NSF-Funded Projects Propel Morgan State’s Continued Rise as a Recognized Public Impact Research University

Nearly $5 Million in Research Commitments Support Six Investigative Studies to Build Safer Cities, Smarter Tech and Stronger STEM Pathways

BALTIMORE — From developing quantum-secure safeguards for the Internet of Things to designing smarter, safer transportation systems and creating new pathways to keep more students in STEM, Morgan State University is tackling some of society’s most urgent challenges through newly awarded support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Totaling nearly $5 million, the funding awarded support six research projects at Morgan that will strengthen national cybersecurity, expand opportunities for students in science and engineering, and push the boundaries of mathematics and physics while improving how cities function, and provide pathways for student success and retention.

Together, these efforts promise wide-reaching benefits, including bolstering U.S. infrastructure against emerging cyber threats, enhancing safety and energy efficiency in future smart cities, building sustainable research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and preparing the next generation of competitive STEM leaders.

“At Morgan, we are steadfast in our commitment to conducting research that not only advances science but also transforms communities,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan. “These new NSF investments in Morgan ingenuity, resourcefulness and inventiveness underscore our ascendency as a leading urban research university—one that produces solutions to society’s greatest challenges while preparing the next generation of innovators. As we continue on our path toward R1 status, it is with great intention that Morgan will represent a national model for purposeful, public-impact research.”

The six NSF grants span a diverse portfolio of disciplines, uniting faculty and student researchers in work that addresses urgent societal challenges while building new models for innovation and student retention in STEM.

The awarded projects include:

Implementation Project: PERSIST II (Pathways to Enhance Retention of Students in Science to Transition) – Initially launched in 2019 with seed funding by the NSF, PERSIST II secured a new round of funding extending the program through 2030. In a profound mark of confidence and support in Lisa Brown, Ph.D., director of Undergraduate Research and associate professor of Biology at Morgan, and her novel initiative designed to improve retention and graduation, the NSF awarded a $2.7-million grant to fund five additional years of the program. Building on earlier success, PERSIST II combines pre-college summer programs, peer-led learning, and hands-on research to strengthen academic preparedness and engagement. Key elements include adaptive math instruction, case-based science pedagogy, and launching an Applied Biology concentration with laboratory training, career-focused curriculum, and embedded professional competencies. The project also introduces game-based and supplemental instruction to sharpen critical thinking. Guided by continuous evaluation, PERSIST II is designed to create lasting institutional change in STEM education while expanding student success and workforce readiness.

Excellence in Research: Quantum-Enabled Security Framework for the Internet of Things (IoT) – Guobin Xu, D.Sc., associate professor of Computer Science within Morgan’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, is leading a $750,000 NSF-funded project to secure the Internet of Things (IoT) against emerging cyber threats posed by quantum computing. With billions of devices powering healthcare, transportation, and critical infrastructure, many remain vulnerable due to limited security protections. This research will develop a lightweight, quantum-enabled security framework that strengthens data protection and authentication across IoT systems. Key innovations include quantum-trusted platform modules generating secure keys directly on devices, post-quantum cryptography for efficient network-wide communication, and a quantum entropy service to upgrade legacy systems. By advancing resilient, scalable protections, the project supports national priorities in quantum technology, safeguarding privacy, infrastructure, and national defense.

The HBCU Ujima Collective (Ujima-C) – A research collaborative bringing together Morgan and four HBCUs—Miles College, Howard University, Tennessee State, Winston-Salem State—to design and pilot a scalable “Grow Your Own” model for training students, faculty, and staff in both research administration and scientific inquiry. Ujima-C seeks to transform the research culture at HBCUs, open career pathways in research administration, and broaden skilled competition in the STEM workforce nationwide by building a corps of highly proficient experts. The amount awarded to Morgan for the Ujima Collective is $371,018 and is led by Michael T. Nettles, Ph.D., professor and Endowed Chair of Predictive Analytics and Psychometrics, in Morgan’s Department of Psychology in the James H. Gilliam, Jr. College of Liberal Arts.

The Impact of Structured Support Programs on Engineering Student Retention – Joining fellow Psychology Department NSF-awardee Dr. Nettles, Karen Watkins-Lewis, Ph.D., associate professor of Psychology, serves as the principal investigator on a two-year, $350,000 study examining how structured support programs affect the retention and degree completion of undergraduate engineering students at HBCUs. With engineering central to national innovation, the project investigates the role of mentoring, collaborative learning, and academic resources in fostering persistence and student success. Using a mixed-methods approach, researchers will measure outcomes such as academic performance, retention, and degree attainment while also capturing students’ perceptions of faculty engagement, learning environments, and academic confidence. By identifying effective practices across varied institutional contexts, the study will provide evidence-based strategies for improving support systems in engineering education, ultimately strengthening the nation’s STEM workforce.

Excellence in Research: Super Representation Theory, Quantum Spaces, and Algebra Maps – Focusing on infinite-dimensional representations of superalgebras, Dwight Williams II, Ph.D., assistant professor of Mathematics, is leading an investigative study to advance understanding of super representation theory, a field inspired by particle physics and the mathematical symmetries underlying chemistry, quantum information, and biology. The research, funded by NSF commitments of $300,000, seeks to create new representations, simplify existing ones, and establish formulas that make the theory more computationally useful for scientific applications. By providing concrete examples of reduction superalgebras proposed for decomposing symmetries, the results will deepen links between algebraic methods and analysis of quantum spaces and integrable systems governing physical phenomena. Central to the project are opportunities to mentor and gain practical experience for students involved in the program. Among them are doctoral student Marcus McLaurin in the Industrial and Computational Mathematics program, and undergraduate researchers who will use the Python-based Manim engine to bring new mathematical concepts to life—expanding training opportunities in advanced mathematics and quantum-related fields.

Engineering Research Initiation (ERI): Systems of Systems for Safe and Energy-Efficient Transportation – Zulqarnain Khattak, Ph.D., of Morgan’s Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering, is leading a multidisciplinary project exploring human-autonomy collaboration in intelligent transportation systems, with implications for smart cities, traffic safety, and energy efficiency. The $200,000 NSF-funded research integrates real-world driving data with sensing infrastructure to better model traffic dynamics and create decentralized, cooperative control strategies that improve traffic flow and reduce crashes. By developing reinforcement learning agents, graph neural networks, and virtual-reality simulations, the project will address challenges posed by human and autonomous vehicle interactions in connected communities. Beyond technical innovations, the project will provide hands-on opportunities for students, including a gamified platform—Collaborative Racing with Humans and Autonomous Vehicles (CRAV)—to educate and inspire future mobility professionals while broadening public understanding of emerging transportation technologies.

“These awards highlight the growing competitiveness of Morgan’s research enterprise and the vital role HBCUs play in shaping America’s scientific future,” said Willie E. May, Ph.D., vice president for Research and Economic Development at Morgan. “By strengthening our research capacity, we are empowering our faculty, training tomorrow’s technologists, and ensuring that Morgan and our peer institutions contribute meaningfully to the nation’s innovation economy.”

Funding commitments from the NSF and other public and private sources reflect Morgan’s expanding national footprint in sponsored research. In Fiscal Year 2025, the University surpassed $100 million in annual research commitments for the first time in its 158-year history, reaching $104.4 million—an 18% increase over the previous year.

This latest round of awards adds momentum to Morgan’s pursuit of Carnegie R1 classification, which would place the University among the nation’s top research institutions. Already recognized as Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan has sustained a four-year streak of at least $75 million in annual research awards. As Morgan continues to expand its research infrastructure and invest in student-centered innovation, these projects will not only advance discovery in critical fields but also build the next generation of diverse STEM leaders.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. 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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Larry Jones, Dell Jackson or Cheryl Stewart for Morgan State University PR
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