Suffolk Reporter

Adebayo Braimah, a PhD student in computer science at Stony Brook University, has been awarded the Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship for 2024. This fellowship, established by Congress in 1989, acknowledges Braimah's academic abilities and potential contributions to national security through scientific research.

The NDSEG Fellowship is sponsored by the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Army. It provides three years of full tuition coverage and an annual stipend of $43,200. With a selection rate of about 2 percent from thousands of applicants nationwide, this award places Braimah among the top emerging researchers in the country.

Braimah's research focuses on making machine learning models more interpretable and transparent. He holds a BS in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Kansas and an MS in neuroimaging and informatics from the University of Southern California. His work at Stony Brook University aligns with DoD goals to advance technologies addressing challenges in cybersecurity, data analysis, and autonomous systems.

"We are grateful to the Department of Defense for supporting Adebayo’s education and research via this fellowship," said Samir Das, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science. "We are committed to fostering talent that can significantly contribute to national security research."

The NDSEG Fellowship allows Braimah to focus on his doctoral studies without financial constraints while offering professional development opportunities within the defense research community.

"I’m honored to receive this fellowship," Braimah said. "It will enable me to pursue my research goals in AI and deep learning, potentially contributing to advancements that can benefit both civilian and defense applications."

Braimah's achievement highlights Stony Brook's prominence in AI and cybersecurity research as a hub for preparing future scientific leaders. As he continues his studies, his work is expected to strengthen ties between academia and national defense initiatives.

— Yuganshu Jain