TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been awarded a two-year, $321,000 subaward as
part of a national Office of Naval Research (ONR) initiative designed to develop a
diverse STEM workforce equipped to tackle emerging environmental and national security
challenges.
The funding comes from Purdue University’s $9.89 million grant, the ONR Blue Integrated Partnership (BIP 2.0). The project is led by Luciano Castillo, Ph.D., Kenninger professor of renewable energy and power systems, in the Purdue University
School of Mechanical Engineering, and focuses on mentoring a diverse STEM workforce
prepared to address future grand challenges. Through this effort, FAMU will support
student research and workforce development in geospatial science, nearshore mapping,
and AI-enabled marine sensing.
Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., said the project reflects the University’s commitment to expanding experiential learning
and strengthening federal partnerships that enhance student success.
“This project places our students at the intersection of data, environment, and national
priorities,” Watson said. “By engaging in applied research alongside federal and academic
partners, they develop the skills and perspective required to solve complex problems
beyond the classroom.”
FAMU’s participation in this project is strengthened by ongoing federal collaborations
led by Rosny Jean, Ph.D., assistant professor of geospatial and environmental analysis for the FAMU School
of the Environment. Jean works closely with the National Geospatial-Intelligence
Agency and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport, Rhode Island, where
he developed the SHIP-AID algorithm, which utilizes deep learning and geospatial analytics
to detect underwater hazards. His expertise positions FAMU as a valuable partner and
contributor to the consortium’s research mission.
Rosny Jean, Ph.D., assistant professor of geospatial and environmental analysis for
the FAMU School of the Environment. (Photo special to FAMU)
“This partnership creates tremendous opportunities for our students to work on real-world
problems that matter,” Jean said. “Whether they are engaged in geospatial science
applications, ocean modeling or advanced machine learning algorithms, our students
gain hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in defense innovation and
environmental intelligence.”
The project will support student training, research assistantships, coastal fieldwork,
and computational modeling, providing FAMU scholars with opportunities to collaborate
across institutions within the national consortium.
For more information about the Blue Integrated Partnerships consortium, visit blueintegratedpartners.org. Visit the School of the Environment for more details about its research.
Media Contact
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
Deidre Williams
Director of Communications
Office of the Provost
deidre.williams@famu.edu