Boise State awarded grant to lead responsible AI graduate training in Idaho

Boise State University faculty from the College of Engineering and College of Education received a $2 million National Science Foundation Research Traineeship grant to establish the Responsibility in Innovation and Scholarship Experience (RISE) - a program at the intersection of artificial intelligence and societal wellbeing, areas Boise State is leading across the state and region.

The NSF Research Traineeship program selected 15 institutions nationwide to boost the next generation of STEM leaders in AI, quantum, biotech and more, through the program's largest annual allocation to date of $45 million. The allotment was also the first to include Idaho among EPSCor-supported states.

Boise State's RISE initiative joins other NSF Research Traineeship efforts alongside institutions like the Oklahoma State University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Texas at Austin.

"The College of Engineering is proud to be at the forefront of preparing the next generation of engineers and computing professionals who will not only advance artificial intelligence but also ensure its responsible and ethical application," College of Engineering Dean Amy Fleischer said. "With this grant, Boise State is elevating its role on the national stage, shaping the future of AI education and positioning Idaho as a hub for innovation and impact."

Bringing technology and humanity to AI

Boise State's RISE traineeship aims to develop AI professionals who not only master technical innovation but also understand, and actively shape, the human contexts impacted by their research.

The university's initiative will train more than 20 graduate students, including 15 funded trainees, in responsible AI design, grounded in social impact and ethical reflection. These professionals will engage more than 200 additional students across Boise State's humanities, social sciences, engineering, computer science and other STEM disciplines.

By uniting faculty across the university, RISE will address AI's societal implications delivering programming such as stakeholder workshops, roundtable dialogues and industry mentoring with the goal of producing ethical guidelines for both academia and the private sector.

"Graduate student researchers are typically immersed in the technical aspects of their work, with little training in how to communicate with diverse audiences or think broadly about the societal impacts of their research," College of Engineering Associate Dean and principal investigator Tim Andersen said. "The RISE program changes that. It prepares our graduates to enter the workforce ready for leadership roles, equipped to design AI tools and products that people value and want to use, making them stronger contributors from day one."

Impact for Idaho and beyond

The RISE traineeship is expected to generate significant benefits not only for Boise State, but for both Idaho and the intermountain west region. By cultivating a pipeline of ethically-minded AI professionals, the initiative will prepare graduates to contribute to industry, government and community programs with both technical expertise and social responsibility.

The initiative strengthens Boise State's role as a leader in STEM innovation and graduate education as it continues its push to Carnegie R1 research classification, while also expanding partnership networks across various sectors that continually boost Idaho's innovation, growing economy, workforce readiness and inclusive technological growth.

"This high-quality, interdisciplinary training will prepare RISE participants to immediately contribute to solutions for real-world problems, enhancing the productivity of the region and supporting public trust in higher education," said co-principal investigator and Associate Dean for the College of Education Siduri Haslerig.

In doing so, RISE will help ensure that the next generation of AI professionals from Boise State not only drive advancements in technology, but also foster their communities through trust and access to opportunities that AI can create in the state and region.

About the NSF award

The NSF's NRT program supports bold and transformative models for graduate STEM education that align with workforce and research needs. Boise State's RISE traineeship initiative led by principal investigator Tim Andersen, and co-principal investigators Siduri Haslerig, Francesca Spezzano, and Donald Winiecki, is supported through 2030 to AI graduate researchers through a holistic, interdisciplinary training model. Learn more about the award on the NSF website.

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