TIP: Infusing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into Biology Education and Research at Alabama State University

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP), through Targeted Infusion Projects, supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based, innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. Alabama State University seeks to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into undergraduate biology education, research training, and comprehensive faculty development. By combining innovative coursework, hands-on research experiences, mentoring, and professional development, the project will prepare students to thrive in a scientific workforce increasingly driven by data-intensive discovery. The project will integrate computational thinking and data-driven inquiry into biology curricula by engaging students with authentic biological datasets from genomics, transcriptomics, cancer biology, immunology, and related disciplines. Students will apply contemporary computational approaches, including predictive modeling, pattern recognition, data visualization, and machine learning algorithms, to investigate complex biological questions and generate research insights. Faculty participants will receive training in modern computational tools and evidence-based instructional practices that support interdisciplinary learning and research mentoring. The project will engage undergraduate students in mentored research experiences and evaluate outcomes related to student learning, research productivity, graduate school preparedness, faculty capacity-building, and institutional transformation. By creating a scalable model for integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into undergraduate biology education, the project will strengthen computational biology training, expand participation in data-intensive science, and enhance the capacity of Alabama State University to prepare the next generation of scientific innovators and research leaders. 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.