The NaphCare Charitable Foundation has pledged a gift of $453,000 in support of Auburn University’s cutting-edge research initiatives to provide for enhanced facilities and fund ongoing research within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

The gift will specifically fund new lab equipment for Associate Professor Anh Nguyen in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering whose research is focused on understanding and eliminating bias in artificial intelligence (AI). Technological advancements in AI, and specifically facial recognition, are a trending area of research as more academic researchers and technology companies strive to remove racial and gender bias to improve AI models and make them more equitable.

“I’m very grateful for and excited by the support from the NaphCare Charitable Foundation, which will enable our group to double our computing equipment required to perform state-of-the-art research on artificial intelligence,” Dr. Nguyen said. “The support will help us attract more talent to the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering to perform high-impact, innovative research on facial recognition – an application indispensable now in many areas including transportation, healthcare and manufacturing.”

In recognition of the generous gift, Auburn University will rename a laboratory within the College of Engineering to the NaphCare Charitable Foundation Laboratory.

“It is through generous philanthropic partners, such as NaphCare, that we are able to offer the best student-centered engineering education and support leading research that improves quality of life and fosters economic competitiveness,” said Christopher B. Roberts, dean of engineering. ”I am so grateful for NaphCare’s generosity and commitment to the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.”

The NaphCare Charitable Foundation strives to enable and encourage future leaders and agents of change. The partnership between the NaphCare Charitable Foundation and Auburn Engineering highlights the ways in which both entities aim to make a positive impact in local, state and national communities.

“NaphCare is proud to play a part in the ongoing efforts of Dr. Nguyen and Auburn through our charitable foundation, which is focused on supporting higher education,” said Jim McLane, NaphCare, Inc. founder and chairman of the board.