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Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to share several updates from across our directorate.
If you missed the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) updates webinar in January, the recording is now available online and provides a helpful snapshot of where we are as a directorate, including key programmatic updates. Since that webinar, an important leadership transition has taken place. Two of NSF CISE's leaders have recently transitioned to roles in the NSF Office of the Director, taking on agency-wide responsibilities in areas of national priority — Ellen Zegura in artificial intelligence and Dilma Da Silva in quantum information science. These moves reflect both the growing importance of these domains and the strength of leadership within CISE. We are deeply grateful for their service as division directors and acting assistant directors, where their judgment and commitment helped guide the directorate through periods of significant activity and change. Their continued contributions at the NSF level will extend the impact of their work across the agency.
While agency leadership transitions continue to evolve, the impact of the work we support continues to grow. We are proud to highlight that pioneers of quantum information science, Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard, have been awarded the 2025 Association for Computing Machinery A.M. Turing Award. Their foundational contributions, spanning quantum key distribution and advances in quantum communication, helped establish a new scientific frontier. Bennett's research, supported by NSF, contributed to advancing the theory of reliable quantum communication and computation. This recognition reflects not only their achievements but also the importance of sustained investments in foundational research that continues to shape the future of computing.
That same spirit of enabling discovery on a scale is reflected in the continued progress of the NSF-led National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR). We recently released NAIRR's two-year progress update, and we are happy to share a few exciting accomplishments. Over its pilot period, NAIRR has supported more than 600 research teams and 6,000 students across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Researchers and educators can access computing, data, models and other resources through nairrpilot.org, as well as collaboration opportunities with NAIRR partners through the deep partnerships track. Community members may also access webinars and training opportunities. We encourage our community to access these resources, which are freely available.
Through its strong public-private partnership model, NAIRR is accelerating discovery, strengthening our nation's AI workforce and reinforcing U.S. leadership in AI innovation. We are grateful to the teams, partners and broader community whose efforts are making this possible. We are especially thankful to Katie Antypas, who leads the NSF Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure and the NAIRR efforts. Her leadership has been critical in guiding the vision and strategies central to NAIRR's continued momentum and national impact.
Finally, I encourage early-career researchers to participate in the "NSF CISE Faculty Early Career Development (NSF CAREER) Program Workshop" on May 11, 2026. This hybrid workshop will offer valuable guidance on developing competitive proposals. Virtual registration remains open through May 8, 2026.
Thank you for your continued contributions to advancing computing research and education.
Irina Dolinskaya
NSF Directorate Head
NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
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