EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): AI-Driven Multifunctional Polymer Research

The National Science Foundation (NSF), NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) supports EGFP designated institutions/programs in EPSCoR jurisdictions by providing funding for graduate fellowships for eligible applicants. Institutions receive a total of three years of stipend and associated cost-of-education (COE) allowance for each NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellow. This award at Louisiana State University seeks to enhance research competitiveness and capacity through an investment in talent development. Fellow research topics will align with goals and programs supported by the NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) and the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). The program will offer unique training opportunities for graduate students in a strategically vital area at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and polymer science. The program will prepare EGFP Fellows for impactful careers across industrial and academic sectors. The project will also support regional economic development by cultivating a highly skilled workforce and advancing university’s role as a hub for innovation in polymer science and engineering. Fellows will additionally engage in activities to increase community involvement and enhance learning, teaching, and mentoring abilities. The new knowledge and technology resulting from this program has the potential to positively impact other scientific disciplines that utilize artificial intelligence in discovering new materials. The research associated with this award is aligned with NSF's priority area of Artificial Intelligence. 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.