# CAREER: Sparse Linear Algebra as a Scalable Computational Paradigm

> **NSF 01002930DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Cornell University (NY) · $735,079

## Abstract

Scientific discovery increasingly relies on the ability to analyze datasets of unprecedented scale and complexity. In genomics, studies that once examined a few thousand individuals now aim to analyze millions. Computing systems capable of handling this scale exist but using them effectively requires expertise in parallel programming and modern accelerator architectures, which most scientists lack. As a result, important scientific questions remain unanswered because computations would take weeks or months to complete. This award addresses that gap by establishing sparse linear algebra as a unifying abstraction for scientists to express their computations in a standard form, enabling portable execution on evolving computing hardware. By lowering the barrier to advanced computing systems, the project will accelerate discovery in data-intensive sciences while strengthening the United States workforce in high-performance computing. A central component is an undergraduate training program that recruits students from across the United States to participate in international supercomputing competitions, creating a pipeline of talent prepared to use the computing facilities in which the nation has invested.

This project develops a systematic methodology for mapping irregular scientific computations onto sparse linear algebra primitives, enabling portable execution across heterogeneous systems, including CPUs, GPUs, and emerging architectures. The project advances three research thrusts. The first develops methods to automatically translate domain code into sparse linear algebra, using a semantic-signature layer that abstracts over syntactic variations of common computational motifs and equality saturation to rewrite code into canonical sparse-primitive form. The second identifies sparsity structure and algebraic provenance from code and uses these properties to specialize sparse primitives. The third extends these application-aware primitives to distributed memory throug

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2542947
- **Awardee organization:** Cornell University (NY)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G56PUALJ3KT5
- **PI:** Giulia Guidi
- **Primary program:** 01002930DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Artificial Intelligence (AI), CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev
- **Estimated total:** $735,079
- **Funds obligated:** $425,666
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2026 → 06/30/2031

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2542947

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2542947, CAREER: Sparse Linear Algebra as a Scalable Computational Paradigm. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2542947. Licensed CC0.

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