- June 4, 2025
An AI Research Hub for Students

The Florida Atlantic University Gruber AI Sandbox, established by a generous gift from Rubin and Cindy Gruber in 2019, has developed into an artificial intelligence (AI) makerspace, where students can explore AI-based projects and applications.
“We were early on to adopt the idea of having a dedicated space for interdisciplinary AI research, particularly one that was student driven,” said William Hahn Ph.D., co-director of the MPCR Lab and associate professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “If you go back 25-30 years, the internet was brand new. The libraries were a space where you could go get access. In the same way, we are providing all Florida Atlantic students exposure to AI, giving them a leg up in their research and future careers.”
Early on and under Hahn’s guidance, students within the Sandbox developed their first AI model system, a self-driving toy car. Since then, students associated with the Sandbox have helped Hahn build a robotic dog, Astro. Currently, they are programming it to become a service dog that can support first responders, adults with disabilities, and search and rescue operations. This is just one of many projects associated with the Sandbox, which range from health care and agricultural applications to communication tools for non-verbal children with autism and adults with cognitive disease.
Ganesh Shiwakoti, a doctorate student studying mathematics and statistics, is exploring medical image analysis using AI techniques.
Shiwakoti uses the computers at the Sandbox, which offer advanced computing ability and memory compared to those in other computer labs on campus. The room includes desktop computers running Linux, Windows, and macOS, designed for developing and using AI models. Shiwakoti is also a graduate research assistant for the Sandbox, holding office hours in the space to assist students with AI projects, providing technical support, organizing events and conferences, and coordinating with faculty and the library to support interdisciplinary research and innovation.
“I genuinely believe that I would not be making these discoveries and having this success if I did not go to Florida Atlantic University and was not part of the Sandbox,” Ostroff said.
To learn more about how Florida Atlantic is helping to propel student success, as well as how Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University is working to train more health care workers and create a healthier environment, visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.
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