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National Science Foundation Awards Morgan State University Nearly $3 Million in Research Grants To-Date in FY25

by Morgan State U
November 22, 2024

Funding Supports Critical Research Activity Across Multiple Industries, Boosts University’s Research Expenditures

 

BALTIMORE — In what is amounting to a banner year for Maryland’s designated Preeminent Public Urban Research University, faculty researchers at Morgan State University are on pace to reach Morgan’s annual goal of $100 million in awarded research grants and contracts. The National Science Foundation (NSF), a longstanding catalyst for groundbreaking research across the U.S. higher education landscape, granted Morgan more than $2.9 million in funding to initiate new research and further existing research in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Bolstered by support from the NSF and many other agencies, Morgan has amassed more than $77 million in research grants and sponsored projects to-date.

The NSF funding received thus far supports nine diverse initiatives and drives essential innovation in microelectronics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity, STEM education equity, career readiness and mobility accessibility.

The awarded projects reflect Morgan’s commitment to advancing technology, education and social equity. The grants will support faculty in developing cutting-edge solutions and programs addressing pressing national and global challenges, positioning Morgan as a STEM- and innovation-driven research leader.

“Federal support from agencies such as the National Science Foundation that funds research at our nation’s colleges and universities is much more than simply an investment in science, particularly at our HBCUs. It’s an acknowledgment of the need for diverse scientific perspectives that our faculty- and student-led research bring to the scientific community,” said Willie E. May, Ph.D., vice president for the Division of Research and Economic Development (D-RED) at Morgan. “We are on track to this becoming, by far, Morgan’s best year ever for securing new research awards and engaging in the meaningful investigative studies that they support. We look forward to continuing to broaden Morgan’s research capacity to support our nation’s competitiveness agenda as well as critical local, state and federal needs.”

The NSF investment represents a portion of Morgan’s active grants and contracts this fiscal year, moving the university significantly down the path toward its annual research award and research expenditure goals. Through sustained support and new partnerships, Morgan is poised to expand its research impact and contribute further to workforce development, particularly in underrepresented communities.

“We are honored to receive these NSF grants that not only affirm the caliber of our faculty’s research but also propel us closer to achieving R1 status in the next cycle of Carnegie classifications,” added Hongtao Yu, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs at Morgan. “This support enables our dedicated researchers to deepen their exploration of critical scientific questions while fostering an environment where students actively participate in cutting-edge discovery.”

Morgan’s NSF-funded research projects in the first quarter of this fiscal year include:

Excellence in Research: Measuring the Local and Global Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility

Dina El-Mahdy, Ph.D.This project aims to address the challenges in measuring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by creating a comprehensive, standardized database of CSR metrics. CSR refers to business activities that promote social welfare beyond profit maximization, such as volunteering, donations, or free services, but existing data are fragmented and inconsistent across sources like regulatory filings and media. The project leverages Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to automate data extraction and create uniform reporting, turning unstructured information into a structured format while identifying and correcting biases in CSR reporting. It also estimates the financial trade-offs of CSR for U.S. firms and examines how GDP and productivity metrics would change if these foregone earnings were treated as charitable donations. By mapping CSR activities nationwide, the project seeks to understand what drives firms to engage in CSR and the economic consequences of these investments, highlighting their contributions to U.S. and global GDP. The publicly accessible database will benefit investors, researchers, and policymakers by providing reliable data and tools for resource allocation, advanced studies, and evidence-based decision-making. Ultimately, this initiative enhances the understanding of CSR’s tangible and intangible impacts on society, advancing research and informing economic growth strategies.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Dina El-Mahdy, Ph.D., Accounting, Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management
Award Amount: $654,500
Date Awarded: Aug.15, 2024
Role/Scope: Prime

Collaborative Research: Ideas Lab: The HBCU Ujima Collective: Building Research Capacity at HBCUs Through a Grow Your Own Research Corps Model

Damon U. Bryant, Ph.D.The HBCU Ujima Collective (Ujima-C) is a two-year partnership among five HBCUs — led by Morgan with collaborating institutions including Miles College, Howard University, Tennessee State University and Winston-Salem State University — focusing on building research capacity through a “Grow Your Own” model. This initiative addresses the shortage of skilled research administrators at HBCUs, enabling these institutions to develop a sustainable career pipeline for trained research administration and science professionals. Ujima-C’s adaptable training model, piloted and assessed at the five partner institutions, is designed to enhance research skills and provide career pathways for students, faculty and staff.

By equipping HBCUs with the necessary knowledge and skills to expand their research capacity, Ujima-C supports broader participation in STEM and fosters a stronger research culture within these institutions. Co-funded by the HBCU-UP program, Ujima-C aims to ensure that more African American students enter STEM fields and advanced study to foster a more proficient and diverse talent workforce.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Damon U. Bryant, Ph.D., Psychology, James H. Gilliam Jr. College of Liberal Arts
Award Amount: $579,990
Date Awarded: Sept. 11, 2024
Role/Scope: Prime

Collaborative Research: Youth Learning Science and Engineering While Developing Community-based Agency Through Resourceful Engagement in STEM (Youth CARES)

James Hunter, Ph.D.The “Youth Learning Science and Engineering While Developing Community-based Agency Through Resourceful Engagement in STEM” (Youth CARES) initiative focuses on improving middle school students’ STEM engagement and knowledge through environmental justice-oriented projects. By integrating engineering design with science inquiry, the Morgan research team led by James Hunter, Ph.D., associate professor of Civil Engineering, will work closely with a team from Purdue University’s College of Education and College of Engineering to seek methodologies to deepen students’ understanding of the Earth and physical sciences and inspire greater STEM interest and agency.

Youth CARES involves co-designing, implementing and refining two curriculum units with teachers and students. It emphasizes the connections between environmental health, sociodemographic factors and human impact on Earth. Nearly 2,000 students, including those from underserved and under-resourced communities, will serve as study participants, giving the study architects data to develop practical skills for informed community engagement. The project also includes professional development for teachers to enhance STEM pedagogy and content knowledge.

The four-year project involves a mixed-methods design that combines qualitative and quasi-experimental data collection and analysis techniques. Data from each project year will be used to develop, implement and revise the program. Supported by resources from NASA’s Earth System Observatory, Youth CARES’ evidenced-based insights will demonstrate how integrated STEM education promotes meaningful science and engineering learning in diverse, urban school contexts.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: James Hunter, Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering
Award Amount: $554,600
Date Awarded: Sept. 3, 2024
Role/Scope: Collaborator

Collaborative Research: NRT-Al: AI-driven Next-Generation Semiconductor Materials and Devices

Onyema Osuagwu, Ph.D.Morgan is partnering with Johns Hopkins University on a four-year, $2.7-million NSF National Research Traineeship (NRT) grant to create an AI-driven training program in semiconductor and microelectronics processing — optimally aiming to build a diverse, skilled workforce at the intersection of AI and microelectronics.   

The program focuses on AI-driven innovation in four areas: low-dimensional and quantum materials, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, computing hardware and next-gen electronics. Morgan students will be among 70 students working alongside 25 faculty mentors charged with leveraging AI to identify pathways to innovate and transform microelectronics design, fabrication and supply-chain resilience.

In addition to technical training, students will gain hands-on experience in semiconductor fabrication, internships, networking, career guidance and business insights for a comprehensive skill set. Morgan’s team of faculty researchers is led by Onyema Osuagwu, Ph.D., who serves as the effort’s principal investigator, and includes Co-PI and AI expert Kofi Nyarko, D.Eng., director for the Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS) at Morgan, and Co-PI and fabrication expert Michael Spencer, Ph.D., director for Morgan’s Center for Research and Education in Microelectronics.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Onyema Osuagwu, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering
Award Amount: $523,514
Date Awarded: Aug. 5, 2024
Role/Scope: Collaborator

SPLICE/DARTMOUTH

Kevin Kornegay, Ph.D.Project SPLICE (Security and Privacy in the Lifecycle of IoT for Consumer Environments) addresses the security and privacy risks emerging with the rise of “smart homes” — residential environments equipped with interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) devices. These devices, embedded in single-family homes, apartments, hotels and senior living facilities, bring unique cybersecurity challenges affecting a wide range of stakeholders, including homeowners, renters, visitors and domestic workers.

SPLICE’s research focuses on three key areas: improving situational awareness in smart homes, developing interfaces that shift privacy management from users to expert organizations and creating a framework for understanding privacy expectations across residential environments. The project will recommend best practices for trustworthy IoT systems in homes, informed by stakeholder perspectives.

As SPLICE enters the fourth year of the five-year grant award period, the project’s scope extends beyond research by supporting STEM programs for middle schoolers, experiential learning for college students and outreach to encourage underrepresented groups in computing, advancing NSF’s mission of intellectual and societal impact.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Kevin Kornegay, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering
Award Amount: $279,663
Date Awarded: Aug. 27, 2024
Role/Scope: Prime

Broadening Participation in Chemistry (CHE-BP) and Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP)

Pumtiwitt McCarthy, Ph.D.Pumtiwitt McCarthy, Ph.D., researcher and associate professor of Chemistry in Morgan’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, was awarded an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) grant providing a temporary assignment at the National Science Foundation headquarters and central offices.

Among the research initiatives under Dr. McCarthy’s direction at the NSF include Broadening Participation in Chemistry (CHE-BP) and Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP). Her oversight of the Chemistry of Life Processes program entails supporting experimental and computational research utilizing chemistry innovations to study biological processes’ molecular underpinnings. The program’s broad scope comprises bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry; chemical biology; chemistry of lipids, membranes and membrane proteins; and protein, enzyme, nucleic acid and carbohydrate chemistry.

Dr. McCarthy also oversees the Broadening Participation in Chemistry initiative, which focuses on supporting education and training STEM professionals throughout their career journey to broaden participation and increase opportunities within the scientific community.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Pumtiwitt McCarthy, Ph.D., Chemistry, School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Award Amount: $207,766
Date Awarded: Oct. 10, 2024
Role/Scope: Prime

Collaborative Research: Broadening Participation in Computing – Demonstration Project: Opportunities for Promoting Equity and Nurturing Academic Career-Preparation in Computing Education for Student Success (OPEN-ACCESS) at Hispanic Serving Institutions

Edward Dillon Jr. Ph.D.Edward Dillon, Jr., Ph.D., associate professor of Computer Science in Morgan’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, leads a $148,453 grant to support Hispanic/Latino student success in computing careers. This project, part of NSF’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering program, is developing culturally relevant materials and activities to enhance computing knowledge and technical interview skills for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) students in the southeastern U.S.

Key goals include increasing HSI students’ awareness and preparedness for technical interviews in the computing field and offering hands-on experience working with core computing principles essential for career success. In addition, qualitative research will gather educator insights into improving Hispanic/Latino student employability, guiding the development of inclusive resources for HSI curricula. These resources will be shared in a regional workshop for HSI faculty and student leaders, promoting broader integration and impact across institutions.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Edward Dillon Jr. Ph.D., Computer Science, School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Award Amount: $148,453
Date Awarded: Aug. 23, 2024
Role/Scope: Prime

CIVIC-PG Track B: Night Moves – Enhancing Mobility Accessibility and Safety for Night Shift Workers in Baltimore, Maryland

Di Yang, Ph.D.,Research teams from Morgan’s National Transportation Center (NTC) and the University of Maryland, College Park, join forces to address mobility and accessibility faced by Baltimore’s night shift workers, an essential workforce who navigate limited transportation, increased safety risks and incidences of high crime rates, all further exacerbated by the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The “CIVIC Stage 1” study will investigate job-location mismatches, evaluate workers’ transit needs and assess risks in high-crime areas. Research teams will collaborate with local communities, the Maryland Transit Administration and the mobility industry to identify solutions such as route redesigns, adjusted schedules and flexible transit options. Di Yang, Ph.D., Morgan assistant professor of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies, serves as the PI on the study, and Mansoureh Jeihani, Ph.D., director of NTC at Morgan, serves as co-PI. 

This initiative, supported by NSF’s Civic Innovation Challenge, along with the Departments of Homeland Security and Energy, seeks to build resilient communities through co-design and adaptation.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Di Yang, Ph.D., Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies, Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering
Award Amount: $25,000
Date Awarded: Sept. 26, 2024
Role/Scope: Sub-Awardee

Planning: GRANTED: A Consortium-Based, Stacked Mentorship Model for Building Inter-Institutional Research Capacity, Access, and Collaboration

Coleman Jordan, M.Arch.The project “A Consortium-Based, Stacked Mentorship Model for Building Inter-Institutional Research Capacity, Access, and Collaboration” aims to strengthen research capacity within a consortium of eight institutions through a tiered mentorship network. This “stacked mentorship” model pairs senior researchers with mid-career faculty, who then mentor graduate student-researchers, creating a knowledge-sharing cascade that expands research access for underrepresented groups.

Morgan is joined in the collaborative study by Florida A&M University, Florida International University, Hampton University, Howard University, Tuskegee University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Michigan. Together, these institutions span various missions, sizes and institutional types, from HBCUs and MSIs to R1 and R2 research universities. This delivers a diverse participant pool of contributors and is essential to executing the “stacked mentorship” model central to the study.

This initiative will enhance research productivity, career development and collaboration across institutions, addressing the unique challenges of multi-institutional partnerships and fostering diverse perspectives to build a stronger, more inclusive research community.

 

Morgan’s Principal Investigator: Coleman Jordan, M.Arch., Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning
Award Amount: $8,501
Date Awarded: July 31, 2024
Role/Scope: Sub-Awardee

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 academic degree and certificate programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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