In October 2020, Alabama A&M University announced a new grant totaling $2.96 million over three years from the Department of Defense National Defense Education Program.

According to Alabama A&M, the aim of the project is to develop a support system that will nurture the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent pipeline for defense areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, 5G, biotechnology, autonomy, cryptography, directed energy, microelectronics, and quantum science/computing.

Guided by retired Army research scientist Paul Ruffin, Ph.D., Alabama A&M’s National Defense Education Program proposal was among a dozen selected for funding out of almost 200 submissions.

Ruffin, in addition to being the principal investigator, is an Alabama A&M alumnus, adjunct professor, and chief scientist for AAMU-RISE, which leverages all research disciplines at Alabama A&M University.

Last week, Alabama A&M University announced that local students are encouraged to apply for the 2021 fall session of the National Defense Education Program at Alabama A&M.

The program will enable participants to learn, participate in and explore STEM while “jumpstarting” their professional development and preparation for opportunities in defense department fields.

Leading participants will be invited to take part in paid internships with Alabama A&M faculty. The application deadline is August 18. Click here for more information.