NSF CAREER awards to Wayne State University push forward research into AI reliability and next-generation batteries

DETROIT - Advances into AI reliability and improved battery technology at Wayne State University's James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering will be the focus of two recent CAREER Awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Dr. Xingyu Zhou, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, received a five-year $500,000 CAREER award for his AI-focused study, "Foundations of Trustworthy Sequential Decision-Making: Privacy, Robustness, and Fairness."

Dr. Mahbub Islam, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received a five-year $540,025 CAREER award for his battery-focused study, "Computational Insights into Interfacial Chemistries in Nonaqueous Batteries."

Zhou's project aims to address the critical need for trustworthy artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in applications that directly impact individuals and society.

"This CAREER project aims to develop the foundations of trustworthy AI, with a focus on reinforcement learning," said Zhou. "We are creating and analyzing algorithms that protect sensitive data while remaining reliable even in the face of uncertainty, errors or adversarial attacks. By unifying key aspects in trustworthiness, it advances the science of AI while addressing real risks that arise as these systems are deployed in practice."

He added that the increasing use of AI will mean improved systems that will have a profound effect on daily life for the average person.

"This is all about ensuring AI can be relied upon in the real world," said Zhou. "As technologies like ChatGPT, autonomous systems and intelligent assistants become part of daily life, people need confidence that these systems are safe, reliable and aligned with human needs. The long-term impact of this work will be AI that people can trust in critical areas such as healthcare, robotics and education, as well as in the everyday tools we all use."

Islam's research focuses on nonaqueous magnesium-carbon dioxide batteries, an alternative next-generation energy storage technology that combines the natural abundance, low cost and high capacity of magnesium anodes with the ability to harness carbon dioxide consumption for generating electricity.

"The primary bottleneck with magnesium batteries is the sluggish reaction kinetics and the formation of blocking interfaces that impede reversibility," said Islam. "Introducing electrocatalytic species presents an effective scheme to accelerate otherwise sluggish reaction kinetics at the cathode surface. By combining density functional theory (DFT), machine learning (ML) and eReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques, the study will establish design principles for cathode electrocatalysts through an elucidation of fundamental structure-activity relationships."

He stressed how crucial this research is for advancing efficient battery technologies and promoting environmental sustainability-efforts that stand to impact millions, if not billions, of people worldwide.

"To combat climate change, it is essential to transition to carbon-free energy sources as well as actively mitigate carbon dioxide emissions," said Islam. "Electrochemical energy storage is vital for harnessing energy from intermittent renewables like solar and wind and electrifying the transportation sector to achieve a carbon-neutral future. Current lithium batteries, while offering high energy densities, encounter challenges related to scarcity, geopolitical issues and the high cost of lithium. Therefore, alternative energy storage technologies that utilize low-cost, environmentally friendly materials are necessary to facilitate the transition to a sustainable energy future."

"NSF CAREER awards recognize early-career faculty that are poised to build a strong research and teaching foundation," said Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi, vice president for research & innovation at Wayne State University. "Receiving these awards are a tremendous achievement, and I look forward to seeing the important work that Dr. Zhou and Dr. Islam will be doing, along with the impact they will have on our students."

The grant number for Zhou's CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation is 2441519. The grant number for Islam's CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation is 2441420.

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Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit research.wayne.edu .