Florida A&M University was awarded the prize A two-year, $321,000 subaward as part of a national initiative led by the Office of Naval Research aimed at cultivating a diverse and highly skilled STEM workforce. The funding will support efforts to prepare students to address emerging environmental and national security challenges, further positioning Florida A&M at the forefront of research, innovation and workforce development in critical scientific areas.
The semi-award is supported through the Blue Integration Partnership (BIP 2.0), funded by a $9.89 million grant from Purdue University’s Office of Marine Research. Leading the project is Luciano Castillo, Ph.D., Kenninger Professor of Renewable Energy and Energy Systems at Purdue University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Through this collaboration, Florida A&M University will advance student research and workforce development in geoscience, nearshore mapping and artificial intelligence-powered marine sensing. According to Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., the project underscores the university’s commitment to expanding experiential learning opportunities and strengthening federal partnerships that support student success and innovation.
“This project places our students at the intersection of data, the environment and national priorities,” Watson said. “By engaging in applied research with federal and academic partners, they develop the skills and perspectives required to solve complex problems outside the classroom.”
This project Further expands Florida A&M University’s growing portfolio A high-impact research collaboration led by Rosny Jean, Ph.D., associate professor of geospatial and environmental analysis in the FAMU School of the Environment. Jean works closely with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, where he developed the SHIP-AID algorithm. The innovative tool uses deep learning and advanced geospatial analytics to identify and assess underwater threats, highlighting Florida A&M’s role in advancing cutting-edge research at the intersection of environmental science, artificial intelligence and national security.
“This partnership provides great opportunities for our students to work on real-world problems that matter,” said Jean. “Whether they work with geoscience applications, ocean modeling, or advanced machine learning algorithms, our students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in defense innovation and environmental intelligence.”
The project will support a number of high-impact academic and research activities, including student training, research assistantships, onshore fieldwork and advanced computational modeling. These components together will provide Florida A&M University Scholars with Valuable Opportunities collaborate with peers and experts across institutions within a national consortium, strengthen interdisciplinary learning, and expand pathways for research and workforce training.
