PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (December 11, 2024) – Suxia Cui, Ph.D., a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Prairie View A&M University, has secured two National Science Foundation grants totaling over $1 million. The first, nearly $800,000, entitled “Excellence in Research: Security-aware Resource Management for Serverless Platforms” will focus on addressing security vulnerabilities in serverless computing by using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to develop intelligent scheduling mechanisms that detect and mitigate threats. Dr. Cui’s approach models the attacker-victim dynamic as a Stackelberg game, adapting to emerging security risks. The project also aims to foster collaboration between Prairie View A&M and Texas A&M University, supporting a diverse workforce through research and education.
The second grant, totaling $400,000, is a collaborative project titled “Advancing Semiconductor Education through Expansion and Diversification (ASEED).” Prairie View A&M University serves as the lead institution, supported by Alabama A&M University with $300,000 and Central State University with $300,000. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative, totals $1 million. The initiative addresses the semiconductor workforce shortage by improving education in semiconductor manufacturing, with a focus on materials science, integrated circuit design, fabrication, and testing. Objectives include building partnerships across institutions, expanding curricula to serve marginalized communities, hosting workshops for educators and industry professionals, and offering certificate programs and industry internships.
This project aims to increase enrollment in semiconductor programs, support CHIPS Act initiatives, and help meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the semiconductor industry.
More information is available on Central State University’s ASEED project website.
By Joe McGinty