Basic Research | Research Directorate > Programs

Department of Defense Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program is authorized by Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 4144, Research and educational programs and activities: historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions of higher education. The DoD HBCU/MI Program provides support to covered educational institutions to assist the Department in defense-related research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities. The DoD HBCU/MI Program uses the statutory authorities to pursue the following objectives:

1) Enhance the research and educational capabilities of institutions in science and technology areas of importance to national defense

2) Encourage the participation of institutions in RDT&E programs and activities of the DoD

3) Increase the number of graduates from such institutions engaged in disciplines important to the national security functions of the DoD, and

4) Encourage research and educational collaborations with other institutions of higher education, Government defense organizations, and the defense industry.

This program is coordinated with the Service research offices, and partners with DoD laboratories for the Centers of Excellence. For more information about the program, please contact the program director, Mrs. Evelyn Kent, by clicking here.

DoD HBCU/MI Program Awards

The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), announced awards to 98 university researchers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCUs/MIs) totaling $50.1 million as part of the fiscal year 2024 merit-based competition under the DoD HBCU/MI Research and Education Program. The competitive awards support the acquisition of equipment for research projects in scientific disciplines of critical importance to DoD.

DoD HBCU/MI Student Internship and Faculty Fellowship Program

The DoD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship Program aims to increase the number of scientists and engineers throughout the Department of Defense. The initiative encourages students in STEM disciplines, guides them toward advanced studies, and prepares them for careers in science and engineering fields important to the defense mission. Motivated students, both undergraduate and graduate, are placed for a 10-week research experience at DoD facilities across the nation. Under the supervision of DoD scientists and engineers, students conduct research relevant to the defense mission.

2025 Summer Research Internship Program Dates: May 27, 2025, to August 9, 2025
Application period closes: January 19, 2025

Faculty Fellowship Program

The DoD HBCU/MI Faculty Fellowship Program aims to strengthen the collaboration between the DoD and STEM faculty affiliated with HBCU/MI. Participation requires a commitment of ten consecutive weeks between May 1st and August 31st. A housing and travel allowance is available for eligible participants. Selected Faculty Fellows will participate in research at one of five Army Research Lab Directorates.

Resources

Funding Opportunity Announcements

Grants.gov is the common website for DoD and the other 25 federal grant-awarding agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities and for entities to search and apply for them. For more information on finding DoD grants and cooperative agreement funding opportunities, please view Grants.gov Fact Sheet, here.

Funding Opportunity Announcements currently posted to grants.gov:

Department of Defense Research and Education Program for HBCU/MI. Funding opportunity announcement is open August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2029.

Technical Assistance
The OUSD(R&E) provides technical assistance workshops as part of a series of training and educational activities intended to provide program, process, and funding opportunity information to HBCUs/MIs. The workshops focus on both Department of Defense funding opportunities and best practices in writing effective technical proposals. Representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, and other Federal Agencies, present funding opportunity information along with sharing insights on writing competitive proposals in response to Broad Agency Announcements and other funding opportunities.

Centers of Excellence
Centers of Excellence

The DoD HBCU/MI Program established 15 Centers of Excellence (COEs). Each of these COEs are funded at $1 - $2 million per year for five years and contribute to areas of research of strategic importance to DoD. COEs conduct multidisciplinary, collaborative research to assist the Department in defense-related RDTE activities while attracting early-career researchers. The Centers also provide opportunities for student participation leading to the next generation of scientists and engineers capable of meeting defense and national security needs. *Listed in order of establishment*

- Autonomy (North Carolina A&T State University)

- Cyber Security (Norfolk State University)

- Research Data Analytics (Prairie View A&M University)

- STEM Scholars (Hampton University)

- STEM Scholars (Spelman College)

- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (Howard University)

- Aerospace Education, Research, and Innovation Center (Tuskegee University)

- Advanced Quantum Sensing (Delaware State University)

- Networked Configurable Command, Control, and Communications for Rapid Situational Awareness (University of California, Riverside)

- Biotechnology (North Carolina A&T State University)
- Materials Science Advanced Electro-Photonics with 2D Materials (Morgan State University)
- Future Generation Wireless Technology (FutureG) (Arizona State University)
- Integrated Renewable Energy and Energy Storage (Florida International University)
- Advanced Computing and Software (Georgia State University)
- Integrated Sensing and Cyber (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
SERVICE RESEARCH PARTNERS
Service Research Office Partners

The DoD HBCU/MI research and equipment grants are executed and receive technical oversight from program managers based at the three Military Service research organizations: the Army Research Office / Army Research Laboratory, the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research / Air Force Research Laboratory. OUSD(R&E) and the Service Components also conduct joint webinars and technical assistance workshops to inform HBCUs/MIs of areas of DoD program interest.