HUNTSVILLE — NASA has awarded Alabama A&M University a $1.2 million grant to expand programs supporting students who have been historically underrepresented and underserved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Alabama A&M is among six minority-serving institutions sharing $7.2 million in grants from NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) and the National Science Foundation to address disparities in STEM and strengthen diversity across engineering fields.
“The project is scheduled to run for three years,” said Dr. Yujian Fu, principal investigator and computer science professor. “The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable pathway for female and underrepresented minority students to enter NASA careers by enhancing STEM education, increasing retention and graduation rates, and providing real-world experience through NASA internships and capstone projects.”
Dr. Majed El-Dweik, vice president of research & economic development, has been instrumental in driving this project forward. Co-principal investigator Dr. Xiaoqing (Cathy) Qian said Alabama A&M has strategic partnerships with NASA and collaborators Bondware and Jacobs Space Exploration Group dedicated to diversifying NASA’s future workforce. This initiative emphasizes space sciences, AI and robotics.
“Students will be engaged through various hands-on activities, including NASA-focused projects integrated into their courses, internships, research opportunities, and mentorships with NASA and industry professionals,” said Fu. “These experiences are designed to increase retention and graduation rates while preparing them for NASA-related careers.”
The project is supported by a team of faculty, including Dr. Padmaja Guggilla; Computer Science Assistant Professor Dr. Ed Pearson; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Associate Professor Dr. Raziq Yaqub, and Mathematics Associate Professor and Coordinator Dr. Yinshu Wu.
Fu said faculty will play a critical role in developing curriculum modules that integrate space science and AI, guiding minority students, especially female students in engineering, through NASA-focused capstone projects, internships, and preparing them for professional conferences. This support is essential to opening doors for minority and female students to succeed and thrive in engineering and space science fields.
“This award is an opportunity to significantly impact the future of STEM education and NASA’s workforce diversity,” said Qian. “It also enhances the College of Engineering, Technology and Physical Sciences in preparing minority students for high-demand STEM careers, particularly in space exploration.
“It enables us to make meaningful contributions to both students’ career prospects and NASA’s mission.”
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