The Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration has announced new grants totaling $40.8 million to minority-serving institutions. The efforts are designed to support the development of a diverse stream of students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

The new consortia include the Partnership for Radiation Studies (PARS), led by Alabama A&M University, involving partnerships with Fisk University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Savannah River National Laboratory. The consortium creates a pathway for minority students by supporting research and student training opportunities in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration national laboratories.

The Gulf Coast Consortium: Materials-At-The-Extreme – Material Science for Extreme Environments, led by Florida A&M University, involves partnerships with Prairie View A&M, Sandia National Laboratories, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. MATE increases research and education opportunities to foster effective relationships with institutions focused on advanced material processing, fostering student growth, and establishing career pathways. In addition, MATE will develop a future advanced materials program expected to provide a sustainable support model for minority-serving institution students through graduate school.

The Rio Grande Consortium for Advanced Research on Exascale Simulation, led by the University of New Mexico, involves partnerships with Prairie View A&M University, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, New Mexico State University of Texas El Paso, and Sandia National Laboratories. The team aims to develop a sustainable workforce pathway for students trained in advanced Modeling and Simulation by bolstering an in-depth understanding of multiphysics concepts from multiple disciplines through research and an innovative curriculum.

The Consortium for Education and Research in Electronics for Extreme Environments (E3C), led by the University of Texas at El Paso, involves partnerships with North Carolina A&T State University, the University of New Mexico, Kansas City National Security Campus, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. E3C offers underrepresented minority (URM) electrical engineers a variety of educational opportunities in technology transfer, research programs, and career development.

The Consortium for Research and Education in Cyber Manufacturing Applications for Modular Nuclear Reactors (CMA-MNuR), led by Florida International University, involves partnerships with Alabama A&M University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Central Florida, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory. CMA-MNuR aims to advance cyber-manufacturing technologies in support of nuclear technologies. In addition, CMA-MNuR develops STEM students using education and training in the nuclear industry, preparing a diverse workforce for NNSA.

Beginning in the summer of 2023, rising juniors and seniors from Howard University will pair with leading cancer research institutes. The announcement was made last fall by the historically Black research university in Washington, D.C., and 5 For The Fight, a global non-profit dedicated to ending cancer.

The new partnership between Howard University and 5 for the Fight aims to create the next generation of diverse cancer researchers. The 5 For The Fight Cancer Research Internship is a 10-week summer internship program that will pair rising juniors and seniors from Howard University with leading cancer research institutes.

According to Howard’s The Dig,  the inaugural group of interns will be 10 Howard University students who will begin work this summer. They will all work within the cancer research laboratories at the University of Utah. Initial funding for the partnership came from the Kahlert Foundation.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced its AgDiscovery summer outreach would run from June 11-24. The program targets rising 9th-12th grade students interested in animal science, veterinary medicine, and related fields. According to FAMU AgDiscovery, the program gives students different experiences in animal science to help them refine their career paths and the opportunity to apply for early admission to FAMU.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University announced last week that three students and a recent graduate are participating in spring semester internships with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as part of its Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) internship program.

Faith Baldwin, Carmen Haywood, Jaylah James ’22, and Anirea Ortiz are working on a project with the Division of Public Health during their eight-week internships, including work in their assigned project area and weekly seminars, presentation practice, and an immersion event at the end of the internship experience. According to N.C. A&T News, the American Rescue PlanAct’ss Public Health Workforce Development Initiative funds their internships.

Baldwin is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Haywood is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management from the College of Business and Economics. James earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Health and Human Sciences. Finally, Ortiz is a senior pursuing a B.S. in applied engineering technology from the College of Science and Technology.