Award Abstract # 2239374
CAREER: Foundations of Collaborative Machine Learning

NSF Org: IIS
Division of Information & Intelligent Systems
Recipient: THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: March 15, 2023
Latest Amendment Date: July 19, 2024
Award Number: 2239374
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Vladimir Pavlovic
vpavlovi@nsf.gov
 (703)292-8318
IIS
 Division of Information & Intelligent Systems
CSE
 Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Start Date: August 1, 2023
End Date: July 31, 2028 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $600,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $344,765.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2023 = $218,888.00
FY 2024 = $125,877.00
History of Investigator:
  • Mehrdad Mahdavi (Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
201 OLD MAIN
UNIVERSITY PARK
PA  US  16802-1503
(814)865-1372
Sponsor Congressional District: 15
Primary Place of Performance: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
201 Old Main
University Park
PA  US  16802-1503
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
15
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): NPM2J7MSCF61
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Robust Intelligence
Primary Program Source: 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002728DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 1045, 7495
Program Element Code(s): 749500
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.070

ABSTRACT

Recent advances in machine learning rely on collecting an enormous amount of data and learning immense models in a centralized cloud. However, the excessive storage and computational needs of centralized approaches, alongside regulatory challenges in sharing private data, put the utility of this paradigm in doubt. Collaborative machine learning is a recent alternative paradigm to tackle these issues by developing algorithms collaboratively without exchanging or centralizing the data. For example, different geographically distributed hospitals, each being in possession of limited patients? data, may collaboratively develop predictive algorithms to improve diagnostics and treatment beyond what could be accomplished alone. Unlocking the full potential of collaborative learning strongly depends on the ability to encourage a large pool of individuals or corporations to share their private data and resources. Towards this aim, this CAREER award offers an intersectional approach to develop theoretically-grounded collaborative algorithms to facilitate learning optimally from fragmented, heterogeneous private data under resource constraints by jointly addressing various computational, statistical, systems, and game-theoretic challenges. By promoting a stable and fair ecosystem to benefit and retain all participants, without imposing stringent data and resource constraints, this project?s outcomes promise to make data-driven intelligent systems more effective, personalized, and robust in a myriad of application domains, such as personalized healthcare, precision agriculture, and education.

To promote a healthy data and compute ecosystem and enable optimal use of distributed heterogeneous data under resource constraints, this project offers an intersectional approach to rigorously address computational, statistical, and game-theoretic challenges. On the practical side, it introduces a pluralistic learning paradigm and develops distributed algorithms that are cognizant of statistical heterogeneity and confined to learning models that meet available resources. On the statistical side, the project focuses on establishing generalization guarantees and understanding information-theoretic tradeoffs, providing an opportunity for synergistic advancements and insights. The project makes an intimate connection between collaborative learning and aggregative games and leverages developed theoretical and algorithmic investigations to answer questions related to equilibrium, incentivization, fairness, and stability to promote a healthy ecosystem. The intersectional and unified study the project proposes, creates essential connections, and fosters new transformative methods not developed by efforts within the individual disciplines. The research will be integrated with education through hosting workshops, mentoring students, and developing courses.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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