Complete AI Training
Sign inGet my AI kit

Your job's AI kit

Get your AI kit

Tell us who you are and what you do. We show you your kit right away and email you the link: skills, prompts, AI agents, MCP servers and courses for your job.

500+ jobs ready, and we make a kit for any other job. No payment needed to look.

Share

AI news ·

University of California Invests $18 Million in AI Research for Genomics, Quantum Materials, and Geothermal Energy

The University of California invests $18 million in AI research for genomics, quantum materials, and geothermal energy. Projects span three years, advancing science and technology innovation.

2 min read
Science and research

University of California Invests $18 Million in AI Research Across Genomics, Quantum Materials, and Geothermal Energy

The University of California, in partnership with Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, has allocated $18 million in multicampus research grants to advance artificial intelligence (AI) applications in genomics, quantum materials discovery, and geothermal energy. This funding supports three projects over three years, with each receiving $6 million under the Artificial Intelligence Science at Scale initiative.

The initiative draws on UC faculty expertise from nearly every campus and leverages the university’s management of national laboratories, using fee income generated from these partnerships to fuel research in areas critical to science and technology innovation.

Strategic AI Research to Address Key Scientific Challenges

Theresa Maldonado, UC Vice President of Research & Innovation, highlighted the importance of accelerating AI research to maintain the United States’ leadership in technology and economic growth. The initiative integrates academic knowledge with national laboratory capabilities to enhance AI-driven scientific discovery.

June Yu, Vice President of UC National Laboratories, emphasized the collaboration’s strength in combining UC’s academic talent with the resources and expertise of the national labs to expand the impact of AI research benefiting national interests.

Background on UC’s Collaborative Research Funding

Since 2017, the UC National Laboratories Fees Research Program has directed lab management fee income into strategic research areas including cybersecurity, quantum computing, and wildfire prevention. With over $92 million invested, the program supports projects that advance both scientific breakthroughs and national security goals.

The AI Science at Scale initiative builds on this model by fostering partnerships that combine campus and national lab strengths to accelerate AI research in emerging scientific fields.

Selected Projects and Their Focus Areas

  • AI-Driven Genomics at Scale: from Sequence to Function to Therapeutics
    Principal Investigator: Jimmie Ye, Associate Professor of Medicine, UC San Francisco
    This project uses Livermore Lab’s supercomputing resources to analyze proteins on cell surfaces that influence diseases such as blood cancers and autoimmune disorders. The goal is to apply AI at scale for personalized medicine, accelerating the development of treatments for complex diseases.
  • Low-Energy, AI-Informed Phase Transitions (LEAP)
    Principal Investigator: Ram Seshadri, Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara
    Researchers will develop a large language model AI to simulate materials for topological quantum computing. By combining theory, data, and simulations, the AI will help identify materials with faster switching speeds and lower energy use, streamlining the search for next-generation chip materials.
  • Geophysicist.AI: A Foundation Model to Address Multiphysics Challenges in Coupled Subsurface Processes
    Principal Investigator: Mohammad Qomi, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, UC Irvine
    This project blends large language models, physics-based models, and geothermal drilling data from the Western U.S. to improve modeling of the Earth's crust. The AI model aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of geothermal energy extraction.

University of California and National Laboratories Partnership

For over 80 years, the University of California has managed three U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, supporting national research priorities. This partnership drives scientific innovation and helps address critical challenges in energy, security, and technology.

More information about this collaboration and other investments can be found through the University of California Livermore Collaboration Center and regional hubs.

For those interested in expanding their AI expertise in scientific research, exploring comprehensive AI training programs can provide valuable skills to contribute to these advanced projects. Visit Complete AI Training for courses tailored to research and technology professionals.

Share