The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a project led by two neighboring historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University will work together to strengthen the foundation of big data analytics and develop a deep learning software package.

According to the NSF, the project titled “Excellence in Research: Collaborative Research: Strengthen the Foundation of Big Data Analytics via Interdisciplinary Research among HBCUs” will aid a wide range of research, from academic studies to the oil and gas industry and the military.

The two HBCUs and members of the interdisciplinary team complement each other, the NSF said. Recently, Prairie View A&M held its annual Big Data Analytics Workshop.

“Hosted by the electrical engineering department, the workshop covered research and development in deep learning and high-performance computing for big data analytics, especially for mission-critical applications,” said Interim Dean Shield B. Lin. “Students received tutorial sessions with hands-on training.”

The research teams at the workshop did technical presentations featuring Cloud Computing Research for Big Data Analytics and RF Spectrum Surveillance using Deep Learning.

The new NSF-funded project will open research opportunities to a diverse group of minority students in HBCUs.

The team aims to:

• Improve the understanding of deep neural networks with the quantum theory of modern physics
• Enhance the mathematical foundation of deep neural networks
• Increase the computation efficiency of the deep learning training process with new algorithms
• Implement deep learning research innovations into a new deep learning software package to deploy in cloud computing and High-Performance Computing platforms.