Two Rice University research teams have received Phase I awards through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, a national initiative harnessing artificial intelligence and advanced computing to accelerate scientific discovery. The projects, led by computer scientist Anastasios Kyrillidis and bioscientist Caroline Ajo-Franklin, will explore how AI can overcome fundamental challenges in quantum computing and help engineer microbes to sustainably produce strategically important fuels, chemicals and materials.

IITGN researchers have used machine learning to develop a framework that can support the development of tailored rigid pavements in a climate-resilient and region-specific manner in India and the world. The team identified five microzones in the Indian state of Gujarat, showing that its rigid pavements experience different thermal behaviours, challenging the one-size-fits-all approach used in concrete road design. The proposed framework is a smarter approach that could make roads more durable and reduce maintenance costs.