National Science Foundation award funds development of experiential learning program to address shortage of AI professionals in healthcare
Rodrigo Spínola, Ph.D. (center) with co-PIs Daniel Falcão, D.O. (left) and Kostadin Damevski, Ph.D. (right).
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded a $750,000 grant to Rodrigo Spínola, Ph.D., computer science associate professor, to support the development of “living labs” for undergraduates at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering. Living labs (LL) are a form of experiential learning that integrates multidisciplinary science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education with hands-on educational opportunities. The project is co-led by professors Kostadin Damevski, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, and Daniel Falcão, D.O., associate professor of neurology and interim chief of the Division of Vascular Neurology.
“We’re looking to address a critical shortage of AI professionals in the healthcare industry,” says Spínola. “Our goal is to create a successful model for experiential learning that other colleges can emulate in order to continue strengthening the workforce in this area. The opportunities we provide students will bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.”
At the AIHealth-LL, students will gain practical experience in developing, deploying and servicing AI systems for health. It will also recruit students from diverse backgrounds to provide STEM education for historically underrepresented and underserved communities.
Traditional undergraduate STEM programs focus on developing technical abilities, neglecting soft skills, like collaborative problem solving, that engineers and computer scientists need to deliver increasingly complex products. Real-world scenarios incorporated into the AIHealth-LL allow students to apply their technical expertise and theoretical knowledge before graduation, making them more valuable to future employers and ensuring the economic competitiveness of the AI workforce in the United States.
Partnerships outside of the Department of Computer Science enable the multidisciplinary focus of the program. This includes faculty support from the VCU Institute for Engineering and Medicine and VCU Department of Neurology, as well as additional collaboration from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, StatFive Consulting and Caretaker Medical.
Initial plans for AIHealth-LL focus on developing the relationship between engineering and neurology. Undergraduate computer science students will work with researchers in the VCU Department of Neurology and VCU Health.
Two cohorts of undergraduate STEM students will take part in nine-month internships over the spring, summer and fall. Undergraduate students in the Department of Computer Science may also participate in course-based activities and annual workshops. New courses taught through this program will include Artificial Intelligence Applied to Health and Engineering AI Systems for Health.
The Department of Computer Science provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. From designing algorithms to solving complex computing problems to working with cutting-edge AI technology, students gain understanding of many important computing topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Computer Science to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Computer Science, Faculty Awards, Research Grants