Aron Laszka receives 2026 NSF CAREER Award
Aron Laszka, an assistant professor in Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), has been awarded a 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award. The highly competitive grant recognizes promising early-career faculty who demonstrate excellence in both research and education. (Institute of Energy and the Environment)
The five-year award, totaling approximately $685,588, will support Laszka's research project focused on developing scalable deep reinforcement learning techniques for large cyber-physical systems. These systems include critical infrastructure such as transportation networks, power grids, and other interconnected technologies that require intelligent, real-time decision-making. (Institute of Energy and the Environment)
Laszka's work seeks to improve how artificial intelligence manages these complex environments. By enabling AI systems to make faster and more effective decisions, the research has the potential to reduce traffic congestion, strengthen power grid reliability, and enhance emergency response capabilities. The project addresses one of today's biggest technological challenges: efficiently managing infrastructure that relies on thousands of sensors, connected devices, and automated control systems. (Aron Laszka)
Beyond the research itself, the NSF CAREER Award also emphasizes education and community engagement. Laszka plans to incorporate his findings into classroom instruction while creating outreach opportunities that encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These efforts are designed to help prepare the next generation of researchers and technology professionals. (Institute of Energy and the Environment)
Source: This article is based on information originally published by Penn State News. Read the original story here: https://www.psu.edu/news/information-sciences-and-technology/story/ist-faculty-member-aron-laszka-receives-2026-nsf-career