May 15, 2019

Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More than $1.5 Million in Awards for Research at Maryland HBCUs

National Science Foundation invests in African-American Research Faculty and Students at Morgan State University and Bowie State University

United States Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced the award of more than $1.5 million in federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research at two of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Morgan State University will receive close to $1.25 million for a project aimed at broadening opportunities for African-American students to succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, entitled “PERSIST – Pathways to Enhance Retention of Students in Science to Transition.” Bowie State University will receive a $300,000 award to empower junior and mid-level faculty to expand the institution’s research capacity through a project entitled “Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms Preceding the Aging Skeletal Muscle Phenotype.” Both grant awards begin in June of 2019.

“These groundbreaking programs at Morgan State and Bowie State underscore the great work HBCUs are doing to encourage students interested in STEM – and this investment will boost their work and our entire economy,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees. “Ending racial disparity in STEM fields and giving students a pathway to success is critical for Maryland’s future, and I will continue working in Congress to make sure that we have the resources needed to provide the best education possible.”

“I applaud Morgan State University and Bowie State University for being recognized by the National Science Foundation for their work in increasing the diversity of our STEM pipeline. These federal grant awards rightly recognize both the high caliber of the current researchers at these institutions, as well as the importance of ongoing federal investment to address racial disparities among researchers and students in the sciences,” said Senator Cardin. 

Summaries of the projects along with other information will soon be available via the NSF here (Morgan State University) and here (Bowie State University).

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports research, innovation, and discovery that provides the foundation for economic growth in this country. By advancing the frontiers of science and engineering, our nation can develop the knowledge and cutting edge technologies needed to address the challenges we face today and will face in the future.

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