Building Research Capacity Through AI, Cyberinfrastructure, and Cybersecurity

Florida Memorial University Workshop

October 8–9, 2026 | In Person + Virtual

Registration for this event is closed.

Research is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, advanced computing, growing cybersecurity requirements, and new national research resources are creating opportunities for institutions and researchers, but they are also raising practical questions:

What infrastructure and expertise do researchers actually need?
How can institutions take advantage of resources such as ACCESS and the NAIRR?
What security and data governance requirements need to be considered?
Where can institutions find partners, expertise, and funding?
How can faculty turn an idea into a viable research project or proposal?

This two-day workshop, hosted by Florida Memorial University and the MS-CC, will bring together faculty, researchers, students, research administrators, technology professionals, and institutional leaders to explore these questions through practical sessions, hands-on activities, and collaborative planning.

Participants will learn how AI, cyberinfrastructure, cybersecurity, national research resources, partnerships, and funding opportunities can work together to strengthen research capacity.

What You’ll Gain

By the end of the workshop, participants will be better prepared to:

Identify the computing, data, security, and workforce capabilities needed to support modern research.
Understand how national resources such as ACCESS and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) can support research and education.
Identify practical opportunities for applying AI in research and teaching.
Recognize cybersecurity, research security, and data governance considerations that affect research projects.
Identify potential collaborators and strategic partners.
Connect research ideas and institutional priorities with potential funding opportunities.
Develop concrete next steps for advancing a research project, proposal, or institutional capacity-building effort.

No prior experience with AI or advanced computing is required.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for participants interested in strengthening research and research-support capabilities, including:

Faculty and researchers
Graduate and undergraduate students
Research administrators and research development professionals
IT, cybersecurity, and research computing professionals
Academic and institutional leaders

Participants may attend the full workshop or select sessions most relevant to their work.

October 8–9, 2026

Event Details

Day 1: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM ET
Day 2: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET

In-Person Location:
Florida Memorial University
Smith Conference Center Room A
15800 NW 42nd Avenue
Miami Gardens, FL 33054

Registration for this event is closed.

Virtual Participation

Selected sessions will be available via Microsoft Teams. Registrants who select virtual participation will receive a Microsoft Teams link after registration is complete and approved. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual participants.

Workshop Schedule

Day 1: Building Research Capacity through Infrastructure, Partnerships, and Technology

Participants explore the AI, cyberinfrastructure, cybersecurity, research networking, partnership, and funding landscape and identify resources that can strengthen research and education at their institutions.

Time	Agenda
8:30–9:00 AM	Registration and Networking Breakfast
9:00–9:15 AM	Welcome and Opening Remarks Dr. Jacqueline Hill, Florida Memorial University Welcome to Florida Memorial University FMU research and educational priorities The importance of building research capacity through regional collaboration
9:15–9:30 AM	MS-CC Overview and Workshop Objectives Dr. Amanda Tan, MS-CC Introduction to MS-CC Workshop objectives and desired outcomes Available MS-CC resources and support Framing the two-day progression from resources and partnerships to practical institutional action
9:30–10:15 AM	Building South Florida’s Research Technology Ecosystem: From AI Ambition to Research Infrastructure Dr. Ravi Vadapalli, University of Miami A regional perspective on the infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships needed to support AI-enabled research and education. Topics: AI and advanced computing infrastructure Regional cyberinfrastructure capabilities Shared research resources Institutional and regional partnerships Challenges facing under-resourced institutions Building sustainable regional research capacity
10:15–10:30 AM	Break
10:30–11:30 AM	Panel: Building Competitive Research Programs through Strategic Partnerships Moderator: Dr. Amanda Tan, MS-CC Panelists Dr. Jayanta Das, Florida Memorial University Faculty and researcher perspective on what researchers at minority-serving and under-resourced institutions need to build competitive programs and partnerships. Dr. Ravi Vadapalli, University of Miami Advanced computing, regional cyberinfrastructure, and shared research resources. Jon Ellis, Florida LambdaRail Research networking, connectivity, and shared infrastructure. Dr. Mohammad Ashiqur Rahman, Florida International University Federally funded AI and cybersecurity research and cross-institutional collaboration. Discussion Topics What barriers prevent researchers and institutions from participating in larger research initiatives? What infrastructure, expertise, and resources can be shared regionally? What makes cross-institutional partnerships successful? How can institutions move from networking to substantive research collaboration? How can partnerships strengthen future funding opportunities?
11:30 AM–12:15 PM	Cybersecurity and Research Security Dr. Amin Kharraz or Dr. Ruimin Sun, Florida International University A practical discussion of cybersecurity considerations associated with modern research environments. Topics: Securing research computing environments Research data protection and governance Cybersecurity considerations for AI workflows Protecting sensitive research data Emerging research security requirements Incorporating security into research infrastructure and workflows
12:15–1:15 PM	Lunch and Networking
1:15–2:00 PM	AI in Research and Teaching Dr. Wanli Xing, University of Miami A practical look at how AI is changing research, teaching, and workforce preparation. Topics: AI-assisted research workflows Practical AI applications for faculty and researchers AI in teaching and curriculum Skills and competencies students increasingly need Responsible AI adoption Connecting AI education with research and workforce development
2:00–3:00 PM	Hands-On: Introduction to Research Cyberinfrastructure MS-CC Team (Jennifer Kim or Jessica Johnson) A practical introduction to national cyberinfrastructure resources available to researchers and institutions. Topics: ACCESS NAIRR High-performance and advanced computing Cloud computing resources Interactive computing environments and Jupyter Example research/AI workflow How researchers obtain access to resources Where institutions can obtain technical assistance
3:00–3:15 PM	Break
3:15–4:00 PM	From Ideas to Opportunities: Funding AI, Cybersecurity, and Cyberinfrastructure MS-CC, Dr. Ravi Vadapalli, and Regional Research Partners A practical discussion of how institutional priorities and collaborative ideas can connect with external funding opportunities. Topics: The evolving research cyberinfrastructure funding landscape Opportunities supporting AI, cybersecurity, research infrastructure, education, and workforce development Identifying fundable institutional problems Positioning collaborative projects Building partnerships before pursuing funding Resources for identifying appropriate opportunities
4:00–5:00 PM	Faculty Networking and Collaboration Exchange Facilitators: Dr. Amanda Tan, MS-CC, and Dr. Jayanta Das, Florida Memorial University A structured networking session designed to identify institutional capabilities, needs, and potential collaborations. Participants will identify: Research and teaching interests Existing institutional capabilities AI and cyberinfrastructure needs Potential regional collaborators Opportunities to connect research and education Disciplines or use cases that could be explored during the Day 2 workshop Participants will use these ideas as inputs for the Day 2 curriculum-development exercise.

Day 2: Connecting the Dots: From AI Capacity to Curriculum and Workforce Development

Participants connect these capabilities with regional education and workforce needs and work together to develop a prototype framework for integrating AI into curricula across different disciplines and institutional contexts.

Time	Agenda
9:00–9:30 AM	Breakfast and Networking
9:30–10:00 AM	AI: What It Can and Won’t Do for You Dr. Pasupuleti A practical grounding in the opportunities and limitations of AI, particularly for institutions building AI capacity with limited resources. Topics: Where AI can create meaningful value in research and education What AI cannot or should not be expected to solve Common misconceptions and implementation pitfalls Data, infrastructure, expertise, and governance requirements Approaches to fostering AI across research and education at under-resourced institutions
10:00–10:50 AM	Regional Perspectives: Preparing Students for an AI-Enabled Workforce Randee Deich, South Florida TechGateway / Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Dr. Lisa Milenkovic, Broward County Public Schools A regional perspective on the skills students need as AI and advanced technologies reshape education and employment. Topics: Emerging technology workforce needs across South Florida AI, data, and technology competencies employers increasingly value Preparing students for an AI-enabled workforce K–12, higher education, and workforce pathways Opportunities for university-industry collaboration Lessons from regional education and workforce initiatives The discussion will provide workforce and education requirements that participants can incorporate into the curriculum-development exercise that follows.
10:50–11:05 AM	Break
11:05 AM–12:15 PM	Interactive Workshop Part I: Designing a Replicable “AI for X” Curriculum Lead Facilitators: Dr. Amanda Tan, MS-CC, and Dr. Ravi Vadapalli, University of Miami Supporting Facilitators: Dr. Jayanta Das, Dr. Pasupuleti, Dr. Wanli Xing, and participating technical/domain experts Participants work in interdisciplinary groups to develop a prototype framework for integrating AI into a particular discipline or application area. Rather than developing entirely separate AI programs for every discipline, groups will explore which components of AI education are broadly reusable and which need to be adapted to specific domains. Potential examples include: AI for biology and bioinformatics AI for environmental science AI for criminal justice AI for business AI for cybersecurity AI for education Each group will identify: Target learners and disciplinary context Problems or applications students should be able to address Foundational AI and data competencies Discipline-specific competencies Faculty expertise and professional-development requirements Data and computing requirements Cybersecurity and responsible AI considerations Research applications Workforce relevance
12:15–1:00 PM	Lunch and Lightning Talks Florida Memorial University and Regional Faculty/Students Short presentations designed to surface additional expertise and collaboration opportunities. Presenters may highlight: Research or teaching interests Existing institutional capabilities Current or emerging projects Specialized expertise or resources Collaboration needs and opportunities Participants are encouraged to identify people, expertise, and resources that could strengthen the concepts being developed during the workshop.
1:00–2:00 PM	Interactive Workshop Part II: From Curriculum Framework to Implementation Lead Facilitators: Dr. Amanda Tan and Dr. Ravi Vadapalli Supporting Facilitators: Dr. Jayanta Das and Participating Technical/Domain Experts Groups continue developing their “AI for X” concepts by considering what implementation would actually require at their institutions. Groups will address: Potential courses, modules, or learning experiences Faculty roles and expertise Faculty development needs Computing and cyberinfrastructure requirements Data and software resources Institutional partners Opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration Student research opportunities Industry and workforce connections Barriers to implementation Technical or programmatic assistance needed The objective is to create a framework participants can adapt and continue developing after the workshop rather than requiring every institution to build an AI curriculum from scratch.
2:00–2:30 PM	From Curriculum Prototype to Collaborative Opportunity Facilitators: MS-CC, University of Miami, Florida Memorial University, and Regional Partners Participants explore how their curriculum concepts could grow beyond an individual course or institution. Topics: Sharing curriculum and instructional resources Cross-institutional faculty collaboration Shared computing and cyberinfrastructure Student research experiences Industry and community partnerships Opportunities for collaborative projects Potential external funding pathways Technical and programmatic support available through MS-CC and regional partners Groups identify whether their concepts are best pursued internally, collaboratively, or potentially developed into future funded initiatives.
2:30–2:50 PM	Group Report-Outs and Commitments Each group briefly presents: Its “AI for X” concept Target learners and disciplinary context Core curriculum components Infrastructure and expertise required Potential institutional or regional partners One concrete next step
2:50–3:00 PM	Closing Remarks and Next Steps Florida Memorial University + MS-CC Key themes and takeaways Follow-up resources and technical support Opportunities for continued regional collaboration Next steps for advancing concepts developed during the workshop Workshop concludes at 3:00 PM.

MS-CC works with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), and other minority-serving institutions to strengthen the cyberinfrastructure, skills, partnerships, and research capabilities needed to advance research and education.

Through workshops, technical assistance, research collaborations, workforce development, and connections to national cyberinfrastructure resources, MS-CC helps institutions translate technology access into practical research capacity.
Florida Memorial University is located at 15800 NW 42^nd Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33054. Campus security will be notified that outside guests will be entering for the MS-CC/FMU AI/Cybersecurity/Advanced Computing Workshop. They will receive a temporary parking pass. When they pass the guard house, they will continue straight until the stop sign. At the stop sign make a right and continue around the curve. Parking near the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts is the best option.

Click here to access the Florida Memorial University Campus Map.
- Miami Lakes Hotel
- 6842 Main St, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
- (305) 821-1150
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