Mallik Sundharam Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs | Illinois Institute Of Technology
Illinois Tech is hosting a group of 10 undergraduate students from various universities this summer for a research program focused on data and computational mathematics. The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, takes place over 10 weeks at Mies Campus.
Participants collaborate with Illinois Tech faculty and doctoral students on real-world challenges in data science and computational mathematics. Fred Hickernell, professor of applied mathematics at Illinois Tech, highlighted the shift from logic-based problem-solving to data-driven approaches. “The biggest transformation over the last 15 or 20 years has been from solving problems based on logic to solving problems based on data,” he said.
Hickernell leads a team working on "Speedier Simulations," focusing on quasi-Monte Carlo methods using machine-learning tools like graph neural networks. Another project, "Enhancing Construction Worker Safety Through AI," led by Sou-Cheng Choi, examines how AI and wearable technology can prevent heat stroke among construction workers.
Assistant Professor Huiling Liao guides students in analyzing real-world datasets for spatial-temporal modeling projects. These projects involve examining environmental measurements, traffic accident reports, or public health records to uncover patterns and make predictions.
Lance Fortnow, Dean of the College of Computing, emphasized AI's role as a supportive tool in these projects: “You’ll find ways to use AI—not to do the project, because that would be a mistake—but as a companion.”