Two women standing at a laboratory bench facing backward toward camera smiling. Their work received a federal funding boost.
Harshica Fernando, Ph.D., (right) project lead for Development of a High-Sensitivity, Low-Cost Assay for the Efficient Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Imported Seafood, with a graduate student in the laboratory at Prairie View A&M University. (Courtesy photo)

New funding from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, DHS S&T, allows four summer programs managed by a Texas A&M AgriLife Research-led center of excellence to expand into year-round research focused on protecting U.S. supply chains.  

Each initiative received $100,000 in follow-on funding, and all are managed by Cross Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense, CBTS, which is the Science and Technology Directorate’s Center of Excellence within AgriLife Research.

The follow-on funds support four initiatives of the DHS S&T Summer Research Team Program, each taking place at a different U.S. university.

“Each of our four research programs encompasses development of technologies and methods for detecting and mitigating biological threats to U.S. supply chains,” said Katlin Shoemaker, CBTS education director, Bryan-College Station. “This funding will support essential research, development and teaching in the fight for safer supply chains.”

Funded projects    

The CBTS projects receiving follow-on funding are:

  • Development of a High-Sensitivity, Low-Cost Assay for the Efficient Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Imported Seafood, Prairie View A&M University.
  • Applying Game Theory for Improving and Optimizing the U.S. Political Asylum Process, University of North Texas, Denton.
  • Chemical and Biological Defense: Detecting, Protecting Against, Responding To, and Recovering From Chemical and Biological Incidents, Arizona State University.
  • Evaluating Feasibility of Enforcing Environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, compliance Using Verifiable Credentials, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York.

Follow-on funding for Summer Research Teams is overseen by DHS S&T’s Office of University Programs and offers summer research opportunities to research teams comprised of students and early career faculty members affiliated with minority-serving institutions in the U.S. and its territories. Each team was chosen based on its excellence in research, innovative ideas, leadership qualities and dedication to advancing homeland security-focused research, according to DHS S&T.

“We are thrilled to support these teams as they continue their vital contributions to homeland security,” said Rebecca Medina, director of the DHS S&T Office of University Programs, Washington. “DHS takes pride in investing in research capacity development at minority-serving institutions.”

Learn about all 18 U.S. Summer Research Teams that received follow-on funding online.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email