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University of California San Diego researchers, led by Assistant Professor Aobo Li, have been awarded a prestigious Department of Energy Genesis Mission grant. This funding will enable the development of advanced scientific AI tools, specifically intelligent AI agents, designed to significantly accelerate foundational physics and quantum computing research, positioning UC San Diego at the forefront of AI-driven scientific discovery.
Assistant Professor Aobo Li from UC San Diego’s Department of Physics and the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI) is spearheading a groundbreaking Genesis Mission project focusing on the creation of SIDERIUS, an advanced AI scientist. SIDERIUS is envisioned as an intelligent agent capable of independently analyzing complex scientific data, designing sophisticated AI models, and efficiently deploying these models onto specialized hardware chips. This innovative system is specifically tailored to address challenging problems in fundamental physics and quantum computing, aiming to dramatically speed up discovery and research in these critical areas. Co-PI Associate Professor of Physics Yi-Zhuang You will also contribute to this effort. Li emphasizes that the core challenge for the next generation of AI in science lies in effectively translating scientific problems into a format that AI can readily process and solve. This significant DOE award provides an unparalleled opportunity to bring together a diverse, interdisciplinary team of experts. The ultimate goal is to establish a comprehensive and adaptable AI framework that can be extended beyond physics and quantum computing to benefit numerous other data-intensive scientific disciplines, thereby advancing our understanding of nature and fostering new applications. The university's strong expertise in AI, highlighted by this and other Genesis projects, underscores its commitment to driving scientific innovation through artificial intelligence, as affirmed by Rajesh K. Gupta, dean of the Halıcıoğlu School.
In addition to leading the SIDERIUS project, UC San Diego researchers are playing crucial roles as co-principal investigators in four other significant Genesis Mission projects across various institutions, further demonstrating the university's profound expertise in artificial intelligence. These collaborations are designed to develop sophisticated AI tools with the potential to profoundly impact the methodology and pace of scientific discovery. One project involves Co-PIs Javier Duarte (associate professor of physics) and Daniel Diaz (computational data science and research specialist) who are partnering with the University of Colorado Boulder. Their focus is on creating ultra-fast AI solutions to efficiently process the immense volumes of data generated during particle collisions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, enabling rapid insights. Another collaboration sees Co-PI Li working with UNC Chapel Hill to implement AI agents and surrogate models. This initiative is aimed at automating and accelerating intricate optical simulations essential for LENGED, an experimental collaboration dedicated to the search for neutrinoless double beta decay—a rare process whose discovery could provide crucial answers about the universe's matter-antimatter asymmetry. Furthermore, Co-PIs Liang Yang (professor of physics) and Li are collaborating with the University of Hawaii to construct a unified foundation model. This model will leverage AI-ready datasets derived from five distinct neutrinoless double beta decay experiments, including CUORE, EXO-200, Majorana Demonstrator, NEXT, and SuperNEMO, to provide a holistic understanding. Finally, Co-PI Li is engaged with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to engineer ultra-fast AI tools. These tools are critical for real-time identification and preservation of subtle neutrinoless double-beta decay signals within the LEGEND detector, simultaneously rejecting unwanted background noise, thus enhancing data purity and scientific accuracy. These diverse engagements solidify UC San Diego's integral role in the national effort to harness AI for advanced scientific research.
The Genesis Mission is a pivotal strategic initiative launched by the Department of Energy (DOE) that aims to redefine the landscape of scientific discovery. It achieves this by synergistically integrating the DOE’s world-class scientific infrastructure and expertise with cutting-edge artificial intelligence and high-performance computing capabilities. The mission's overarching goal is to transform the traditional methods of scientific research, thereby reinforcing American leadership in both science and technology on a global scale. This ambitious program provides substantial support for research directed at solving some of the nation's most pressing energy, scientific, and engineering challenges. These critical areas include advancements in nuclear energy, efficient extraction of critical minerals, the design of intelligent chips, and the development of commercial fusion energy. The Genesis Mission garnered an unprecedented response, receiving over 5,000 research proposals. Reflecting its highly competitive nature, less than 6% of these applicants ultimately received an award, making it 'the largest response to a funding opportunity in DOE history.' This overwhelming interest underscores the scientific community's recognition of AI's transformative potential in accelerating complex research and addressing societal needs.