Travel: NSF Student Travel Grant for the Ninth Conference on Machine Learning and Systems (MLSys 2026)

This award supports the participation of U.S.-based students in the Ninth Conference on Machine Learning and Systems (MLSys 2026), to be held in Seattle, Washington, from May 18 to 22, 2026. As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly central to technology, healthcare, scientific discovery, and national competitiveness, there is a growing need for researchers who understand both the algorithms behind machine learning and the computer systems that make these algorithms work at scale. This project addresses that need by enabling students, especially those from institutions with limited travel funding, to attend a leading conference where academic researchers and industry practitioners come together to share new ideas and best practices. The conference features keynote talks, paper presentations, and a Young Professionals Symposium designed to connect students with mentors and career opportunities. By broadening access to these experiences, the project helps cultivate a diverse, well-trained workforce prepared to advance the nation's capabilities in artificial intelligence and related fields. The project provides approximately 30 travel grants of roughly $1,000 each to U.S.-based students attending MLSys 2026, partially covering airfare, lodging, food, and registration costs. A selection committee of conference organizers will review applications, which consist of a student statement, a curriculum vitae, and an advisor recommendation letter. Priority will be given to students who have papers accepted at the conference, those participating in the Young Professionals Symposium, and those for whom the grant would make attendance possible that would not otherwise occur. The selection process also emphasizes recruiting applicants from a range of institutions, including smaller and less well-resourced programs, to ensure broad representation. 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. NSF Award ID: 2622151 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Zhihao Jia | Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, PITTSBURGH, PA | Award Amount: $30,000 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2622151 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2622151.html