The U.S. National Science Foundation awarded Winston-Salem State University a $370,000 grant to advance its efforts in preparing students for careers in STEM. This funding is part of the NSF’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity program. EPIIC recently announced an investment totaling nearly $19 million to support 48 institutions nationwide, including historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions.
Leading the Way
Dr. Fenghai Guo, a chemistry professor and principal investigator of the grant, will spearhead the project at WSSU. The initiative will involve collaboration with North Arkansas College, Middle Georgia State University, and St. Vincent College to enhance innovation capacity at each institution. The focus will be on fostering external and internal partnerships, creating a more inclusive research and innovation ecosystem, and broadening participation among diverse students in the research enterprise.
Dr. Shawn E. Holt, associate provost for Research & Innovation and co-principal investigator on the grant. He emphasized the significance of this opportunity for WSSU. “Through the leadership of Dr. Fenghai Guo in the Department of Chemistry, this is a tremendous opportunity for WSSU to showcase its talented faculty,” he said. “Dr. Guo and his team are leading three other institutions in an effort to grow external, research-related partnerships to increase workforce development in STEM, and support from NSF will jumpstart the process.”
The SUPER (Strategic University Practices to Expand Research) Partnerships Collaborative project will help cohort institutions implement best practices in building partnerships and developing STEM workforce initiatives. Through the EPIIC project, these institutions will engage with industry experts and government agencies to identify the skills and knowledge required for STEM jobs. Then the information will be used to modify and enhance undergraduates’ educational experiences, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
Other co-principal investigators working alongside Dr. Guo include Jafar Gharavi-Naeini, a chemistry professor; Chad Markert, an associate professor of exercise science; and Tangela Towns, an assistant professor of behavioral sciences.