Here is this week’s news of grants to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
Historically Black Alcorn State University received a three-year, $554,958 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense for a project entitled, “Novel Pathways of Mitochondrial Ribosome Assembly.” The project will conduct research examining the processes of producing energy to sustain mentally demanding physical and mental tasks which can become an issue for older soldiers.
John Dabiri, a professor of aeronautics and bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology is the principal investigator on a three-year project funded by the Office of Naval Research on vertical-axis wind turbines. Dr. Dabiri’s research has shown that these small, less complex turbines can be efficient if grouped in proper formations. Dr. Dabiri is a summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University and holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from CalTech.
Tennessee State University, the historically Black educational institution in Nashville, received a $200,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation for a research project to boost sustainability in strawberry production. Tennessee State will be working with 17 other land-grant universities on the $2.64 million project that is being led by scientists at the University of Arkansas.
Historically Black Grambling State University in Louisiana received a five-year, $1.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund its Minority Access to Research Careers program which seeks to provide opportunities for minority students in the university’s Honors Program to pursue graduate degree opportunities in STEM disciplines.
Johnson C. Smith University, the historically Black educational institution in Charlotte, North Carolina, received a $616,000 grant from the National Science Foundation that will be used for scholarships for students in STEM fields.
