IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arlington, VA – The Department of Defense (DoD) announced awards to 45 minority-serving institutions totaling $25.8 million as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2018 DoD Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCUs/MSIs) Research and Education Program. The selected institutions will conduct basic research with student support in scientific disciplines critical to national security and the DoD. Awards ranging from $300,000 to $600,000 will support three-year research projects with up to four students per project each year. The announcement is the result of a merit competition administered by the Army Research Office under policy and guidance of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) with participation from the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. All awards will be made by the Army Research Office.
The goals of the DoD HBCU/MSI program are to enhance research programs and capabilities in scientific and engineering disciplines critical to the national security functions of DoD; enhance the capacity of HBCU/MSI to participate in DoD research programs and activities; and increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) important to the defense mission.
"The HBCU/MSI Program is a vital component in the department's basic research enterprise. The research efforts are aligned with the department's most important science and technology interests, and the student researchers ultimately graduate into essential STEM fields,” said Evelyn Kent, DoD HBCU/MSI program director. “In addition to contributing to the defense technology base, the program facilitates research dialogue among the department's laboratories and HBCU/MSI faculty, and it supports underrepresented minority students toward research careers.”
The FY 2018 Funding Opportunity Announcement received 139 eligible proposals with combined requested funding totaling $80 million. Applications were evaluated by the three Service research offices, and the most meritorious were selected for awards. Award recipients represent 27 HBCUs and 18 MSIs and support the research interests of OUSD(R&E) and all three Services. All awards are subject to the successful completion of negotiations between DoD and the academic institutions.
