A WORLD OF DISCOVERY

Cutting-Edge Research Nets $52 Million

External research support is vital to the development of students, faculty and society. Tuskegee University has a rich research foundation and a long-standing reputation as one of the nation’s premier minority research institutions. The university’s centers of excellence; academic colleges and other institutional units, faculty, staff and students are engaged in research that is critical in addressing the needs of communities, industries and governments.

Tuskegee received 199 grants for research; amounting to nearly $52 million in funded research projects and representing a more than 25 percent increase from the previous year. Six faculty members also were awarded patents, which confirms our faculty’s thought leadership and innovation. These funded research projects represent a high volume of research activity for a small private institution.

Our faculty continues developing cutting-edge research projects, identifying funding sources and submitting winning proposals. We also commend the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Office of Business Affairs staff for their enthusiastic support of the researchers in the grant application process.

These grants and contracts help fulfill Tuskegee University’s research mission and enhance our academic programs. The university’s Ph.D. programs in Materials Science and Integrative Biosciences are prime examples of programs that are offered solely based on the expertise and resources developed by the faculty members. Our long-term plan focuses on actively expanding research in the areas of Nanobiotechnology; information technology; environmental science and engineering; energy; astronomy; sensors and devices; molecular biology; immunology; public health; toxicology; epidemiology; reproductive and environmental biology; and modeling and simulations.

Meeting the Demand

Tuskegee University’s Material Science program has grown over the past 20 years from offering an undergraduate concentration to awarding master’s and doctorate degrees. The program has received more than $40 million in funding since its inception.

Material Science is essential in determining how any product is created and used. Researchers investigate the capability of materials to determine the most effective and efficient ways to use them. These researchers use their expertise in science to determine how to create and modify material mixtures to meet precise requirements for products to be used for specific purposes. The researchers use state-of-the-art equipment to characterize materials at the nanoscale for composites and polymers, and for the optimum fabrication for desired use and application.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the Materials Science department to partner with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (UNLMRSEC) to establish a world-class collaborative research program to develop multiferroic polymer nanocomposites for structural, energy and sensing applications. The program aims to provide high-quality research and educational opportunities to increase recruitment, retention, and graduation of advanced degree students from underrepresented groups in the emerging field of materials science and engineering.

NSF also funded the CREST Center for Sustainable Lightweight Advanced Materials (C-SLAM), which is an interdisciplinary research center that will work to create the next generation of advanced green sustainable materials and products with properties comparable to nonbiodegradable materials. These advancements not only will contribute to the emerging field of sustainable and lightweight advanced materials, but also will work toward reducing our carbon footprint and alleviating impact of global warming.

These NSF grants and other funded research projects demonstrate the tremendous impact Tuskegee University’s Materials Science program is making in conservation, manufacturing, U.S. defense and beyond. The program is nationally competitive and is an example of the university’s continued prestige as a top-tier research institution.

Computer Science Program Receives Prestigious Designation from Homeland Security and NSA in Cyber Security

Tuskegee University’s cybersecurity program has achieved an extraordinary milestone as it receives the designation of National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) from the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. This recognition, extending through the academic year 2027, solidifies Tuskegee’s position as a leading institution in training future cybersecurity professionals.

The cybersecurity program is an integral part of Tuskegee University’s National Center of Information Assurance Education (CIAE), housed within the College of Business and Information Science. It serves as a crucial component of our nation’s defense against cyber threats that aim to disrupt daily life and jeopardize critical infrastructure.

Designed to address the current and future demands for information assurance professionals, the cybersecurity degree program aims to fortify the United States’ information infrastructure. With increasing vulnerabilities in internal control systems and external network attacks, businesses face pressing security challenges. Tuskegee’s program equips students with the necessary skills to counter these threats effectively.

The master’s in information systems and computer program spans 30 credit hours and offers specialized training in cybersecurity and data science. One of the program’s primary objectives, achieving the CAE-CD designation, has already been accomplished, highlighting the program’s excellence and commitment to cybersecurity education.

The program’s other objectives include:

4 Enhancing and expanding the undergraduate curriculum in cybersecurity.

4 Strengthening the Master Program in Information Systems and Computer Security.

4 Securing external funding to support activities such as research, training, and scholarships.

4 Providing cybersecurity training to students and the local community.

4 Promoting public awareness of the educational and research efforts underway at CIAE.

The Tuskegee University Information Assurance and Cyber Defense (IACD) partners include Mississippi State University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and North Carolina A&T State University. This collaborative approach fosters knowledge sharing and strengthens the collective ability to combat cyber threats.

College of Engineering Develops Pipeline Program for Cyber Workforce

The cybersecurity program at Tuskegee University made history in the fall of 2018 by becoming the first historically Black college and university (HBCU) engineering program to offer an emphasis in cyber security.

Dr. Heshmat Aglan, Dean of the College of Engineering, highlighted the significance of the new program, stating, “Our new computer engineering program positions Tuskegee University in a unique niche to provide leadership in cybersecurity studies.”

Since its inception, the cybersecurity program has been actively engaged in education and outreach initiatives. In the summer of 2022, the Computer Science Department hosted an academy for high school teachers and students, raising awareness about cyber threats and prevention strategies. The university also organized a JROTC Summer Academy, teaching computer fundamentals and cybersecurity concepts to JROTC cadets.

Students interested in pursuing cybersecurity studies at Tuskegee University can apply for scholarships sponsored by CyberCorps. The Scholarship for Service Program: Strengthening the National Cyber Security Workforce offers tuition assistance, stipends, and professional development allowances to undergraduate and graduate students in their final years of study.

With this prestigious designation and its commitment to education, collaboration, and outreach, Tuskegee University’s cybersecurity program is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in strengthening the national cybersecurity workforce and addressing the evolving challenges of the digital landscape.

Tuskegee Partners on Cancer Research

Tuskegee University and Morehouse School of Medicine have embarked on a partnership that will make a difference in many lives, especially those in the Black community.

The partnership, which also includes the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The five-year, $18 million grant will focus on intervention and prevention for underserved communities around the Southeast. Georgia and Alabama are home to some of the country’s highest mortality rates from cancer, and many Black and rural residents face disparities in cancer treatment, including participation in clinical trials.

The grant will allow researchers to work on implementing precision cancer medicine, and conducting cancer research, education, and training programs to try to understand the cause of cancer disparities. In addition, researchers will engage the community to identify other areas where research and education are needed, and assure evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies.

“This award will provide a catalyst to bring a number of nationally recognized standard of care services to cancer patients in rural areas while conducting research to improve cancer patient outcomes continually,” said Dr. Clayton Yates, former director of Tuskegee’s multidisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research.

All three institutions are committed to working with underserved communities, particularly those in the Southeastern United States, and this partnership is designed to bolster that work. The program focuses on cancer health disparities and reducing the cancer burden, and each arm of the partnership brings an aspect to supplement the strengths of the other two partners.

The programs at Morehouse School of Medicine and Tuskegee University are designed to establish cancer research programs and, at Tuskegee, to develop a group of minority investigators, while the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s objective will include the expansion of research into cancer disparity.

“Culture, environment, health care access, socioeconomics, and population-specific genetic differences play a large role in cancer health disparities,” said Dr. Upender Manne, lead investigator and professor in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Department of Pathology.

“Our efforts are focused on addressing this problem by increasing cancer research and cancer education, the number of students/ investigators of minority background engaged in cancer research and the number of investigators addressing cancer health disparities. We are also developing and implementing cancerrelated activities that benefit those underserved communities.”

The research partnership was initially funded by the National Cancer Institute as a collaborative grant in 2006, and in its current iteration, will allow the three entities to learn how patient navigation and bioethical concerns influence the enrollment of minority patients in clinical trials.

The partnership has three cores: administrative, planning and evaluation, and developmental. The developmental core houses four programs: cancer research, training, outreach, and education, and the Cancer Outreach Program will work to increase minority participation in therapeutic clinical trials.

“Tuskegee University is proud to partner with UAB and Morehouse School of Medicine and collaborate in this significant research affecting so many in the black-belt region and country,” said Tuskegee President Charlotte P. Morris. “This grant will provide our faculty the resources needed to continue their groundbreaking research in the fight to combat cancer disparities that disproportionately affect minority communities.”

Amazon Provides Training, Scholarships

Tuskegee University received $1.2 million from Amazon to provide scholarships and create education and training opportunities in various disciplines such as mechatronics/ robotics, supply chain and logistics. The College of Business and Information Science will lead the supply chain initiative, and the College of Engineering will lead the Mechatronics/ Robotics program. Mechatronics is the use of electromechanical equipment and devices for automation and production.

The partnership also established an Amazon leadership pipeline for Tuskegee University students.

Tuskegee is grateful for this partnership and for Amazon’s investment in the educational curriculum and training of students and for providing financial support to retain and graduate more students. Students will be immersed in the emerging technology of mechatronics and learn more about optimizing supply chain and logistical operations for consumer products businesses.

Amazon’s support will help develop and enhance a Mechatronic Laboratory (the integration of electromechanical systems) that are commonly found in fabrication facilities and logistics. The support also will enhance the Supply Chain and Logistics Lab to expose students to the intricacies of the life cycle of product design through delivery to the customer. Students will have training opportunities to engage in cutting-edge technology and business practices that Amazon is known for while preparing them for career opportunities with Amazon. The partnership also will allow students to gain decision-making experience through classroom and lab simulation for design, distribution, risk assessment and efficient operations of goods through the fulfillment center and the complete product chain.

Tuskegee University alumni Leonard Spencer and Kennedy

Oates were instrumental in the Amazon partnership development by advocating for Amazon’s investment in the university. This is a testament to the university’s loyal alumni who remain committed to their alma mater and who graciously support the university financially, by identifying opportunities to enhance academic programs and improve students’ job prospects after graduation.

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