REU Site: Agile AI Research for Safety Critical Systems

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way critical systems are built and used. This is particularly important for safety-critical areas such as aviation, transportation, and healthcare. As AI becomes more integrated into these systems, there is a growing national need for a workforce prepared to develop safe, dependable, and responsible technologies. This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University addresses this need by providing immersive summer research experiences focused on AI for safety-critical systems. This project expands opportunities for students, particularly those from institutions with limited access to research. Through the combination of hands-on AI research with training in collaborative problem-solving and agile project management, the project broadens participation in STEM research. Research skills are essential for undergraduates as they prepare them for graduate study and employment in careers for emerging technology fields. The project also supports the broader public good by strengthening the nation’s capacity to innovate in systems that directly affect everyday life. This REU Site supports nine undergraduate participants each summer in a 12-week research program for three years. The project uses Scrum to mentor undergraduate research in AI. Scrum is an agile software development management framework, widely used in the software engineering industry. Participants will work in teams on hands-on projects involving AI methods applied to safety-critical systems. Expert faculty will guide students using Scrum. Key benefits of Scrum mentorship include iterative sprints and rapid feedback. The use of Scrum will support an emphasis on rapid prototyping, testing, validation, and problem solving. The program will also examine how Scrum’s flexible and iterative structure improves undergraduate research experiences. Research will investigate how Scrum promotes student agency, ownership, teamwork, and accelerated development from novice learners to competent researchers. Outcomes of the program include student research products such as presentations, publications, and software prototypes, as well as assessment of student learning, research self-efficacy, and preparedness for graduate education in the AI workforce. Findings from the project will be disseminated as evidence-based practices for designing and managing REU programs that integrate agile methods into undergraduate research training. 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.