WT College of Engineering Scores Federal Grant to Expand Research Possibilities

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Professors from West Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering will use a recently awarded federal grant to catalyze new industrial and governmental partnerships.

The $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity program will enable WT to find ways to increase its visibility, attract new collaborators and enrich the educational and professional experience, said Dr. Fatemeh “Azi” Tabei, lead researcher and assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science.

“The initiative supports three primary goals: improving institutional processes for partnership development, establishing a partnership training program, and diversifying and expanding the network of external partners,” Tabei said. “And it will allow us to concentrate on key technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors and new materials.”

Tabei will work with Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of the College of Engineering, and Dr. Vinitha Hannah Subburaj, associate dean.

Industries and such governmental agencies as the Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health and others often look to larger universities first when making partnerships or offering grants, Tabei said.

The NSF’s EPIIC grants, then, are an attempt to even the playing field for undergraduate institutions like WT, which has been a Hispanic-serving institution since 2016.

“NSF is committed to catalyzing and empowering all Americans to participate in the nation's research and innovation enterprise,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “This starts with creating pathways for the full range of institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal nations and private industry to engage in their regional innovation ecosystems. These EPIIC awards build upon previous efforts to connect partners to develop innovation ecosystems and work together to accelerate key technologies and address pressing national, societal and geostrategic challenges all across the U.S.”

The grant is part of nearly $19 million awarded to 48 U.S. institutions of higher education earlier this year. NSF has invested almost $40 million in nearly 100 institutions since EPIIC’s inception.

With the EPIIC grant, WT and its partners, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and Western Washington University, will implement customized strategies to build a sustainable approach to collaborations, enhance frameworks for managing partnerships, and promote efficient, consistent outcomes. The initiative also will focus on supporting faculty and administrative staff by developing skills for external engagement, fostering a collaborative culture and creating a learning community.

Such strategies will strengthen WT’s position as a Regional Research University, the key goal of its long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University College of Engineering faculty members Dr. Vinitha Hannah Subburaj, from left, Dr. Fatemeh “Azi” Tabei and Dr. Emily Hunt, dean, won a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity program.

—WT—