The Worcester Polytechnic Institute received an $885,834 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to bolster the school’s research and teaching related to big data computing.
The grant announced Tuesday is part of the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program that focuses on enhancing the nation’s capacity for computer science research and teaching. At WPI, it will go towards six need-based scholarships for computer science doctorate students, who will study big data computing. This investment reflects a growing need nationwide for people who can educate others in computer science engineering.
This year’s federal appropriation for GAANN awards was more than $23 million. WPI was one of two Massachusetts universities to receive one. The other award was given to University of Massachusetts Amherst.
