Computing researcher awarded ERC Starting Grant to develop better AI decision-making systems

Dr Calvin Tsay has secured a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant for research that will develop new mathematical foundations for artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can make reliable decisions under uncertainty.

Dr Calvin Tsay, Associate Professor in the Department of Computing, has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to investigate how artificial intelligence can make better decisions in complex real-world environments.

The five-year project, CODA, will develop new optimisation and learning methods that allow AI systems to make decisions under uncertainty, rather than simply predict outcomes.

We hope this research helps translate exciting advances in AI and machine learning into practical benefits across engineering and scientific discovery." Dr Calvin Tsay Associate Professor in Computing

Many of today’s AI systems are highly effective at predicting outcomes from data. However, applications in areas such as engineering, energy systems and scientific discovery require systems to make decisions where safety and reliability are critical. CODA will address this challenge by developing mathematical tools to optimise decisions and provide assurances about how dependable they are.

Dr Tsay’s research sits at the intersection of optimisation and machine learning, with a particular focus on sequential decision-making under uncertainty. His work draws on expertise in mixed-integer programming and statistical learning, with applications across engineering and energy systems.

Commenting on the award, Dr Tsay said: “I’m delighted to receive this ERC Starting Grant, which will allow us to tackle fundamental challenges that currently limit the use of AI in real-world decision-making. We hope this research helps translate exciting advances in AI and machine learning into practical benefits across engineering and scientific discovery. This follows Imperial’s Science for Humanity mission: advancing fundamental research in ways that can deliver meaningful impact for society.”

The ERC Starting Grant is one of Europe’s most competitive funding schemes for early-career researchers. Worth up to €1.5 million over five years, the grant supports researchers with the potential to become leaders in their fields, enabling them to pursue ambitious research programmes and establish independent teams.

Through CODA, Dr Tsay and his team will develop the foundations needed to bring advanced AI methods closer to safe and effective use in real-world applications.