Paulina DeVito, a remarkable Ph.D. candidate within the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) College of Engineering and Computer Science, has recently been honored with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship—one of the most competitive and prestigious awards for graduate students in STEM disciplines across the United States. This fellowship is a testament not only to DeVito’s academic excellence but also to her visionary research in artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP), solidifying her role as a rising star in the cutting-edge intersection of AI and education technology.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to nurture the next generation of science and engineering leaders by providing three years of financial support extended over a five-year period. Recipients receive an annual stipend, presently set at $37,000, along with education allowances aimed at bolstering research that pushes the boundaries of innovation. The program’s mission is to sustain and expand the breadth of the U.S. scientific workforce by empowering individuals with exceptional promise to make transformative contributions across diverse fields.
DeVito’s research navigates the sophisticated terrain of large language models (LLMs) leveraged to examine public discourse on social media platforms, focusing on how emerging AI technologies are perceived and discussed. Her doctoral work intricately compares advanced LLM-based methods with conventional NLP techniques, aiming to unravel nuanced sentiment and thematic structures in conversations surrounding generative AI (GAI) in educational contexts. This approach not only highlights technological trends but also informs the design of AI tools that could enhance learning outcomes.
Hailing from a strong academic foundation in both computer science and computer engineering, DeVito’s trajectory is distinguished by her rapid accumulation of degrees with stellar academic performance. Earning dual bachelor’s degrees with the highest GPA in her class, followed by a master’s degree in computer science with a focus on AI in just one year, she embodies the caliber of a scholar who blends intensity with interdisciplinary breadth. Her academic rigor is matched by her passion for leveraging technology to create inclusive educational environments.
Her Ph.D. work extends prior NSF-funded research that analyzed teacher and student discussions on Reddit, providing one of the most comprehensive assessments of GAI conversations in educational settings. The groundbreaking study examined nearly 15,000 posts and comments, utilizing natural language processing tools to parse complex narratives around AI adoption, ethical considerations, and pedagogical ramifications. This research sheds light on significant challenges, such as the widespread use of flawed AI-based cheating detectors, which have led to misjudgments and emotional distress for students.
Supported by faculty mentors Hari Kalva, Ph.D., and Hanqi Zhuang, Ph.D., DeVito’s investigation delves deeper by expanding the inquiry into multiple social media platforms. She meticulously analyzes content created predominantly by young women in STEM fields, extracting themes and emotional tones from posts tagged with identifiers like #WomenInSTEM. By harnessing both LLMs and traditional NLP techniques, her research dissects engagement patterns and sentiment dynamics, providing a rich empirical foundation to guide the development of AI-powered educational tools tailored to diverse learner profiles.
The implications of DeVito’s work are profound and far-reaching. By contrasting teacher and student perspectives, her analyses offer critical insights that inform policy recommendations and ethical guidelines for AI usage in schools. She emphasizes the need for transparency and fairness in AI adoption, advocating for systems that support rather than undermine student well-being and educational equity. These findings contribute urgently needed evidence to the evolving discourse on responsible AI integration in academic institutions.
DeVito’s commitment to research excellence is mirrored by her aspirations. She envisions a future as a professor leading a research laboratory dedicated to harnessing AI and NLP for educational advancements. Her focus on generative AI technologies aligns with a broader vision of transforming teaching and learning methodologies, fostering student engagement, and nurturing the pipeline of underrepresented groups in STEM. By aiming to develop AI applications that are both innovative and ethically grounded, she is poised to influence the educational landscape significantly.
The supportive environment at FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science plays a critical role in nurturing talents like DeVito. Renowned for its pioneering research and comprehensive academic programs, the College emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to AI, computer engineering, and data science. Its national recognition and robust funding from major agencies such as the NSF, NIH, and Department of Defense highlight FAU’s commitment to fostering research that addresses real-world challenges through technology innovation.
Moreover, DeVito’s journey underscores the transformative potential of dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to engage with college-level coursework early. Graduating from FAU High School and A.D. Henderson University School, she entered higher education at the precocious age of sixteen, accelerating an academic path that few replicate. Her success story exemplifies how early exposure to advanced STEM curricula can cultivate leaders equipped to tackle complex scientific problems with creativity and depth.
The engagement with NSF-funded projects early in her career has given DeVito hands-on experience with data-driven research methodologies essential for AI investigations. Working alongside professors Kalva and Zhuang, she developed skills in managing large datasets, applying sophisticated computational models, and generating actionable insights. This background enhances her capacity to lead innovative research efforts that combine theoretical foundations with practical, impactful solutions.
As conversations around AI’s place in education rapidly evolve, DeVito’s work captures the critical intersection of technology, ethics, and pedagogy. Her research not only informs educators and policymakers about the benefits and pitfalls of generative AI but also builds a roadmap for future investigations into how AI systems can be responsibly integrated to promote equity and excellence among learners. In doing so, she contributes to shaping the next era of intelligent educational environments that empower all students, especially minorities and women pursuing STEM careers.
Enthusiastic support from FAU’s leadership further amplifies the significance of DeVito’s recognition. Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College, highlights how this fellowship also reflects the strength and innovation thriving within FAU’s academic community. The honor bestowed upon DeVito signals a bright future not only for her but also for the institution’s capacity to produce researchers who will impact fields ranging from AI ethics to educational technology development.
In summary, Paulina DeVito’s NSF Graduate Research Fellowship award heralds a promising new chapter for AI-driven educational research. Her exploration of social media discourse around generative AI, combined with rigorous computational analyses, paves the way for transformative tools designed to enhance STEM learning experiences. With her vision and dedication, DeVito stands at the forefront of a vital movement harnessing AI’s power to enrich education and foster inclusive scientific innovation.
Subject of Research: Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing Applications in Education, Analysis of Public Discourse on Social Media Regarding Generative AI in Education
Article Title: Rising STEM Star Paulina DeVito Earns Prestigious NSF Fellowship for Pioneering AI Research in Education
News Publication Date: 2024
Web References:
- Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering and Computer Science: https://www.fau.edu/engineering/
- Florida Atlantic University: https://www.fau.edu/
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program: https://www.nsfgrfp.org/
Image Credits: Florida Atlantic University
Keywords: Machine learning, Natural language processing, Generative AI, Social media, Education, Educational methods, Education policy, Education technology, College students, Doctoral students, Graduate students, Undergraduate students, Minority students, Science careers, Scientific organizations, Research organizations
