Maria Molina, Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, has been awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. The five-year grant, totaling more than $500,000, will support Molina's groundbreaking research on human-AI interaction, specifically how people navigate trust and privacy in their use of generative AI systems.

"This grant is a major milestone in my career," Molina said. "It is the most prestigious grant for early scholars from the National Science Foundation. It is also a very competitive grant, with early scholars across disciplines applying every year. Receiving the award is a recognition of my strong research trajectory."

The NSF CAREER Award recognizes educators who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars, combining innovative research with a deep commitment to education and mentorship. Molina's award places her among an elite group of emerging leaders in science and engineering nationwide.