Louisiana’s Grambling State University has received new funding to support STEM and other initiatives.
According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the Historically Black College or University (HBCU) was awarded a $350,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) contract through the Gateway to Research Opportunities for the Workforce (GROW) Program. The funding will advance biomedical research, boost STEM skills, and prepare high school and undergraduate students for careers in research and health-related fields.
Specifically, students will be exposed to biological, biomedical, computational, and quantitative sciences and will also learn analytical and scientific communication skills, according to the press release.
“The collaboration between Biological Sciences and Mathematics is designed to expose students to the interdisciplinary approaches increasingly used in biomedical research,” the press release read. “By combining biological sciences with quantitative analysis and data-driven methods, the program will help students build skills that are increasingly important in contemporary research environments.”
At the forefront of the initiative, which launched Sept. 15, are Biological Sciences Department Chair Dr. Dagne Hill (principal investigator) and Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Bassidy Dembele (co-principal investigator). Grambling State University will also support research opportunities, faculty mentoring, academic improvement, professional development, and career exploration.
Furthermore, the program aims to strengthen relationships among students, faculty researchers, and STEM professionals.
“This program gives undergraduate and high school students valuable exposure to research and hands-on scientific experiences,” Dr. Hill said in the news release. “By helping students develop these skills early, we can better prepare them to compete for research-intensive graduate programs and future careers in science and research.”
Theodore Callier, vice president for research and sponsored programs, commented:
“This contract creates additional opportunities for students to participate in meaningful STEM and biomedical research experiences. We are continuing to pursue federal and industry research contracts and cooperative agreements that strengthen student preparation and contribute to the development of a highly skilled STEM workforce.”
This initiative is projected to be completed by August 2028.
