across disciplines. Led by Kevin Yee, special assistant to the provost for artificial intelligence, AI for All is helping to scale AI tools and curriculum across all disciplines so that students graduate with an understanding of how to effectively use AI in their careers.

About Our AI Faculty

At the core of the institute is a growing network of faculty whose excellence and expertise reflect the depth of �鶹ӳ����ý’s interdisciplinary strength in AI. Their research and teaching are defining �鶹ӳ����ý’s approach to AI as collaborative and grounded in real-world impact.

These faculty include:

• Niels da Vitoria Lobo
  Associate professor of computer science
  His research focuses on computational vision, active vision and mobile robotics, and user interfaces and graphical modeling, which has contributed to advancements in object detection, curve detection, person tracking and obstacle detection.
• Laura Brattain
  Associate professor of medicine
  Her research integrates biomedical AI, medical ultrasound and surgical robotics, with recent contributions to real-time diagnostic assistants and advancements in minimally invasive procedures. She also mentored six College of Engineering and Computer Science seniors who developed the AIMS (AI for Medical Surgery) system with Pegasus Partner Orlando Health. The system keeps track of surgical staples, enabling surgical teams to operate more efficiently and reduce waste.
• Cuneyt Akcora
  Associate professor of finance
  His research examines data science on complex networks and large-scale graph analysis, with applications in social, biological, the internet of things and blockchain networks. �鶹ӳ����ý’s future fintech involvement includes developing an AI lab within the finance department. Researchers participating in the program are looking at having blockchain nodes within the department, allowing them to download and access blockchain data, such as Bitcoin prices and activity on the transaction network. It would enable students to more easily learn about fintech and access up-to-date cryptocurrency information as they conduct research.
• Aritra Dutta
  Assistant professor of mathematics
  College of Sciences
  His research focuses on making AI models and computer systems smarter, private, faster, and more efficient. He works on improving how machines learn from large amounts of data, especially in a distributed setting, and applications in areas like image and video analysis. His interests include advanced machine learning techniques, distributed computing, and mathematical tools that help simplify learning from complex data, giving a foundational aspect to the design of advanced neural network architectures. Dutta has collaborated with major organizations such as Lockheed Martin, 1QB Information Technology, and ExxonMobil.
  
• Amrit Singh Bedi
  Assistant professor of computer science
  His research explores AI for autonomous systems. At a time when AI is rapidly reshaping industries, economies, and daily life, Bedi leads the SAFERR AI (Safety and Fairness for Reliable and Responsible AI) Lab, which aims to develop and test safer, more robust and more reliable AI systems. The interdisciplinary research team addresses critical challenges in ensuring AI systems operate dependably in real-world settings. Bedi has published over 100 papers and received numerous awards for his work on robust AI systems.

Other IAI faculty are: 

• Chen Chen
  Associate professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Xinyu Chen
  Assistant professor of mathematics
  College of Sciences
• Shahana Ibrahim
  Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Shubhra Kanti Karmaker
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Christian Küemmerle
  Assistant professor of mathematics
  College of Sciences
• Wu Lin
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jialin Liu
  Assistant professor of statistics and data science
  College of Sciences
• Yogesh Rawat
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yuzhang Shang
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ali Siahkoohi
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Shashank Sonkar
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yu Tian
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Shruti Vyas
  Assistant professor of material science and engineering
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Song Wang
  Assistant professor of computer science
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yue Wang
  Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering
  College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Zhenyi Wang
  Assistant professor of computer engineering
  College of Engineering and Computer Science

What Our Partners Say About the Institute

“On behalf of Leidos, I am excited to hear that �鶹ӳ����ý is creating the Institute of AI, under the directorship of Professor Mubarak Shah. I would like to express our strong support as the AI Institute represents a significant and timely investment in national security and technological superiority. The proposed institute’s research focus — ranging the use of machine vision in multiple domains, human and AI coordination, and cyber-AI integration to develop robust security solutions is directly aligned with emerging operational challenges faced by many of Leidos’ customers.

“Leidos has collaborated with �鶹ӳ����ý researchers on computer vision, autonomous operations, remote sensing, and other related technologies needed to further the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. The establishment of the IAI enables a deeper relationship between �鶹ӳ����ý and Leidos to accelerate development and deployment of next-generation AI technologies. It would be a privilege to serve in an advisory capacity for the institute and contribute to aligning the complex challenges faced by industry with emerging AI research produced by the IAI. This ecosystem will also nurture the next wave of AI-enabled systems and train a pipeline of engineers and technologists who are essential to the future workforce.”

-Corey Hendricks, vice president and chief engineer commercial and international, Leidos

“The National Center for Simulation was founded in 1994 to promote dual-use modeling and simulation technology and is the cornerstone for the $7 billion military modeling and simulation enterprise in the Central Florida Research Park. The military’s latest objectives depend highly on AI technology, and �鶹ӳ����ý must be utilizing leading-edge AI technology to compete for valuable research funding projects. This new technology is not only important to �鶹ӳ����ý’s Institute for Modeling and Simulation and the National Center for Simulation, but its development is critical for ensuring national security and we are thrilled to be a partner with the new �鶹ӳ����ý Institute of AI.”

-George Cheros, president and CEO, National Center for Simulation

“At Mitsubishi Power Americas, we view AI as a transformative force — one that is essential for driving innovation, national competitiveness and societal impact. As this technology reshapes industries and redefines capabilities, the creation of this institute represents a timely and critical step toward advancing responsible, high-impact AI research and education. We look forward to the ways these advancements will revolutionize the power generation industry — through predictive maintenance, energy optimization and strengthened cybersecurity.”

“Mitsubishi Power Americas is excited to support the �鶹ӳ����ý Institute of AI through collaborative research initiatives, helping translate innovations into real-world applications, and advancing education through internships and mentorship opportunities. By working together, we hope to contribute to a vibrant ecosystem that empowers the next generation of talent and delivers solutions to the pressing challenges faced by our organization and the global workforce.”

–Shane Mickey, senior vice president of strategic initiatives, Mitsubishi Power Americas

“�鶹ӳ����ý has been a consistent and capable partner in helping us explore advanced simulation, synthetic training environments and emerging digital capabilities. The Institute of AI directly supports our efforts to modernize and scale training through technologies like generative Al and machine learning. We appreciate the leadership role �鶹ӳ����ý continues to play in advancing technology and talent in Central Florida, and across the nation.”

-Col. Marcus Reynolds, program manager for training systems, U.S. Marines

“The launch of the �鶹ӳ����ý AI Institute under Dr. Shah’s leadership signals a defining moment for Central Florida and the nation. AI will shape the next era of medicine, mobility, security and society. AdventHealth is proud to stand alongside �鶹ӳ����ý to unlock the full potential of this technology through trusted partnerships, shared innovation, and a commitment to preparing the next generation of AI leaders.”

-Rob Purinton, chief AI officer, AdventHealth

“Siemens Energy is using artificial intelligence in every aspect of our work, including expanding our Innovation Center Orlando to create a new laboratory that will use AI to analyze the electric grid. The education and workforce development that will take place at the �鶹ӳ����ý Institute of AI will prepare students for this work and many other opportunities in our 21st century economy.”

-Rich Voorberg, president, Siemens Energy North America

“L3Harris is thrilled that �鶹ӳ����ý is creating the Institute of AI, under the directorship of Professor Mubarak Shah. As a leading aerospace and defense technology company, L3Harris is actively advancing AI/ML (machine learning) capabilities to support national security across domains such as space systems, resilient communications and edge computing. We see strong alignment between the IAI’s research and transition goals and our interest in accelerating innovation, supporting IP (intellectual property) generation and transitioning foundational Al advances into deployable defense technologies. L3Harris looks forward to exploring future collaboration opportunities with �鶹ӳ����ý and the new Institute of AI to help shape the next generation of AI technologies that will enhance the security, resilience and sustainability of our nation.”

-Chad Wingate, space and airborne systems AI chief scientist, L3Harris

�鶹ӳ����ý’s REU site, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, connects promising STEM students with established faculty at REU sites, enhancing their in-class learning experience with research, workshops and events.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Office of Research collaborate to support REU principal investigators and student participants. There are six cohorts covering distinct areas of research that are comprised of 11 principal investigators and dozens of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty mentors:

• Research Experience for Undergraduates in Computer Vision
• Advanced Technologies in Hypersonic, Propulsive, Energetic and Reusable Platforms
• Research in Materials for Energy Applications
  • and
• Engineering and Nanoscience of Materials and Device Applications in Biotechnology and Medicine
  • and the
• Conservation, Restoration and Communication
  • and Coastal Cluster
• Applied Computation Mathematics

�鶹ӳ����ý’s CRCV, led by director Mubarak Shah, has run the nation’s longest continuous REU program for 37 years. The university has maintained five or six REU programs since 2022, and �鶹ӳ����ý-based nonprofit has been approved for next summer’s REU.

Students engage in a 10-to-12-week program and participate in workshops, labs and an individual research project that they may select from topics provided by corresponding mentors. Students then present their research to their cohort at the conclusion of the REU just before the start of the fall semester.

Launching Research and Accelerating Learning

Isabella Llamazares, a rising junior studying mechanical engineering at Florida International University, wanted to learn more about aerospace engineering but opportunities were limited at her school. She was accepted into the HYPER REU at �鶹ӳ����ý and was excited to supplement her learning.

“I always knew that I had to find other opportunities, and I knew that I wanted to come to �鶹ӳ����ý either for undergraduate or graduate studies,” Llamazares says. “This REU will help me back at my university. Although we don’t have aerospace down there, I’m part of an aviation club, and I have this as knowledge that I can build upon.”

With an interest in fluid dynamics and propulsion, her project described timing detonations as part of the combustion process for rockets and how to ultimately make them safer.

“I came in just having very basic knowledge from my classes,” Llamazares says. “I didn’t have the average aerospace engineering experience, but it was that dedication and really wanting to continue in this field that got me here. This REU and this project have really helped solidify that I want to pursue something related to the fluids field.”

James Hippelhauser ’11 ’20MS ’23PhD, a HYPER REU mentor and postdoctoral researcher for astrodynamics and space robotics, was pleased with his students.

“I’m definitely satisfied with their progress,” he says. “Astrodynamics is a topic that they don’t really get to learn from a classroom standpoint. I know they learned a lot just from a concept standpoint, but also applying it.”

Hippelhauser was impressed with how well the students absorbed and applied complicated topics such as orbital mechanics.

“It kind of reminded me a lot when I first started research,” he says. “It can be a challenge. Orbital mechanics isn’t a common topic especially for undergrads. They learned as much as they could and as fast as they could.”

Hippelhauser encourages prospective REU students interested in hypersonics, space, propulsion and energy to explore something they may not know.

“Don’t limit yourself to a topic you’re comfortable with,” he says. “Try to go for a topic that you would not have considered.”

Emmelia Lichty, a junior mechanical engineering major at Oral Roberts University, was drawn to �鶹ӳ����ý’s REU because she says she’s always loved space.

“My dad was an Air Force pilot and he flew fighter jets,” she says. “So, I got to see them up close and I’ve always been infatuated. I came here because everything aerospace is right here with NASA, the space coast, and �鶹ӳ����ý is so involved in aerospace research.”

Lichty worked under the mentorship of Florida Space Institute (FSI) Interim Director Julie Brisset to enhance a precision cooling loop for a space-based payload.

“Any fluctuations would affect the actual experiment itself,” Lichty says. “My cooling loop had to be very precise, within plus or minus point one degrees. I had to make the improvements and monitor hardware and code modifications to get the cooling loop to that precision, which I was able to do by the end of the summer.”

The ability to not just apply classroom knowledge but move beyond it was something she says was very appealing and rewarding.

“Getting hands-on experience with problem-solving is a really a big part of the REU,” Lichty says. “You also get a taste of research, and it helps you make those decisions about your career, like if you want to go to grad school or not.”

Brisset, who also is an associate scientist with FSI, agrees that exposure to research is crucial in understanding and navigating a STEM education.

“There are two components that need to work together, both in the classroom and in the research lab,” she says. “Sometimes it can be an abstract exercise working in a classroom, but if you have a real-life application, it can be easier to make a connection.”

It was rewarding seeing Lichty immerse herself fully in her research, Brissett says.

“I think it was very complete,” she says. “Emmie did mechanical work, fluid mechanics, some electronics and some coding. In the end, it was a very complete lab experience. The research was a success as she achieved the cooling precision.”

The competitive nature of REUs across the board has increased, as well as the quality of applicants, Brisset says.

“We have undergrads who go through this program who stay in STEM and routinely end up in grad school,” she says. “We have people who are mid-career that come to us and say they discovered their love for astronomy when they did the REU program.”

Getting Out and Shoring Up

Rowan Wyss, a senior biology student at Eckerd College, participated in �鶹ӳ����ý’s Coastal Cluster REU, where he studied feral hog populations and their interactions with the environment and other animals at the Mosquito Lagoon.

He says found the research experience gratifying and hopes to continue quantifying where and how these animal populations forage.

“I was looking for an REU experience and was aware of its transformative nature — how it exposes you to grad school and different software or programs used for biology research,” Wyss says. “I got way more out of the REU than I thought. I built so many connections and I’m much more proficient in software and the tools of the trade.”

In the early stages of applying and even participating in the REU, it can be easy to feel the “imposter syndrome,” or feeling like you’ve lucked into a position you’re not qualified for despite being actually qualified, Wyss says.

“You’re surrounded with people extremely proficient in this field when you might have little to no research experience. But that’s just science. It’s never a competition. It’s people working together,” he says.

Otis Woolfolk, a junior studying biology/marine biology track at �鶹ӳ����ý, tested the resiliency and sustainability of novel non-plastic oyster bags filled with recycled shells to restore shorelines throughout Florida. Woolfolk’s research marks the first test of the new materials in warm water restoration conditions.

He learned about REUs after being encouraged to apply by his ecology professor, Melinda Donnelly, and through his volunteer work with �鶹ӳ����ý’s Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab.

“I was asked about the ideas I had for my Ph.D., and I really want to work on microplastics and how they affect mangroves,” Wolfolk says. “So, this was close to that. Oyster bags generally use plastics, so I experimented with using more environmentally friendly materials made of potato starch or basalt that deteriorate within years.”

He found the process exciting and enjoyed delving into a component of marine biology and conservation that he may not have considered had he not participated in the REU.

“As a novice scientist, I learned a huge amount,” Wolfolk says. “It’s a time for you to get messy and make mistakes. You’re doing research, doing workshops and you’re learning how the science world works.”

During his poster presentation, Wolfolk says he felt a newfound confidence in his ability as a novice scientist when a freshman asked him how to get involved with research.

“My advice?” he says. “Volunteer as much as possible and don’t doubt yourself.”

Linda Walters, lead investigator for the Conservation, Restoration and Communication NSF REU site and Wolfolk’s REU mentor, says Wolfolk did an exemplary job in his research.

“It was very rewarding to watch this journey,” she says. “Otis had the opportunity to be on the ground-floor of our cutting-edge research in marine restoration this summer. He is gifted at asking good, thought-provoking questions and communicating his science.”

The program is very competitive and only 10 students were selected for the Coastal Cluster REU out of 377 applicants, says Walters, who also is a Pegasus Professor of biology. Those who participate in the REU usually continue their education through graduate school, she says.

“During the 10 weeks, the students go from a very limited research background to developing their research questions, collecting data, analyzing their data and presenting their projects to the larger community,” she says. “It is a lot of work for the mentors to keep everything on track for this accelerated timeline, but the students make it worthwhile. They become confident researchers in 10 weeks.”

Honing a Vision

�鶹ӳ����ý’s CRCV has hosted about 370 students since it was designated as an REU site 37 years ago and continues to guide undergraduates in the evolving field of computer vision, says Niels Lobo, associate professor of computer science and CRCV REU mentor.

“The nature of the REU has matured,” he says. “The field has evolved, and what students are doing now in their projects is vastly different than what people would have done 10 to 20 years ago.”

Lobo came to �鶹ӳ����ý 31 years ago and was encouraged to assist with REUs within the first year. Lobo has seen the composition of student applicants and participates becoming more dynamic during his time at the university.

“What we’re seeing is that the student population applying for these research opportunities is exploding,” he says. “That means that the overall experience of the cohort is going to be a little bit richer because everybody gets exposed to something different.”

Computer vision is harnessing the power of technology to not just view things through a camera, but to understand them, Lobo says. Continually adapting to the constant evolution of the field while also considering computer vision’s ethical implications are two components he is teaching students.

“Every two or three years, the field discovers something new,” Lobo says. “In research, there are no study guides, so you need to go out and explore. That process of discovery is only accomplished through research.”

Claire Zhang, a junior studying applied mathematics-computer science at Brown University, was glad to have embarked on CRCV REU.

She previously conducted remote research, but she says the program at �鶹ӳ����ý provided her with a more immersive and shared experience.

“It was really nice meeting this community and coming to work together,” Zhang says. “I imagined it being very independent, but I found that it was a lot more collaborative than I originally thought even though we all had our own independent projects.”

Her project involved creating segmentation masks for solar cells to show their degradation in a quantitative way rather than the qualitative way of identifying degradation by darkened glass regions of cells. Zhang created and used a model that outlines the materials and can characterize how degraded the cells are.

“I have almost no experience with material science,” she says. “This project connected material science to computer science, and it was a great introduction.”

Zhang gained not just expertise in a field she’s interested in, but also knowledge and momentum to continue her education and pursuit of a STEM career.

“For the past semester, I had been thinking about whether I should explore different concentrations,” she says. “This summer showed me that I can continue to explore other interests while remaining in this concentration, specifically, that I could apply computer science to these other interests.”

Students interested in more information about �鶹ӳ����ý’s REU program should visit: .

Barham is one of 79 outstanding freshmen who make up the inaugural class of Provost Scholars, a new program that recognizes incoming students’ academic excellence and boundless potential.

“I’m looking forward to getting more involved with research, and I think the Provost Scholars program can help with that,” he said. “The scholarship really makes a difference.”

Barham is among the 69 students enrolled in the Burnett Honors College through the program, which is a partnership among the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Honors College and Undergraduate Admissions.

Students were selected for the invitation-only recognition because of their soaring academic records and outstanding extracurricular activities. The group has an average SAT score of 1435 and an average high school GPA of 4.37.

Among the top 10 percent of students at �鶹ӳ����ý, Provost Scholars are encouraged to get involved with research and establish connections with faculty members and other students. Through the program, they’ll be offered academic enrichment and opportunities to excel on campus and beyond.

As Provost Scholars, students also receive a generous scholarship each year for up to four years.

“The intent of the Provost Scholars was to attract the highest-achieving students to �鶹ӳ����ý,” said �鶹ӳ����ý Provost and Executive Vice President Tony G. Waldrop. “This inaugural class has the stellar credentials we desire in our honors students and future leaders.”