Two Indian American researchers from Duke University have been selected for a federal initiative aimed at advancing artificial intelligence in scientific discovery.
Gaurav Arya and Tania Roy, both affiliated with Duke University, are among four teams from the institution chosen to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Genesis Mission. This national initiative seeks to harness artificial intelligence to enhance scientific research across various fields.
The Genesis Mission aims to create the world’s most powerful integrated science discovery platform. The selected projects have been awarded Phase I funding ranging from $500,000 to $750,000, which will support their research for a duration of nine months.
Gaurav Arya, a professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, leads the Duke project titled “AI-Driven Inverse Design of Patchy DNA Origami for Assembly of Programmable Superlattices.” His research focuses on developing AI-driven models for DNA origami, a cutting-edge method for designing materials with nanoscale precision for various energy applications.
“We’re just beginning to tap into this enormous design space, and we expect the novel biomaterials that result from this effort will greatly impact industries such as energy production, chemical manufacturing, and even quantum computing,” Arya stated.
Arya’s laboratory employs physics-based computational tools to gain a molecular-level understanding of diverse biological and soft-material systems, aiming to discover new phenomena and develop innovative technologies.
Tania Roy, an associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is involved in a separate Duke project led by Yiran Chen, focusing on “Neuromorphic Circuit Primitives for Robotic Embodied Physical AI.” This initiative aims to create new hardware for AI-powered robots that is significantly faster and more efficient than existing designs.
The team is working on neuromorphic processors that mimic the structure and function of the human brain and nervous system. This advancement addresses the current limitations in processing speed for data from cameras and sensors, which has hindered the broader application of AI in robotics.
“The completed system will resemble a steel-born Centaur – a synthetic organism whose fundamental neuromorphic computing components and abilities form its muscles, skeleton, and nervous system,” Chen explained.
The work being done by Arya and Roy represents a significant step forward in the integration of artificial intelligence with scientific research, potentially transforming various industries and applications.
According to Duke Today, the Genesis Mission is a pivotal effort in advancing the capabilities of AI in scientific discovery, and the contributions of these researchers are expected to play a crucial role in its success.