Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Physics, awarded Catholic University of America a $750,000 Project Grant (CFDA 47.049 – Mathematical and Physical Sciences) effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, to conduct fundamental nuclear physics research on pion and kaon structure. The research program advances understanding of the quark-gluon composition of protons and neutrons—the basic building blocks of atomic nuclei—and the mesons that bind them. The award supports the development and improvement of sub-atomic particle detectors used in particle accelerators and integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) methods to enhance scientific output in contemporary nuclear science applications.

Beyond research objectives, the grant funds workforce development activities including training and mentorship of graduate, undergraduate, and high school students in state-of-the-art instrumentation and AI/ML-informed software development. This educational component positions the award to contribute to the advanced technology workforce pipeline while advancing fundamental knowledge of nuclear structure through ground-breaking experimentation at the sub-atomic level. The research is conducted at Catholic University of America's facility in Washington, DC.