Florida A&M University has announced a significant advancement in educational innovation with a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. This funding will support a collaborative project to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning into the biology curriculum at FAMU and three partner Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Grambling State University.
The initiative, which is expected to reshape traditional biology education, will empower students with essential skills necessary for success in an increasingly technology-driven job market. “Through this grant, FAMU remains at the forefront of educational innovation in a technology-driven world,” said Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D. “By integrating AI and Machine Learning into our biology curriculum, we are preparing our students with essential skills that are increasingly in demand across industries.”
Dr. Clement G. Yedjou, an associate professor of biology and data science at FAMU, will spearhead the three-year project. The project’s dual focus includes faculty training and enhancing student performance and engagement. Faculty members across partner institutions will receive specialized training in AI and ML technologies. They will be equipped to integrate these advanced tools effectively into their general biology courses.
Changing The Study of Biology
The ambitious project aims to reach over 700 students, enabling them to benefit from a modernized curriculum that promises to enhance learning outcomes. “This initiative will provide our students with cutting-edge skills in AI and Machine Learning, preparing them for careers in data-intensive fields,” said Yedjou.
Significantly, the project involves assessing student performance and engagement through course comparisons between AI/ML-enhanced curricula and traditional biology classes. These evaluations will inform future curriculum innovations.
Dr. Yedjou will collaborate with four co-principal investigators from the partner institutions: Dr. Jinwei Liu (FAMU), Dr. Felicite Noubissi-Kamdem (JSU), Dr. Jameka Grigsby (ASU), and Dr. Waneene Dorsey (GSU). Together, they aim to create a replicable model of AI/ML-integrated pedagogy, providing a scalable framework for other institutions striving to enhance biology education.
