Dr. Krishna Kumar is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award for his project "HayaRupu: Accelerating Natural Hazard Engineering with AI-Driven Discovery Loops."
At the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Kumar and his team will focus on advancing the field of natural hazard engineering by integrating artificial intelligence into the scientific discovery process. The HayaRupu project will develop novel differentiable simulators and AI-accelerated numerical methods to enhance understanding and prediction in areas prone to landslides. The initiative also includes the development of context-aware knowledge graphs to facilitate discoveries in science and engineering.
In addition to scientific exploration, Dr. Kumar is committed to educational outreach. HayaRupu will involve creating AI-assisted learning tools for engineering students, promoting STEM diversity and skill development. Furthermore, the project includes engaging young learners in AI literacy through the Tween Code Clubs at the Austin Public Library and targeted programs for underrepresented communities.
Dr. Kumar also leads the Chishiki-AI project (https://www.chishiki-ai.org/), backed by a $7 million NSF grant spearheaded by the University of Texas at Austin, which aims to foster an AI-powered civil engineering community, further bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application in civil engineering.
The National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program offers awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2339678&HistoricalAwards=false
