Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Tennessee State University (TSU) will launch early-stage, interdisciplinary research projects with support from new “seed” grants funded by John T. (Jack) Mollen, WPI trustee emeritus.
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute–Tennessee State University Collaborative Seed Funding Program will provide $20,000 each to four teams composed of WPI and TSU researchers. The teams will use the one-year grants to develop plans for joint research initiatives that could potentially attract government or industry funding.
“We are grateful to Jack Mollen for his generous gift, which will enable collaborations between two universities with complementary research strengths and expertise,” says Bogdan Vernescu, WPI vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. “The seed funding will support researchers during the early stages of their work to develop innovative projects with the potential to address important scientific and technological problems.”
Mollen served as a WPI trustee from 2007 to 2022 and received an honorary degree from the university in 2023. He was chairman of the WPI Board of Trustees from 2016 to 2021 and again briefly in 2022.
“Research collaborations between institutions have the power to tap expertise that may not exist at a single institution,” Mollen says. “I hope WPI and TSU researchers will build long-lasting ties that will benefit both institutions and lead to innovative breakthroughs.”
TSU, one of the country’s historically Black colleges and universities, is a public, land-grant university located in Nashville, Tenn. TSU is home to a range of research in science, technology, agriculture, engineering, and mathematics fields.
“This seed-grant partnership between our institutions strengthens and expands the research collaboration between Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Tennessee State University, and it enables our institutions to advance critical technology and innovation priorities of national importance,” says Quincy Quick, TSU chief research officer and associate vice president for research and sponsored programs. “Led by TSU researchers in the colleges of Engineering and Agriculture, cornerstones of the university’s research enterprise, this initiative aligns with the state of Tennessee’s strategic investments in artificial intelligence and innovation. WPI investigators bring unparalleled expertise that complements TSU’s strengths, creating a highly synergistic partnership. Beyond the immediate objectives of this seed grant, the collaboration establishes a strong foundation for pursuing significantly larger, externally funded research initiatives while enhancing the research capacity of both institutions to make meaningful contributions in applied artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and other emerging technologies.”
Grant funding will be divided equally between WPI and TSU researchers. The four projects will focus on food safety, agriculture, quantum sensing, and sustainable buildings.
