Paulina DeVito, a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. Recognized as one of the most esteemed honors for graduate students in STEM fields, this fellowship supports exceptional scholars pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees across the United States.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides three years of financial support over a five-year period, including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a cost-of-education allowance to the institution. The program aims to ensure the vitality and breadth of talent in the U.S. scientific and engineering workforce by recognizing individuals with exceptional promise for future contributions in research and innovation.
DeVito’s Academic Journey and Research Focus
“I am both honored and humbled to receive this fellowship,” said DeVito. “This award is a validation of the vision I’ve carried since I first stepped onto FAU’s campus when I was 16. It not only affirms my commitment to advancing artificial intelligence and natural language processing research but also my deep passion for education in STEM. Impactful research is not limited by age or background, and young women, especially in tech, have a powerful voice in shaping the future.”
DeVito’s academic journey is nothing short of extraordinary. A graduate of A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School, she enrolled in college through FAU’s competitive dual enrollment program. By age 20, she had earned two bachelor’s degrees in computer science and computer engineering, with the highest GPA in her graduating class, alongside numerous honors including the National Merit Scholarship and an Outstanding Leadership Award. She completed a master’s degree in computer science with a minor in AI in just one year, earning a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Innovative Research in AI and Education
Now pursuing her Ph.D. in computer science, DeVito’s research focuses on developing large language model-based approaches for analyzing public discourse on social media. Her work compares these techniques to traditional natural language processing (NLP) methods to understand how people discuss emerging technologies, with recent applications exploring perspectives on generative AI (GAI) in education.
“Paulina is one of the most driven and forward-thinking researchers I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” said Hari Kalva, Ph.D., chair and professor at FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. “Her work touches on an area of critical national importance: how to use AI to improve learning outcomes and enhance educational environments for a wider spectrum of students.”
Impact and Future Aspirations
DeVito’s research plan under the NSF fellowship will build upon her earlier work analyzing Reddit posts through NLP techniques, exploring public sentiment around GAI in education. Her new study expands the scope to include other social media platforms, where she will analyze content created by and for young women in STEM. She will extract and analyze themes, sentiments, and engagement metrics from posts with various hashtags such as #WomenInSTEM.
“My long-term goal is to become a professor and lead a research lab focused on advancing AI and natural language processing in education,” DeVito said. “I believe generative AI has the potential to enhance how we teach and learn, and I hope to contribute to its responsible development and meaningful application in education.”
Contributions to Educational Policy and Practice
DeVito’s early research experience as a research assistant on an NSF-funded project led by Kalva and Hanqi Zhuang, Ph.D., associate dean and professor at FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, set the stage for her current endeavors. The study provided detailed analyses of how teachers and students discuss GAI in education on Reddit, analyzing nearly 15,000 posts and comments over six months in 2024.
“Paulina’s natural talent for research became apparent early on during our NSF-funded study,” said Zhuang. “Her ability to navigate complex data and draw meaningful insights stood out, and I’m excited to see her pursue a Ph.D. in the critical and rapidly evolving field of AI in education.”
By comparing teacher and student perspectives and employing advanced language models to identify key themes, DeVito’s research revealed significant issues such as educators’ reliance on flawed AI cheating detectors that often wrongfully accuse students, causing emotional distress. The study aims to inform future policies and practices for more responsible and supportive AI adoption in learning environments.
Recognition and Institutional Support
“Paulina’s academic accomplishments are extraordinary, but what truly sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to using research for meaningful social impact,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science. “She is a shining example of the kind of student we strive to cultivate at Florida Atlantic University – one who is academically exceptional, community-minded, and forward-thinking. The NSF grant is not only a recognition of her individual brilliance but of the strength of our programs and the future of innovation coming from this institution.”
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for cutting-edge research and education in areas such as computer science, AI, computer engineering, and more. Research efforts are supported by major organizations including the NSF, NIH, DOD, and industry partners. The college offers degrees with specializations in national priority areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and data science.
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, serves over 30,000 students across six campuses. It has doubled its research expenditures in recent years and is ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report. As a Hispanic-serving institution, FAU is committed to excellence and innovation, embodying a model where traditional achievement gaps vanish.