Alabama State University Received $600,000 in Funding from DOD

Alabama State University has received a three-year grant award from the U. S. Department of Defense (DOD) in the amount of $600,000 to support research on “Lightweight Multifunctional Advanced Materials.” The goal of this science and technology grant research is to develop fundamental materials to be used for the next generation of U.S. Air Force systems and for advanced aircraft such as the cutting-edge F-35.  Such military systems, and advanced aircraft require materials that are lightweight, durable and multifunctional, which ASU researchers will assist with providing to the government.

The ASU faculty members who helped bring this grant to the University is Dr. Derrick Dean (its principal investigator), who is a professor of Biomedical Engineering and director of the Integrated Bioengineering and Advanced Materials Center; and Dr. Elijah Nyairo, an instructor of Chemistry, who will serve as its co-principal investigator.

Dean said that ASU was selected for this grant because of a solicitation he noticed from the DOD’s Historically Black College & Universities Research and Education program.

“This is great for the University because it will expand the types of research being conducted here at ASU,” Dean said.  “It will also further strengthen the research capacity at Alabama State University and enhance the visibility of the University in new and different research networks,” he added.

GRANT ASSISTS AIR FORCE & ASU

This project will greatly assist the U. S. Air Force in accomplishing its strategic research, educational and manpower development goals, and will additionally help ASU to further develop and enhance its research capacity and infrastructure. It will also significantly leverage ASU’s facilities to produce innovative, multifunctional and multi-scale materials.

This grant also benefits the University’s most important base – its student’s welfare and knowledge.

“The University’s number-one goal is to help its students and this grant does that by providing scholarships for up to four students, who will be exposed to cutting-edge research, and help provide a pipeline of scientists and engineers prepared to immediately contribute to helping the U. S. Air Force and Dept. of Defense fulfill its mission,” Dean said.