Rep. Norcross Announces Federal Grants for South Jersey University
Washington, DC-Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced two separate National Science Foundation (NSF) grants awarded to Rowan University College of Engineering, totaling more than $750,000.
“These awards aren’t just investments in our local students—but investments in technology, the economy, even the safety & security of our nation. These funds will go a long way helping us achieve important objectives in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” said Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01).
“Both of these grants highlight Rowan University’s commitment to education and to research and its emphasis on further developing its strong STEM initiatives. One grant finances state-of-the-art equipment necessary for research in engineering and science, and the other supports work in a growing field that impacts virtually every organization in today’s technology-driven world.” said Dr. Ali Houshmand, president, Rowan University.
The first award, in the amount of amount of $299,930, will fund a program entitled: Engaging STEM education with Big Data Analytics and Technologies: A Rowan-COVE Initiative.
“This program will provide much-needed training to our engineering students in Big Data, a fast-growing field that has been traditionally largely inaccessible. Big Data analytics and technologies hold tremendous promise to boost economic productivity, improve energy efficiency, enhance national security, thwart terrorists and improve the quality of life,” said Dr. Nidhal Bouaynaya, associate professor and graduate coordinator, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering.
The proposal is a collaborative effort between Rowan University and Palmyra Cove Environmental Education Foundation, in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lockheed Martin, to integrate Big Data analytics and technologies across the engineering curriculum and develop related activities for K-12 outreach.
The second grant award, in the amount of $451,500, will fund a program entitled MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope for Research and Education.
“This NSF MRI award will be used for the acquisition of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for interdisciplinary research and education at Rowan University. This state-of-the-art SEM will have broad and significant impact on researchers from different backgrounds with diverse research interests. It will enhance current research projects in the areas of energy, nanotechnology, biomedical devices and several other areas of materials research. It will facilitate inter- and intra-institutional research collaborations. In addition, the SEM will help grow graduate programs and strengthen undergraduate curricula. It will be used by many researchers including those from groups typically underrepresented in STEM areas,” said Dr. Wei Xue, assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
On August 31, Rep. Norcross announced a separate National Science Foundation grant award to Rowan University College of Engineering. To read more about that announcement, click here.
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Congressman Donald Norcross is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Budget Committee, and serves as Assistant Whip in the 114th Congress.