The MS-CC Research Catalyst Program is pleased to share the selection of five faculty-led projects, following a rigorous application and review process this summer.
Congratulations to Dr. Saurav K. Aryal at Howard University, Dr. Uttam Ghosh at Meharry Medical College, Dr. Hong Jiang at Benedict College, Dr. Adebisi Oladipupo at Hampton University, and Dr. Thomas Patterson at North Carolina A&T State University!
Faculty project leads are (top row, from left) Dr. Adebisi Oladipupo, Dr. Hong Jiang, and Dr. Thomas Patterson; (bottom row, from left) Dr. Saurav K. Aryal and Dr. Uttam Ghosh.
The program, supported by the National Science Foundation under award No. #2234326, empowers faculty and researchers to leverage national cyberinfrastructure tools and resources to advance their research, develop their workforce, and strengthen their institutional engagement.
By emphasizing faculty engagement and fostering stronger institutional ownership, the program aims to improve campus cyberinfrastructure in a scalable and sustainable way, while building long-term institutional capacity.
The MS-CC cyberinfrastructure programs team is excited about the opportunity to collaborate closely with the faculty, staff, and students who are advancing these projects. The team will support awardees every step of the way in bringing their vision to life and making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Bridging the Gap Between Researchers and Campus Cyberinfrastructure
The program’s core objectives are to build connections between researchers, campus IT leaders, and national CI resources, strengthening institutional infrastructure and educating faculty on new technologies.
At Hampton University, Dr. Oladipupo will co-lead a collaborative project to assess the university’s cyberinfrastructure and prepare for the development of a new AI Innovation Center. Over the next year, the project will use focus groups and campus-wide surveys to generate actionable recommendations for investing in cyberinfrastructure. This will directly support new research, particularly for the AI Innovation Center, in fields such as computer science, engineering, and public health.
“Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, and we cannot be distracted by its ‘not-so-good’ features but leverage the potential it holds for our faculty, students, and business,” said Dr. Oladipupo. “The MS-CC Research Catalyst Program helps Hampton University to build its capacity for robust cybersecurity infrastructure for research and readiness for the incorporation of AI into our educational services.”
Another key objective of the program is to educate researchers and faculty on cyberinfrastructure resources and their potential applications, with a strong focus on workforce development.
At Benedict College, Dr. Jiang will lead the EduCyber project to develop an innovative AI-powered chatbot and integrated cyberinfrastructure platform, aimed at enhancing educational research and student engagement.
“The inspiration for this project came from prior undergraduate research on AI chatbots,” said Dr. Jiang. “Student research outcomes demonstrated the potential and challenges of AI in education, motivating this project to address engagement while mitigating misuse.”
Beyond its technological goals, the project is committed to training the next generation of research talent. A dedicated team of graduate and undergraduate students will gain hands-on experience in critical fields like AI, data management, and ethical AI practices.
Building Scalable Frameworks for Research Support
The MS-CC is evolving its strategy for supporting research at HBCUs and TCUs, but its core commitment remains the same: finding and sharing replicable models that align cyberinfrastructure with research priorities.
Through the program, all five funded projects are expected to share examples of scalable models and replicable frameworks for leveraging advanced cyberinfrastructure. These resources will benefit the entire MS-CC community by enabling campuses to advance their research capabilities.
At North Carolina A&T State University, Dr. Patterson will work to establish the F.D. Bluford Library as a central hub for cyberinfrastructure support and innovation, connecting researchers to computing, software, and data-focused training. His project is expected to produce a public report on cyberinfrastructure strategy and a replicable research support framework for other institutions.
“We will be developing a model for a deeper integration of North Carolina A&T’s library services in our campus cyberinfrastructure, but more importantly, we will be sharing this model with our peer institutions,” said Dr. Patterson. “Developing strong working relationships with participating MS-CC institutions will enhance our project and ensure that we build and share a framework that is best suited for all partners.”