Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Mfume Highlight $10 Million Federal Investment to Expand Morgan State University’s Research Programs, Power R1 Ascent

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) highlighted $10 million in federal funding to support Morgan State University’s research programs, expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and the University. This investment will allow the University to establish the new Institute for Trusted Autonomous Networks (TITAN), expand research and doctoral training, and strengthen the University’s advancement toward a Carnegie R1 “very high research activity” classification – which would, in turn, further increase research and funding opportunities at Morgan State. This federal investment comes from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Pilot Program, a program proposed by Senator Van Hollen and designed to fund research and education programs at HBCUs – like Morgan State – to increase their capacity to achieve very high research activity status (R1) on the Carnegie Classification scale. Senator Van Hollen introduced the HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence (RISE) Act to establish this program in April 2022, then worked to secure provisions of his bill in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act , which passed into law in December 2022. “Maryland is a national leader in research and innovation, and institutions like Morgan State are a prime reason for our continued success. I’ve fought for critical investments in Morgan State over the years, including through the creation of the HBCU/MI Pilot Program to support expanding its research capacity. This federal investment will help advance the University’s goal to become one of the pioneering HBCU R1 institutions, opening up greater opportunities for students, faculty, and the University as a whole – helping Maryland stay at the cutting edge of scientific research for years to come,” said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU/MI Pilot Program as a provision of the FY23 national defense bill . “Maryland is leading the nation in research, technology, and innovation. I am so proud that Morgan State University will receive $10 million in federal funding for research programs and strengthen the university's advancement toward a Carnegie R1 ‘very high research activity’ classification. Morgan State students have always been leaders, leaving lasting impacts on Maryland and our entire nation – this investment will work to keep building up our students, fueling our economy, and transforming our world,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “Morgan State University is one of our nation's leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and this infusion of funding will only strengthen that reputation,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “These funds will allow Morgan to expand their research and doctoral training capabilities, empowering their researchers to make greater contributions to their field and bringing Morgan ever closer to the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification.” TITAN will be a university-wide research and education initiative focused on developing autonomous systems that can operate safely in complex and uncertain environments. It will examine how artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum-enhanced security, resilient communications, wireless networks, robotics, and human-machine collaboration can be integrated so autonomous technologies perform predictably and transparently, resist cyberattacks and system failures, and support sound decision-making. Over five years, TITAN is projected to support approximately 20 research projects, 48 unique STEM research trainees, 24 doctoral students, and 24 postdoctoral researchers. It is also expected to engage 68 students in specialized instruction and symposia, connect 48 trainees with internship and job sessions, and place 20 participating trainees into technical internships or jobs. “This award affirms the strength of Morgan’s research trajectory and provides catalytic support at a pivotal point in our evolution as a public research university,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “Our pursuit of R1 is not about attaining a label; it is about building the lasting capacity to generate knowledge, prepare more doctoral scholars, attract consequential investment and produce research that impacts national security. We remain steadfast in reaching R1 by 2030, and this federal investment will help us accelerate that work while creating meaningful opportunities for Morgan students to learn, discover and lead.” This federal funding is in addition to $16,358,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending that Federal Team Maryland has secured since Fiscal Year 2022 for research programs and other initiatives at Morgan State University.