UVM Secures $5.5M NSF Grant for Advanced AI Supercomputer
UVM receives significant NSF funding for a new AI supercomputer, IceCore, enhancing research and education.
Key Points
- • UVM received over $5.5M from the NSF for AI and other research projects.
- • The AI supercomputer IceCore will be 100 times faster than existing systems.
- • The funding supports vital research on infectious diseases and AI technologies.
- • UVM was recognized as an R1 research institution, enabling better academic opportunities.
The University of Vermont (UVM) has been awarded over $5.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to bolster its research capabilities in artificial intelligence and other high-impact areas. A significant portion of this funding, $2.1 million, is allocated for the development of a cutting-edge AI supercomputer known as IceCore, expected to be 100 times faster than the university's existing systems. This new computing infrastructure will allow approximately 1,000 researchers to conduct impactful studies on issues like infectious diseases, computational social science, and advanced language models such as ChatGPT.
UVM President Marlene Tromp praised the importance of this grant, particularly its support for early career researchers, calling it a vital investment in the university’s research future. U.S. Senator Peter Welch also emphasized the transformative potential of these grants to address urgent global challenges, specifically in healthcare and the responsible application of AI technology.
In addition to the NSF grant for IceCore, UVM achieved a record in 2025 with four NSF CAREER awards and two Engineering Research Initiation grants aimed at fostering innovative projects by emerging researchers. Kirk Dombrowski, UVM's Vice President for Research, noted the role of these grants in attracting top faculty and students, enhancing UVM's identity as an R1 research institution. The new supercomputer will not only advance research but will also provide undergraduates with indispensable experience in high-performance computing, preparing them for future employment in a competitive job market.