Computer science professor awarded prestigious National Science Foundation grant

Dr. Songhui Yue, assistant professor of computer science at Charleston Southern University, has been awarded a Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This prestigious, two-year grant provides $175,000 in funding to support Yue’s innovative research in artificial intelligence and software engineering.

The project seeks to address a critical challenge in AI: the automated creation of ontologies, structured frameworks for representing knowledge, by integrating multiple data types such as text, code, and diagrams. As artificial intelligence techniques advance, this is considered a core issue in how knowledge is represented. Since the target domain of building ontologies is software engineering, the project has the potential to significantly enhance automated software evolution, opening avenues for further research. 

“This project has the potential to create broad and lasting impact across key areas,” said Yue. “By developing an automated workflow for ontology generation using large language models, we aim to support the research community, improve software responsiveness, and enhance workforce development through education and training.”

As part of the project’s outreach, Yue will develop educational materials on knowledge representation and train students in applying ontologies and LLMs. “The results of this study will be disseminated widely, ensuring that the benefits of this research reach both academic and nonacademic audiences,” said Yue.

CSU President B. Keith Faulkner praised the achievement, “We commend Dr. Yue for his dedication and are proud of his success in securing this prestigious National Science Foundation grant. His work exemplifies the culture of research and innovation we are building at CSU. We are also grateful to the NSF for their continued investment in research that shapes the future and drives meaningful advancement in science and technology.”

Yue holds a Bachelor of Engineering in software engineering from East China Normal University in Shanghai and earned his PhD in computer science from the University of Alabama in 2019. He has over five years of industry experience in web application development and data analysis, including leading agile teams as a software engineer in California’s Bay Area. His research interests include software engineering, automation, artificial intelligence, context-aware systems, IoT, smart cities, and software privacy and security. He is also an active peer reviewer for leading journals such as IEEE Internet of Things Journal, IEEE Access, Computer Communications, and Pervasive and Mobile Computing.

The NSF CISE Research Initiation Initiative is designed to support early-career researchers in launching their first independent research efforts, particularly at institutions with emerging research programs.