17-07-2025
UVM is on a roll as National Science Foundation grants $5.5M: What it will be used for
The University of Vermont landed more than $5.5 million from the National Science Foundation to research next-generation artificial intelligence computing, human tissue mechanics, atmospheric science, underground robots and renewable energy systems.
The largest grant of $2.1 million is for a new supercomputer for artificial intelligence research at UVM's Vermont Advanced Computing Center. The new computing cluster, named IceCore, is 100 times faster than existing UVM systems.
Chris Danforth of UVM's College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences is leading the effort of about 1,000 UVM researchers and collaborators from across Vermont and New England to study infectious diseases, computational social science and the behavior of large language models like ChatGPT using the new supercomputer.
"We are grateful for the National Science Foundation's recognition of our talented early career researchers," UVM President Marlene Tromp said in a news release. "These funds will offer a vital investment in UVM's research enterprise."
Underground robots, a new supercomputer, climate research and more
The $5.5 million total includes:
$2.1 million to a team led by Chris Danforth of the Vermont Advanced Computing Center and Vermont Complex Systems Institute for the creation of IceCore, a new AI supercomputer cluster.
$695,000 to Guiseppe Petrucci of the Department of Chemistry to study humidity and particle formation in Earth's atmosphere, with implications for improved understanding of climate.
$624,000 CAREER award to Niccolo Fiorentino of the Department of Mechanical Engineering to study the structure and function of cartilage for application to osteoarthritis research.
$571,000 CAREER award to Haicen Yue of the Department of Physics to study tissue mechanics, with implications for regenerative medicine.
$500,000 CAREER award to Samuel Chevalier, as part of an interdisciplinary team, to study machine learning to improve power grids.
$396,000 CAREER award to David Punihaole of the Department of Chemistry, to study the behaviors of proteins within cells.
$200,000 Engineering Research Initiation grant to Laura Treers of the Department of Mechanical Engineering to study robots that can operate underground to benefit disaster aid and agriculture.
$200,000 Engineering Research Initiation grant to Kathryn Hinkelman of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, to study aspects of renewable energy systems.
What to know about UVM grants for research
National Science Foundation CAREER and Engineering Research Initiation grants are awarded to researchers who are early in their careers and are undertaking new projects. The four CAREER awards and two Engineering Research Initiation grants in 2025 are a record for UVM.
Earlier this year, UVM was recognized as being among the top tier of universities categorized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as R1 − a recognition of an extremely robust research enterprise, a designation earned by less than 3% of U.S. higher education institutions.
UVM attracted a record $266 million in research funding in the 2024 fiscal year, supporting an array of research that improves the lives of people and the planet.
Contact Dan D'Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@ Follow him on X @DanDambrosioVT.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: University of Vermont gets $5.5 million for science and AI research
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