BU-AIRR: Powering the Future of AI Research at Boston University
Artificial intelligence is transforming research across disciplines, from medicine and engineering to the natural and social sciences. As AI models become increasingly sophisticated, they also require unprecedented computing power to train, analyze data, and solve complex problems. To help researchers meet these demands, Boston University has invested in the infrastructure and funding needed to accelerate AI discovery.
The Boston University AI Research Resource (BU-AIRR) program, established by the Office of Research and the Hariri Institute for Computing, provides faculty with access to advanced cloud computing resources through the New England Research Cloud (NERC). By reducing barriers to high-performance computing, BU-AIRR enables researchers to pursue ambitious AI projects that might otherwise be out of reach.
Expanding Access to Advanced Computing
Modern AI research often relies on specialized hardware known as graphics processing units (GPUs), which can process massive datasets and train large machine learning models far more efficiently than traditional computing systems. However, the cost of acquiring and maintaining these resources can be prohibitive for individual research groups.
NERC addresses this challenge by providing a shared, production-level cloud computing environment for researchers. Operated by Boston University and Harvard Research IT and administered by the Mass Open Cloud Alliance, NERC offers scalable, high-performance computing resources, including state-of-the-art Nvidia GPU technology and enterprise-level storage solutions. Available to BU researchers and collaborators across multiple institutions, NERC provides an affordable, flexible platform for computationally intensive research.
Seeding Innovation Across Disciplines
BU-AIRR complements this infrastructure by providing funding that helps faculty access NERC’s computing resources for innovative AI projects. The program is designed to support high-impact, interdisciplinary research while helping investigators generate preliminary results that can lead to larger external funding opportunities.
Since its launch, BU-AIRR has supported projects spanning a wide range of fields and applications, including:
- AI for medical imaging and disease diagnosis.
- Foundation models and large language models.
- Climate and environmental monitoring.
- Cybersecurity and cloud computing.
- Robotics and autonomous systems.
- Neuroscience and brain research.
- Materials science and biotechnology.
- Social media analysis and digital communication.
By fostering collaborations among researchers from engineering, medicine, computing, the natural sciences, business, and the humanities, the program reflects Boston University’s commitment to interdisciplinary innovation.
Building the Research Infrastructure for the AI Era
BU-AIRR is more than a funding program—it’s part of a broader strategy to strengthen the University’s research ecosystem by pairing cutting-edge computational infrastructure with faculty expertise. The combination of accessible high-performance computing and targeted research support enables investigators to develop new methods, explore emerging applications of artificial intelligence, and compete for major federal and industry-sponsored research opportunities.
The program is supported through a partnership among the Hariri Institute for Computing, the Office of Research, the College of Engineering, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, underscoring Boston University’s collaborative approach to advancing AI research.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape scientific discovery and technological innovation, BU-AIRR and the New England Research Cloud are helping ensure that Boston University researchers have the resources they need to tackle some of society’s most complex challenges and transform bold ideas into real-world impact.