Texas semiconductor research and manufacturing for naval-stem (tsrm-naval-stem) program (24-000006968)

The University of North Texas, Research and Innovation Division received a $150,000 Project Grant from the Office of Naval Research under the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach and Workforce Program (CFDA 12.330) effective December 1, 2025, with a completion date of November 30, 2028. The Texas Semiconductor Research and Manufacturing for Naval-STEM (TSRM-NAVAL-STEM) Program supports educational initiatives designed to develop the STEM workforce pipeline in areas critical to naval and defense missions. The three-year award will fund formal and informal STEM education, outreach, and workforce development activities targeting K-12 students, uniformed Navy personnel, and Navy civilians, with emphasis on semiconductor research and manufacturing disciplines relevant to naval operations and defense priorities.

The award reflects the Office of Naval Research's strategic focus on expanding STEM educational capacity through university partnerships, consistent with the program's evaluation criteria emphasizing scientific merit, outreach effectiveness, national defense contributions, and industry-government collaboration. The University of North Texas's Research and Innovation Division, which operates as a comprehensive research infrastructure organization with demonstrated experience across multiple federal agencies and a portfolio totaling $659.3 million in obligated dollars, will execute the program to enhance multidisciplinary studies and create sustainable educational pathways in semiconductor technology for future defense-sector engineers and scientists.