Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
Shengmin Sang, distinguished professor of functional foods at historically Black North Carolina A&T State University, was awarded a $3.67 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue his research into whole grains and human health. With his research team, Dr. Sang will work to identify unique bioactive compounds found within barley, corn, and brown rice to more accurately measure the intake of each whole grain. The researchers will then use an epidemiological study to correlate biomarkers in five major whole grains to risk factors of cardiometabolic disease.
Karam Jaradat, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at historically Black Howard University in Washington, D.C., received a $780,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to support his research on the thermal behaviors of soils in extreme environments. The funds will go toward the acquisition of major advanced research instruments, which will enable Howard scientists to analyze soil behaviors under realistic heating and freezing conditions.
Alcorn State University in Mississippi received a $50,000 gift from Drax, a renewable energy company, to establish scholarship opportunities for students enrolled in programs within the HBCU’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. The funds aim to reduce financial barriers for students pursuing careers in agriculture, environmental stewardship, food systems, and related scientific fields. Beginning in the upcoming academic year, 20 eligible students will receive financial assistant to support tuition, books, and other educational expenses.
