Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Biological Infrastructure awarded $435,260 to The Research Foundation For The State University of New York (RF-SUNY) on May 1, 2026, under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to establish a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the University at Albany's RNA Institute. This three-year award (through April 30, 2029) will provide intensive summer research training to 10 undergraduate students annually for 10-week sessions, with the primary product being structured, hands-on research experiences in ribonucleic acid (RNA) science and RNA-based technologies. Students will conduct individual research projects under faculty mentorship while collaborating with researchers across multiple departments including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, and Bionanosciences, with many participants presenting findings at scientific conferences.

Beyond direct research training, the award generates products and services aligned with NSF priorities in biotechnology and artificial intelligence, including mentorship and professional development programming, program assessment through qualitative and quantitative surveys, and workforce development outcomes aimed at broadening participation in STEM among underrepresented populations with limited research access. The training cultivates skilled scientific personnel capable of contributing to advances in biotechnology and medicine by developing understanding of how RNA structure and function govern cellular processes and can be leveraged for new technological applications.