Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas at San Antonio received a $540k project grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Basic and Applied Scientific Research program (CFDA 12.300) to conduct a three-year multidisciplinary research initiative evaluating the antifouling behavior of predatory bacteria on copper-nickel alloys and investigating microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) mechanisms. The award, effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029, supports fundamental and applied research with direct applications to naval operations and marine corps capabilities. As a Carnegie Classification R1 research institution, UTSA will leverage its established expertise in materials science and advanced research methodologies to advance ONR's strategic priorities in naval platform integrity and corrosion mitigation—critical technical challenges affecting ship and submarine design and operational readiness.

The research deliverables under this ONR grant will contribute to the Navy's technology development objectives by generating scientific findings and technical data on biological mechanisms affecting metal corrosion in maritime environments. ONR's Basic and Applied Scientific Research program emphasizes merit-based, peer-reviewed research that addresses naval operational challenges through multidisciplinary approaches, and this award reflects ONR's investment in university-based research that combines scientific rigor with practical naval applications. The project's performance location in Texas, combined with UTSA's track record as a major federal research recipient across multiple agencies including NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense, positions the institution to effectively execute this corrosion research initiative and deliver findings with potential applications to naval vessel protection and longevity.