Penn State Launches Faculty Upskilling Fellowships in AI and Quantum Sciences
Penn State's new Faculty Upskilling Fellowships program helps faculty develop skills in AI and quantum sciences to enhance their research. Applications are due by July 28.
New Program to Help Penn State Faculty Build Skills in AI and Quantum Sciences
The Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS) has launched the Faculty Upskilling Fellowships program. This initiative offers tenure-track and tenured faculty across all disciplines a chance to develop competencies in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum sciences. The goal is to support faculty in integrating these technologies into their current research efforts.
Faculty interested in applying must submit proposals by 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 28, via InfoReady. The program welcomes applicants regardless of their prior experience with AI or quantum sciences.
Focus Areas and Opportunities
The fellowship allows participants to concentrate on professional growth in AI and quantum fields. Faculty will learn fundamental concepts, gain hands-on experience with relevant software and hardware, and explore algorithms or models specific to these domains. They will also investigate how to apply these tools to new research questions.
Applicants can propose personalized learning plans that align with their research goals. This approach is intended to help research groups enhance their capabilities and improve competitiveness for external funding opportunities.
Additional Support for Fellows
- Faculty may request a one-course teaching buyout to dedicate time for learning. This can be scheduled for spring or fall 2026, or spring 2027, subject to unit leadership approval.
- Funding is available for activities such as attending AI or quantum-focused conferences, workshops, or specialized training.
- Access to ICDS’ Roar Collab cluster compute credits, commercial AI tools, and consulting support from the ICDS Research Innovations with Scientists and Engineers (RISE) team can be requested.
This program is open to all Penn State faculty members who want to expand their research toolkit with AI and quantum sciences.
For more details and frequently asked questions, visit the ICDS website.
