Clarkson University

Clarkson University is a private research institution located in Potsdam, New York, that has been registered to receive federal awards since July 2001. As a tax-exempt, not-for-profit educational institution offering bachelor's and advanced degrees, Clarkson University serves as both a prime contractor and grantee for the federal government, providing specialized research and development services across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines. The university specializes in areas including environmental science, engineering, cybersecurity, advanced computational methodologies, biometrics, and sustainable technologies, collaborating with various federal agencies to advance scientific innovation and technological development.

Through federal contract awards, Clarkson University has provided a diverse range of research and development services, consistently demonstrating expertise in environmental remediation, advanced materials, and defense-related applications. Notable contract awards include a $1.247 million definitive contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity) for ex-situ treatment demonstration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-impacted soils and sediments under the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program; a $637,281 contract for high-capacity sustainable sorbents research to treat PFAS; and a $293,387 contract for enhancement of the Coastal Modeling System to simulate hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes. The university has also received purchase orders from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Biometric Identity Management totaling $50,000 annually for I/UCRC CITER Center Affiliate status to participate in meetings and review biometrics research projects. Additional contracts valued at $412,388 and $265,271 address plasma-based and electrochemical treatment processes for PFAS investigation-derived waste through SERDP projects, while a $250,000 purchase order focuses on electrochemical and photochemical treatment technologies for aqueous film-forming foam contamination. These contracts, awarded without set-asides indicating competitive procurement, reflect the university's capability in executing specialized research funded by defense agencies and civilian departments including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Through federal grant awards, Clarkson University has secured substantial funding for research spanning environmental remediation, renewable energy systems, biometrics, computational science, and STEM education initiatives. The National Science Foundation has been a primary funding agency, supporting projects including a $298,658 award for TASCHIPS (thermal analysis of semiconductor chips), a $310,800 collaborative research grant for plasma-assisted PFAS mineralization, and a $599,994 CAREER award investigating long-term durability of belitic calcium sulfoaluminate cement. Additional NSF funding includes awards for research experiences for undergraduates programs in high-performance computing, aquatic sciences, sensor development, and mathematical biology, collectively totaling over $1 million. The National Institutes of Health has provided grants including $428,924 for pharmacologically tuning membrane permeability through KCA3.1 channel activation and support for developmental neuroscience research. The university has also received support from the Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture for projects including anaerobic digestion systems ($650,000) and phosphorus recovery from agricultural drainage systems ($748,865). Environmental research has been supported through EPA cooperative agreements for Great Lakes fish monitoring and nano-remediation platform development for PFAS detection and degradation. The university serves as both prime grantee and subrecipient partner, with sub-awards from institutions including Stevens Institute of Technology, University of Buffalo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and various state and regional organizations. These grants address critical national priorities in sustainability, public health, cybersecurity, and workforce development, with particular emphasis on rural and underrepresented populations through multiple educational programs and community engagement initiatives.