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Saint Vincent College secures $370,000 grant from National Science Foundation

Saint Vincent College secures $370,000 grant from National Science Foundation

by Public Relations | October 02, 2024

LATROBE, PA – Saint Vincent College, in association with three other institutions of higher education, recently secured a $370,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The grant, which will be awarded over three years, is part of NSF’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity program. It aims to enable colleges and universities to increase their research capacity, expand external partnerships with regional industry and broaden participation in innovation systems that advance key technologies.

Saint Vincent is collaborating with Winston-Salem State University, a public university in North Carolina that is among the 107 institutions designated as Historically Black Colleges and Universities; North Arkansas College, a public community college; and Middle Georgia State University, a public university.

At Saint Vincent, the principal investigators for the grant were Dr. Mary Regina Boland, C’10, assistant professor of data science; Fr. Michael Antonacci, O.S.B., C’07, S’14, assistant professor of physics; and Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Science, Mathematics and Computing.

“This grant is a very exciting opportunity for us to identify what the barriers are within our institution that keep us from emerging in more external grant opportunities,” Jodis said. “It will help us strengthen our connections to local industry to better understand their specific needs in incorporating innovations into their organizations.”

Saint Vincent will begin by conducting surveys externally (local corporate partners) and internally (faculty and staff) to determine the best ways to determine need, identify barriers and leverage opportunities to conduct research and connect with students.

“We see this as a steppingstone toward [securing] more NSF funding,” Boland said. “By collaborating with our partner institutions, we are stronger together.”

That could put the Boyer School in a position to accomplish larger projects, such as establishing programs to engage with STEM students in local high schools and creating microcredential programs—short, focused courses that teach skills that are targeted at niche industry needs, such as quantum computing.

“This NSF grant is going to support us as Boyer School faculty to take that next step,” Fr. Michael said. “Whether it's [setting up] a bridge program to local high school students or applying for a research grant, we’re preparing to be able to do that more effectively in the future.”

Photo of Fr. Michael Antonacci and Dr. Mary Regina Boland in a classroom at Saint Vincent College writing notes on a blackboard

Photo of Fr. Michael Antonacci and Dr. Mary Regina Boland working at a computer

Photos: Fr. Michael Antonacci (left) and Dr. Mary Regina Boland.

 

 

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