# Collaborative Research: SHF: Small: Fault Localization for Deep Learning

> **NSF 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Oakland University (MI) · $223,992

## Abstract

This project will study deep learning, a class of machine learning algorithms based on deep neural networks (DNNs) that are becoming increasingly popular due to their successful applications in many areas, such as healthcare, transportation, and entertainment. DNN programs, like any other software, may contain faults that might undermine their safety and reliability in mission-critical applications. Software engineering research has produced a rich body of software fault localization techniques; however, they are not immediately applicable to DNNs. This is mainly because traditional software and DNN models are based on fundamentally different computational models, and the definition of “bug” differs in the two kinds of software. The project will improve fault localization for DNNs with novel approaches for monitoring model behavior during the training of the neural networks. DNN models are also used by practitioners who may not be experts in DNN architecture, and fault localization techniques proposed by this project have the potential to make debugging DNN more accessible, improving the safety and quality of AI-based software. Training DNN models is known to be expensive. This project has the potential to reduce training costs by identifying errors early on that can be rectified.

This project will explore three novel research directions. (1) Identify dynamic behavior of DNN models that need to be reified in traces. The preliminary work of the investigators has shown that reifying the dynamic behavior of fully connected neural networks (FCNN), such as changes in learnable parameters help with bug localization in FCNN; however, other model architectures like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have different kinds of learnable parameters. (2) Define novel abstractions of dynamic behaviors in DNN models that will enhance fault localization and repair. This research direction will explore the development of new abstractions that can represent the dynamic behavior o

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2419883
- **Awardee organization:** Oakland University (MI)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJTLACN81NK1
- **PI:** Mohammad Wardat
- **Primary program:** 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Artificial Intelligence (AI), SMALL PROJECT, SOFTWARE ENG & FORMAL METHODS
- **Estimated total:** $223,992
- **Funds obligated:** $223,992
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 06/01/2026 → 05/31/2029

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2419883

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2419883, Collaborative Research: SHF: Small: Fault Localization for Deep Learning. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-16 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2419883. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NSF Awards dataset](/datasets/nsf-awards) · CC0 1.0*