GRIPex: AI in the Disciplines

GRIPex: AI in the Disciplines is sponsored by Kansas State University (One K-State Fund). Invites proposals for research focused on the application of AI in the disciplines, inclusive of all disciplines at the university. These can be disciplinary, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, or hyper-disciplinary.

GRIP ex : AI in the Disciplines A total of 21 commendable proposals were submitted, requesting $3. 8 million in support. After careful review by faculty peers both within and external to K-State, five proposals were selected to receive funds totaling more than $950,000.

The 2024 GRIPex awardees are: Daniel Rolles, physics: "AI-based Molecular Image Analysis for Ultrafast Laser Experiments," $179,249. Cydney Alexis, English: "Collaborating with AI: A Project to Develop Writing Studies-Informed Applications of Generative AI for Teaching in Higher Education," $100,356. Tianjun Sun, psychological sciences: "Training Artificial Intelligence Conversational Agents to Detect Early Cognitive Decline," $224,438.

Ajay Sharda, biological and agricultural engineering: "Mapping Seed-to-Plant Life Cycle to Predict Yields — Integrated Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Approach," $248,173. Brian Spiesman, entomology: "AI for Pollinators: Developing a Global Hub for Collaboration, Data Sharing, and Pollinator Research," $247,475. Read the full announcement.

GRIP ex is a GRIP initiative for ex ploratory research that currently seeks to build interest and capacity in the game-changing domain of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is a follow-up program to the larger Game-Changing Research Initiation Program (GRIP) initiative launched in 2022, which made ten awards in summer 2023.

Given that AI is expected to be game-changing for nearly every research domain and aspect of our lives, the focus of this game-changing research initiation program is on exploratory research in AI in the Disciplines with goals as follows: To build interest, capacity, and excitement for research related to the application of AI across multiple domains and disciplines; To create synergy groups of faculty members having shared interest in AI; and To lay groundwork for competitive proposal development, faculty hiring, and additional investments in AI-related activities at K-State.

A total of $1 million in grant funding is available for this GRIP ex : AI in the Disciplines program. Proposals are invited for research focused on the application of AI in the disciplines, inclusive of all disciplines at the university. These can be disciplinary, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, or hyper-disciplinary (precursor to defining an entirely new discipline).

Proposals are invited from individual faculty members or teams of faculty members. As this is a research-focused initiative, proposals must be led by a tenured/tenure-track faculty member at K-State. Topics could involve, but are not limited to: Developing novel end-use applications for AI in transportation, health, education, cybersecurity, agriculture, manufacturing, AI services, or other industry.

Evaluating or applying generative AI technology. Implementing AI to perform tasks or process control in highly stochastic domains. Developing or exploring social science, logics, and ethics perspectives on AI.

$25,000-$250,000 per project ($1M total funding available) RFP announced: September 18, 2023 Proposals due: November 1, 2023 Awards announced: January 2024 Project duration: 12-24 months Proposals are due by 5 p. m. , November 1, 2023.

Submit as a single PDF file to ord@k-state. edu . Use 1” margins and an 11-point font.

The proposal (narrative and budget only) is limited to 10 pages. Cover Page (1 page, NOT included in 10-page limit). Include title, names of principal investigator (PI) and up to 4 co-PIs with departmental affiliations, abstract, total requested funding and project duration.

Narrative (8 pages). Include project description/narrative, timeline, and expected outcomes, and potential future funding sources. Budget and budget justification (2 pages) — use the GRIP ex b udget template (xlsx) .

For budget inquiries, please contact Ashley Annan at aannan@k-state. edu . Biosketches for all project personnel (3 pages per person; NOT included in 10-page limit), NSF format preferred .

References and citations (no page limit; NOT included in 10-page limit), any standard format is acceptable. Limit on number of proposals : Each faculty member may be a part of up to two proposals as lead PI or co-PI. Each may be lead PI on only one of these proposals.

Faculty may serve as non-lead, including as senior personnel, on as many proposals as desired. Contact Gina Becker, Office of Research Development, gbecker@k-state. edu or ord@k-state.

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