GrantEngine Story

Turning TF-IDF & Embeddings into Funding Magic

So picture this: I'm sitting in a group of brilliant minds (Kevin and Damla), and we're brainstorming ways to help researchers snag funding without trawling 1,000,001 websites. One dramatic sip of coffee later, GrantEngine was born.

We’re using a mix of TF-IDF (classic, reliable text analysis) and advanced embedding-based search to match research proposals with relevant grants. It's like a super-charged dating app, but for scientists and sponsors—a match made in AI heaven!

A Fork in the Road: Thesis or Senior Design?

Initially, I considered going the thesis route—an FPGA solution to crypto-scamming (no, I can’t reveal all the top-secret details!). At BU, a thesis must have a substantial research component, faculty approval, and a final defense. But the synergy of a three-person team excited me more. Proposal deadlines coupled with the fact that I wanted to collaborate, share jokes about accidental infinite loops, and present something that all three of us believed in.

Engineering Senior Design at Boston University is a year-long journey. You pitch an idea or they give you a list to choose from, gather teammates, build prototypes, iterate, possibly fail a few times, and then refine until you have something tangible to show. Mentors, real-world sponsors, and peer critiques keep you on your toes.

Progress So Far

We’ve developed a working model that scours grant databases. Our code merges cosine similarity from TF-IDF with embedding-based re-ranking for better accuracy. We’re also planning to add an LLM-based Q&A so professors can quickly ask, “Where can I get a grant for my new quantum hamster wheel project?”

What’s Next?

We’ll keep refining, pitch to actual sponsors soon, and maybe nab some follow-up funding for ourselves! With each late-night coding session, I’m reminded: collaboration is key. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see Damla’s face light up when we finally squash that vector mismatch bug?

Whether you’re forging a thesis alone or diving into Senior Design with a team, BU’s engineering program ensures you have the resources to flourish. I chose the path with maximum pun potential and shared eureka moments. So far, no regrets—just one unstoppable GrantEngine.

—Carther Theogene