Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence solicits applications for faculty affiliates

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) is inviting Purdue faculty and researchers with an interest in AI to become faculty affiliates.

IPAI is pioneering the next frontier of AI — where intelligent systems interact with and shape the physical world. Physical AI brings together sensing, modeling, decision-making, control and optimization to solve real-world challenges in research areas including manufacturing, semiconductors, agriculture, health care, quantum systems, transportation and national security. Purdue’s deep strengths in engineering, physical sciences and AI position the institute to lead fundamental advances in these important application domains. IPAI affiliates constitute a critical intellectual resource for various stakeholders and enjoy several important benefits toward fostering a rich, dynamic and cohesive environment. IPAI is a signature initiative of Purdue Computes, the university’s strategic initiative focused on advancing research in computing, physical AI, semiconductors and quantum technologies.

In March, Ananth Grama, the Samuel Conte Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, was appointed as director of the institute. A Purdue faculty member since 1996, Grama is widely recognized as an innovator in parallel and distributed computing, large-scale data analytics, and AI.

IPAI affiliates will enjoy benefits including eligibility to apply for a postdoctoral associates program, the ability to buy into the Gautschi AI computer platform, and access to IPAI resources (including industry outreach, support for proposal preparation and coordination, project team building, and contacts with external agencies) and events. Most importantly, affiliates will engage with the campus AI community, leveraging cross-disciplinary expertise, interacting with affiliated and partner centers, and proposing new initiatives.

In exchange, IPAI expects that affiliates will coordinate with IPAI on large AI-related proposals, on-campus meetings and seminars related to AI; share IPAI AI-related activities for the benefit of the broader community; and respond to requests for information and participation on meetings and projects.

Faculty with an interest in becoming faculty affiliates are invited to complete an online form.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

Writer/media contact: Mary Martialay, mmartial@purdue.edu