NRT-DESE Intelligent Adaptive Systems: Training computational and data-analytic skills for academia and industry

世界上充斥着数据，不仅是海量的数据，而且是复杂的数据。变量之间的相互依赖关系比比皆是，它们的关系可能会以错综复杂的非线性方式随着时间的推移而变化。这种复杂性在自然界中很常见，生物有机体中的智能系统已经进化，以适应这些相互依赖和非线性的情况。最近，工程师们开始为医疗、安全和工业领域的应用构建智能系统，这些应用程序也可以进行类似的适应。在自然界研究智能自适应系统的科学家，以及在实验室建造智能自适应系统的工程师，越来越需要概念和技术能力来处理大型、复杂的系统和数据集。这些能力为数学家、物理学家、生物学家、认知科学家、计算机科学家和工程师之间交换假设和理论提供了共同的基础；所有这些人都致力于研究共同的适应、学习、调节和预测问题。这项授予加州大学默塞德分校的国家科学基金会研究培训(NRT)奖，将帮助下一代博士生在智能适应系统的理论和应用方面取得跨学科突破。该项目预计将培训100名博士生，其中包括50名资助的实习生，他们来自应用数学、认知和信息科学、电气工程和计算机科学、机械工程、物理以及定量和系统生物学的博士项目。控制论、连接论和复杂自适应系统之前的研究集中在跨越学科和领域的智能自适应系统的一般原理上。NRT计划将通过更深入地研究学习和适应原则，推动这一领域的下一波研究，因为它们体现在更广泛的生物、人类和技术系统中。培训计划包括密集的计算基础营地、关于智能自适应系统的定制课程模块、实验室轮换、沟通技能发展研讨会和行业网络机会。总而言之，这些NRT活动将使受训人员能够获得处理大型、复杂数据集的概念和技术能力。所有NRT学员将有机会了解创业精神，与行业导师建立网络，参与专业发展，并与当地社区接触，以教育、传播研究并发展外联伙伴关系。NRT项目将改变加州大学默塞德分校的跨学科研究和教育能力。在机构层面，NRT项目将成为协作、跨学科研究生教育的典范。一项广泛的招聘计划将连接并加强加州大学其他校区和一些拉美裔服务机构的资源和项目，以增加从事智能自适应系统工作的科学家和工程师的多样性。最后，NRT项目将通过在贫困社区培养创新和高等教育文化，对加州中央山谷的经济产生直接和变革性的影响。NSF研究培训(NRT)计划旨在鼓励开发和实施大胆的、具有潜在变革意义的STEM研究生教育培训模式。培训路径致力于通过创新的、基于证据的、与不断变化的劳动力和研究需求保持一致的综合培训模式，在高度优先的跨学科研究领域对STEM研究生进行有效培训。

The world is bursting with data, not just in sheer amounts of it, but also in terms of complexity. Interdependencies among variables abound, and their relationships can change over time in intricate, nonlinear ways. Such complexities are common in nature and intelligent systems have evolved in biological organisms to adapt to these interdependencies and nonlinearities. More recently, engineers have begun to build intelligent systems for applications in health, security, and industry that can similarly adapt. The scientists who study intelligent adaptive systems in nature, as well as the engineers who build them in the lab, are increasingly in need of conceptual and technical abilities to deal with large, complex systems and datasets. These abilities provide a common basis for exchanging hypotheses and theories among mathematicians, physicists, biologists, cognitive scientists, computer scientists and engineers; all of whom work on common problems of adaptation, learning, regulation, and prediction. This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the University of California, Merced, will help the next generation of PhD students make interdisciplinary breakthroughs in theories and applications of intelligent adaptive systems. The project anticipates training 100 PhD students, including 50 funded trainees, from doctoral programs in applied mathematics, cognitive and information sciences, electrical engineering and computer science, mechanical engineering, physics, and quantitative and systems biology. Prior research in cybernetics, connectionism, and complex adaptive systems focused on general principles of intelligent adaptive systems that cut across disciplines and domains. The NRT program will advance the next wave of research in this area, by delving more deeply into principles of learning and adaptation as they manifest across a wider range of biological, human, and technological systems. The training program includes an intensive computational basecamp, custom course modules on intelligent adaptive systems, lab rotations, communication skills development workshops, and industry networking opportunities. Taken together, these NRT activities will enable the trainees to achieve conceptual and technical capabilities for dealing with large, complex datasets. All NRT trainees will have the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, network with industry mentors, engage in professional development, and engage with the local community to educate, disseminate research, and develop outreach partnerships. The NRT program will transform the capacity for interdisciplinary research and education at UC Merced. At the institutional level, the NRT program will serve as a model for collaborative, interdisciplinary graduate education. An extensive recruitment plan will connect with and enhance resources and programs at other UC campuses and a number of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to increase the diversity of scientists and engineers working on intelligent adaptive systems. Finally, the NRT program will have a direct and transformative economic impact in California's Central Valley, by fostering a culture of innovation and higher education in under-privileged communities. The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research areas, through the comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.