Sign in Subscribe
College faculty

University of Michigan-Flint Professors Receive $300K NSF Grant for Cloud-Based AI Labs

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Two University of Michigan-Flint computer science professors, Suleyman Uludag and Halil Bisgin, have been awarded a $300,000 National Science Foundation grant to expand student access to cybersecurity education. The grant will enable the professors to broaden their work on converting peer-reviewed research papers on artificial intelligence usage in cybersecurity into containerized Docker labs. These labs, accessed through the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource platform, allow students to practice bundling and running software in a virtual environment, removing financial barriers and democratizing cybersecurity research.

The initiative aims to address the digital divide in cybersecurity education, where students without access to high-powered computer equipment are left behind. The labs integrate AI techniques with real-world security problems, exposing students to actual research processes used in the field. Uludag and Bisgin have already piloted three labs with over 150 students and plan to make the platform available nationwide, incorporating gamification elements that pit "red teams" of attackers against "blue teams" of defenders.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $300,000 NSF grant will support the expansion of cloud-based AI labs at the University of Michigan-Flint, broadening student access to cybersecurity education.
  • The labs integrate AI techniques with real-world security problems, exposing students to authentic research methodology and replicating published research studies.
  • The initiative aims to address the digital divide in cybersecurity education and make the platform available nationwide, incorporating gamification elements.
  • The professors have already piloted three labs with over 150 students and plan to deliver tutorials at multiple conferences, organize an NSF workshop, and hire student assistants.
  • The project aligns with broader NSF initiatives, including a new funding opportunity of up to $100 million for programmable cloud laboratories.

Statistics:

  • The grant amount is $300,000.
  • The initiative aims to make the platform available nationwide.
  • Over 150 students have already benefited from the piloted labs.
  • The grant period is from September 2023 to August 2027.
  • The professors plan to hire undergraduate and graduate student assistants.
  • The NSF has already acknowledged that no comparable set of labs exists, setting the table for a truly novel approach to learning technology.

Sources:

  • University of Michigan-Flint news release (October 16, 2025)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers conference
  • National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource platform
  • University of Michigan-Flint College of Innovation & Technology

Read more