Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan announced Virginia State University (VSU) will receive $693,664 to support its Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Research and Collaboration Exchange Project.
VSU seeks to create an online HBCU-focused platform to amplify existing research capacity by connecting researchers across HBCUs to other investigators, projects and equipment. The partnering institutions will pilot the project to create a multilayer platform by developing an expertise and resource directory representative of all researchers at the respective institutions, in addition to raising awareness.
“Virginia State University’s new project will spur research innovation across HBCUs, creating new opportunities for students and strengthening collaboration,” McClellan, who represents Virginia’s District 4, said. “I commend VSU for its vision and desire to strengthen research at HBCU institutions nationwide. I thank the National Science Foundation for this award and applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for its ongoing commitment to HBCUs.”
The federal funding was awarded from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advancing Research Capacity at HBCUs through Exploration and Innovation (ARC-HBCU) Program, which seeks to foster collaboration and sustainable networks to facilitate interdisciplinary research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at HBCUs.