July 31, 2023
Ten students spent 10 weeks at Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 this summer learning about artificial intelligence (AI) models and how to best analyze large data sets.
The students were the first to participate in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site: Research on Prescriptive Analytics for AI-enabled Operations 糖心Vlog传媒. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Principal Investigator Suchi Rajendran.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great experience, connecting undergraduate students to our research areas so they can help develop models and gain new skills,鈥 Rajendran said.
For some, participating in the program has solidified plans to attend graduate school, with one student even interested in being a graduate mentor for a similar program someday.
鈥淚t was interesting seeing the different areas and working with graduate students here,鈥 said Dylan Nojadera, who attends the University of Georgia-Athens. 鈥淚 would like to do something like that.鈥
Some of the students presented their findings at the Undergraduate Research Forum on campus last week.
The Projects
Predicting Soybean Yield Utilizing Aerial Imagery
Team: Daniel Grenier, Colorado School of Mines, and Lily Groat, Iowa State University
Grenier and Groat worked on analyzing drone imagery of corn to predict which soil treatments work best to increase yield. They learned about the process of collecting and using information based on photographic information.
鈥淲ith data analytics and image processing, it鈥檚 important to have enough data for prediction modeling,鈥 Grenier said.
And those data sets can take months or years to collect, added Groat, who is an industrial engineering student.
鈥淲ith industrial engineering, many projects you can complete fairly quickly,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut with this type of agricultural study, it takes much longer because you have to wait for harvest. It can be challenging and requires patience.鈥
Zero Trust Systems and Bayesian Network Interactions
Team: Dylan Nojadera, University of Athens, Ben McIntire, Wheaton College, Zachary Bazile, Rutgers
Nojadera, McIntire and Bazile worked with Professor Prasad Calyam on research around zero trust cybersecurity, such as the cybersecurity of drones near war zones.
鈥淵ou can customize security based on what鈥檚 deemed an acceptable level,鈥 Nojadera said. 鈥淭he main thing I learned from this was how to do proper research.鈥
Bazile agreed, saying it鈥檚 the first time he鈥檚 worked on cybersecurity and zero trust models.
鈥淭his were new concepts to me,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 learned a lot.鈥
McIntire is a computer science student, and the REU has helped him narrow his focus.
鈥淭o me, I wanted to do research to get a more topical sense of what I want to study within my major,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t helped me find direction. I鈥檓 definitely interested in cybersecurity.鈥
Perspective Analytics for AI Enabled Operations 糖心Vlog传媒 in Medical Facilities and Blood Ordering Policies
Team: Brianna Abam, Mizzou, Aditya Khowal and Emma Lewis
Abam and Khowal worked with Rajendran and her graduate student (Nima Raad) on their methods using multiple factors to optimize blood supply chains.
Abam is a biomedical engineering major at Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 and signed up for the REU to expand her skillsets.
鈥淚 wanted to learn more about machine learning,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e taken a class on it, but wanted to apply it in a practical area.鈥
For the project, the team used machine learning and optimization to predict blood supply demand and where supplies should be delivered to in order to both meet the need and reduce the amount of donated platelets that gets discarded.
鈥淚 used Python, which was a new language for me, and mathematical modeling that I can translate back and apply to my own major,鈥 she said.
Hybrid Minimax Relative Regret Adjusted P-Robust Model for Electric Vehicle Charging Station Location Selection
Team: Abdullahi Ayantayo, Wayne State University, and Carson Swain, Mizzou
Ayantayo and Swain worked with Rajendran and her graduate student (Nima Raad) to study logistics around electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
鈥淲hen determining where they should be located, there鈥檚 a lot of uncertainty,鈥 Ayantayo said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned that even simple things like determining where charging stations need to be required a lot of thought and planning, and a lot of math.鈥
Swain, who is a business administration student in the Crosby BBA/MBA Program, applied for the REU because he鈥檚 interested in studying supply chains and wanted to delve deeper into data analytics and automation.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he biggest thing is the structure behind research and research papers, and the efforts behind methodologies. There are a lot of variables to consider.鈥
Ayantayo said the REU has fueled his interest in learning more about the future of EVs.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in EVs and all that goes into that field,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that requires deeper study. I鈥檓 now considering graduate school when I wasn鈥檛 before.鈥
Professors Prasad Calyam and Sharan Srinivas are co-PIs of the NSF REU grant.
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