UMBC has recently been awarded multiple grants for research on a variety of topics, ranging from Medicaid to cybersecurity.
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UMBC team leads research into AI tools that can assess the feasibility of scientific claims
A multidisciplinary team at UMBC has received a $3.8 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create new computational methods for evaluating the feasibility of scientific claims, addressing the challenge of rapidly growing scientific information that isn’t always rigorously peer-reviewed and can sometimes contain errors. Led by associate professor of computer science Frank Ferraro, the researchers aim to develop an AI science assistant that uses a strongly iterative process to break down claims into sub-claims and apply diverse evidence and reasoning to assess their validity. The tool will be tested in materials science, AI, and quantum computing. This project team includes UMBC undergrads, grad students, and post-docs, and it aims to improve the overall evaluation of scientific findings.
Read more about the tool’s development here.
TowerCares Foundation makes $300,000 commitment to support UMBC cybersecurity students
The TowerCares Foundation has committed $300,000 to support cybersecurity students at UMBC by partnering with the university’s Cybersecurity Institute to create a new scholarship fund. These scholarships will benefit students in the Cyber Scholars Program, which has a decade-long history of preparing future cybersecurity experts through financial aid, community support, specialized courses, mentoring, research opportunities, and internships. The program has successfully launched the careers of over 100 graduates who now protect digital data for government agencies, businesses, and consumers.
Read more about the cybersecurity scholarship fund here.
Maryland Energy Administration awards UMBC $1.2 million for solar panels and more
UMBC has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Maryland Energy Administration to fund solar power installations and other sustainability efforts on campus. The grant will support the construction of solar canopies over the Stadium Lot’s north section and rooftop solar arrays on the central receiving warehouse, together generating 1,000 kWAC of clean energy and reducing UMBC’s carbon footprint by approximately 500 tons annually. Additionally, the funding will aid in developing UMBC’s Campus Clean Energy Master Plan and provide academic and internship opportunities for students in solar energy technology and sustainability management.
Read more about the MEA award here.
UMBC’s CIDER program supports new Hilltop Institute-led Medicaid study, other cross-collaborative projects
UMBC researchers, Morgan Henderson and Jun Chu, are conducting a study supported by UMBC’s CIDER program on diagnosis coding patterns related to social determinants of health among Maryland’s Medicaid recipients. This research focuses on analyzing “z codes,” indicators of social risk factors like housing instability and food insecurity, to understand their usage and potential to improve resource allocation. UMBC’s Hilltop Institute, with expertise in Maryland’s Medicaid data, is collaborating on this project, which has become particularly relevant given potential federal budget cuts to Maryland’s Medicaid program.