HUNTSVILLE — Focused on advancing a collaborative research partnership, Alabama A&M University welcomed leadership from Sandia National Laboratories for an engaging visit last month.

University President Dr. Daniel K. Wims and faculty from the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences (CETPS) and AAMU-RISE (Research, Innovation, Science, and Engineering) discussed ongoing projects and future strategies to deepen the connection with Sandia.

“We greatly appreciate the research collaboration support from Sandia National Labs,” said CETPS Dean Zhengtao Deng. “The research projects not only advance the technology but also provide valuable experiential learning experiences for our students.”

Sandia is one of three research and development laboratories in the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. Based in Albuquerque, N.M., the lab works to develop science and technology to resolve the nation’s most challenging security issues.

During the visit, researchers and student teams presented results from their Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) projects, showcasing innovative progress.

“The Sandia LDRD research projects enhanced our research capability in the area of imaging processes, tomographic sensing, material characterization, and new research initiatives,” said AAMU-RISE Executive Director Dr. Andrew Scott.

The university and Sandia formalized their partnership in 2022 through a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as part of Sandia’s START Program, aimed at building intentional, robust collaborations with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Through this program, Sandia has funded seven research projects, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art AI Cage for cutting-edge drone and robotics research.

The goal is to create increased enrollment of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, expanded research opportunities, and broader pathways for minority hiring at Sandia. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive scientific community.

“We are actively engaged in collaborative research with Alabama A&M University and are committed to expanding our collaborations to cover a broad range of research areas,” said Anthony Sanders, Sandia’s HBCU START program manager.