Virginia State University Awarded $3 Million To Establish Research Center For Engineering Students

The center will provide new educational and career opportunities while addressing the underrepresentation of African Americans in the field of Engineering-Computer Science.

Virginia State University is proud to announce that the College of Engineering and Technology has been awarded $3 million from the National Science Foundation to establish the Trojan Center for Emerging Engineering Research. The center will enhance the academic journey of VSU undergraduate engineering/computer science students and better prepare them for the Engineering-Computer Science (ENG-CS) workforce.

By participating in the center, students will receive high-level training that will equip them with the tools and skills necessary for successful careers within the ENG-CS industry. The project will also assist with competency gaps in the skills of ENG-CS graduates to the essential expectations of their employers.

"We are extremely grateful for this grant from the National Science Foundation to create the Trojan Center for Emerging Engineering Research," said Dr. Ali Ansari, Engineering Professor and the project's principal investigator. "The VSU College of Engineering and Technology already does an outstanding job of preparing students for the workforce, but this center will take the preparation to new heights. The center will expose students to valuable resources, including career coaching and internships, as well as research and study abroad experiences."

In addition to the enhanced training and preparation provided to students, the project seeks to address the underrepresentation gap of African Americans in the ENG-CS workforce. According to the career site Zippia, African Americans comprised only 3.3 percent of Engineers in 2021.

This project will strengthen the University's research efforts and increase the number of ENG-CS graduates with improved competency and marketability while also realigning the engineering curriculum with innovative technologies.

Implementing the Trojan Center for Emerging Engineering Research is scheduled to begin in November 2024, with an expected completion in October 2029. The collaborative project is led by Dean Dr. Dawit Haile and Dr. Ali Ansari. The co-PIs include Drs. Nasser Ghariban, Jahangir Ansari, Zhenhua Wu from Manufacturing Engineering, and Dr. Tracy Walker from Educational Leadership.

Prospective students interested in learning more about the VSU College of Engineering and Technology are encouraged to visit https://www.vsu.edu/cet/.