RivCo Professor Collaborating In Genesis Mission AI Research

RIVERSIDE, CA — A La Sierra University professor who forms part of a multi-institution team will be working on a new federal research-and- development initiative for an artificial intelligence-based project.

Computer Science Professor, Fuhao Li submitted an application collaborating with researchers from the University of North Dakota, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Clean Republic SODO, LLC; their application was one of 278 applications selected from more than 5,000 applications nationwide. The team's project was selected in July under the inaugural Genesis Mission effort lead by the U.S. Department of Energy.

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The research project aims to strengthen the security and reliability of electric vehicle battery systems and other critical energy infrastructure, LSU officials announced.

Li will serve as La Sierra's principal investigator for the project, which is led by the University of North Dakota.

The group's project, titled "Adversarial Robustness Framework for AI Models in Battery Management and Energy Science Workflows" will develop methods to improve the security, robustness and reliability of AI models not only in battery management systems, but also in related energy science applications, LSU officials announced.

"I am honored to represent La Sierra University in this collaborative research effort," Li said. "As artificial intelligence becomes more widely used in battery management and critical energy systems, it is increasingly important to ensure that these models remain secure, reliable and resilient. I look forward to working with our collaborators to advance trustworthy AI for energy applications."

LSU is one of only 13 higher education institutions in California participating in the DOE Genesis Mission.

"Securing the Department of Energy's Genesis Mission grant is a powerful testament to the fact that faith-based higher education and world- class academic excellence go hand in hand," said Enoch Hwang, chair of La Sierra's computer science department. "At La Sierra University, our mission has always been to blend rigorous intellectual discovery with a profound commitment to service. Being chosen for this federal award highlights the computer science department's competitive strength on a national level. It serves as another bright example of excellence in Adventist higher education -- proving that our institutions are not only preserving values but are actively leading out on the frontiers of modern science and technology."

Each partner organization brings different expertise to the project. Dr. Jielun Zhang at University of North Dakota leads the overall effort, while researchers from La Sierra University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Clean Republic SODO, LLC contribute expertise in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and battery and energy systems. Together, the team will develop simulated attack scenarios and AI-based methods designed to detect and defend against attacks on battery management systems.