The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $455,286 Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program to the University of New Mexico (UNM) Office of Sponsored Projects Division. The grant supports a 3-year research project to study the chemistry and properties of over-stoichiometric disordered rock salt materials, which have potential applications in Li-ion and Na-ion battery electrodes. The research aims to develop a new series of earth-abundant transition metal-based rock salt materials, characterize their crystallographic and electronic structures, and evaluate their electrochemical performance as battery cathodes. The project will integrate advanced characterization techniques like X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy, and imaging to understand the relationship between material over-stoichiometry, structure, and energy storage mechanisms. The research is expected to contribute to expanding the compositional space for battery material development and inform new material design strategies. In parallel, the grant supports educational initiatives to integrate the research subject matter into student lab projects, courses, and outreach programs across K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels.