NNSA expands Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program to strengthen workforce capacity and opportunities

WASHINGTON - The Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has awarded seven federal grants to Minority Serving Institutions in response to Notice of Funding Opportunity DE-FOA-0003285, entitled "Consortia Grant Program."

This funding opportunity for new and renewed applications focuses on building educational capacities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) disciplines at Minority Serving Institutions. The grant awards strengthen educational and research capabilities for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), support a diverse student workforce across the Nuclear Security Enterprise, provide collaborative access between MSIs, and develop graduates in STEM areas of focus. These partnerships provide experiential learning while promoting direct collaborations with a Nuclear Security Enterprise laboratory, plant, and/or site facility.

"NNSA's Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program is advancing education opportunities for underrepresented communities," said Jill Hruby, Undersecretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator. "The investment into minority serving institutions for academic research in STEM education is vital to enable the full talent of our Nation to contribute to nuclear security. We are excited about the positive impacts these grants will have on both students and national security. MSIPP is committed to advancing equity, economic opportunities, and educational excellence."

The seven awards consist of the following projects focusing on furthering technical knowledge in advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, engineering, and nuclear security.

• An MSI-Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Partnership Program for the Development and Screening of Nanostructured Zirconate Analogues for Immobilization of Nuclear Fuel Waste (ZAIN) is led by the University of New Mexico in partnership with Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University and Prairie View Agriculture and Mechanical University. The DOE/NNSA collaborators are Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. ZAIN is a new consortium focused on developing knowledge, skills, and systems in nuclear waste materials. This innovative project, supporting nuclear waste management and nuclear waste stability, is the first of its kind with MSIPP.
• Consortium for Research and Education in Power and Energy Systems (CREPES) is led by Florida International University in partnership with the Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical University and the University of Texas at El Paso. The DOE/NNSA collaborators are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. CREPES is a renewal partnership providing innovative research and educational platforms in power, nuclear engineering, and cyber systems.
• Nuclear Security Science and Technology Consortium (NSSTC) is led by the University of Nevada at Las Vegas in partnership with the University of New Mexico and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The DOE/NNSA collaborators are Argonne National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Nevada National Security Sites. NSSTC is a renewal partnership that will continue to strengthen key science, technology, and engineering capabilities.
• PARTNERShip and Training for NNSA Engineering and Relevant Sciences (PARTNERS) is led by the University of Central Florida, in partnership with the University of California at Irvine, and Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University. The DOE/NNSA collaborators are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. PARTNERS is a new consortium that will support students in underrepresented communities to earn engineering degrees. Students will gain experience working with the Nuclear Security Enterprise conducting research in support of NNSA.
• QUantum Integrated Cyber Knowledge Simulation, Training, Advanced Research, and Technology (QUICKSTART) is led by the University of Central Florida in partnership with Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University and Seminole State College of Florida. The DOE/NNSA collaborator is Y-12 National Security Complex. QUICKSTART is a new consortium focused on developing experiential learning opportunities in cybersecurity, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain technologic, and other emerging cyber facets.
• Scholarly Partnership in Nuclear Engineering (SPINE) is led by Morgan State University in partnership with Navajo Technical University and University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus. The DOE/NNSA collaborators are Idaho National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory. SPINE is a new consortium that will develop new training and state-of-the-art research capabilities in nuclear sensors and advanced manufacturing.
• Tri-State Consortium for Resilient Automation and Cybersecurity System (TRACS) is led by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in partnership with Tennessee State University and South Carolina State University. The DOE/NNSA collaborators are Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory. TRACS is a new consortium that will develop and provide students experience in automation and machine learning, information science, and cybersecurity. Students from HBCUs will work with the Nuclear Security Enterprise to enhance their skills in STEM fields in support of the NNSA's mission.

Click here to learn more about MSIPP at NNSA.