DENA0003980

Alabama A&M University

Scholarly Partnership in Nuclear Security (SPINS)

The goal of the consortium is to produce highly skilled next generation technical workforce for DOE/NNSA through active learning and hands-on experiences while advancing research in nuclear radiation detection systems and nuclear security/nonproliferation, and broadening the participation of underrepresented minority men and women (specifically African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans).

Alabama A&M University

THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE CONSORTIUM IS TO PRODUCE HIGHLY SKILLED NEXT GENERATION TECHNICAL WORKFORCE FOR DOE/NNSA THROUGH ACTIVE LEARNING AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES WHILE ADVANCING RESEARCH IN NUCLEAR RADIATION DETECTION SYSTEMS AND NUCLEAR SECURITY/NONPROLIFERATION, AND BROADENING THE PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY MEN AND WOMEN (SPECIFICALLY AFRICAN AMERICANS, HISPANICS, AND NATIVE AMERICANS). THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 1. IMPROVE RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR DETECTORS CAPABLE OF LONG-PERIOD WIDESPREAD REMOTE DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATIONS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE WITHOUT CRYOGENIC COOLING. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADVANCED DRONE BASED REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY APPLICATION. 2. DEVELOP PIPELINE TO GROW THE NUMBER OF HIGHLY SKILLED NEXT-GENERATION TECHNICAL WORKFORCE FOR DOE/NNSA THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, RETENTION AND GRADUATION OF TALENTED AND HIGH CALIBER STUDENTS, AND NEW CURRICULUM/COURSES FOR THE NUCLEAR SECURITY ENTERPRISE (NSE). 3. BUILD STEM CAPACITY AND LASTING COLLABORATIONS WITH DOE/NNSA FACILITIES AND RESEARCHERS THAT WILL BROADEN THE PARTICIPATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY MEN AND WOMEN, WITH FOCUS ON AFRICAN AMERICANS, HISPANICS, AND NATIVE AMERICANS. DELIVERABLES • IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN SENSITIVITY AND RESOLUTION OF II-VI SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS, ENHANCEMENT ON CONTACT DEPOSITION TECHNIQUES, IMPROVED SURFACE PROCESSING, AND MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNCTIONALITIES OF CONTACTS IN SOLID-STATE DEVICES FOR THE DETECTION OF X-RAYS AND GAMMA-RAYS. • OPTIMIZED INTERFACE BETWEEN DETECTOR AND READOUT ELECTRONICS, LOW-NOISE ASICS, AND IMPROVED DATA-ACQUISITION SYSTEMS, WITH APPLICATION IN REMOTE DEPLOYMENT, INCLUDING DRONE BASED REMOTE RADIATION MONITORING. • RESEARCH DATA, IMPROVED DATA COLLECTION PROCESSES, AND SECURED AND TRUSTED DATA THAT ARE RELEVANT TO DOE/NNSA MISSION AREAS, AND FOR INFORMATION ACCESS AND INTEGRATION FOR EFFICIENT RESPONSES TO RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS AND TERRORISM. • SUSTAINABLE PIPELINE OF NEXT-GENERATION TECHNICAL WORKFORCE FOR THE DOE/NNSA AND RELATED STEM INDUSTRIES.

81.123 - National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Program

National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) [DOE]

NNSA Weapons Activities [DOE - NNSA]

Multi-State United States

Multi-State

Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (DE-FOA-0002144)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 30% from $2,833,627 to $3,683,627.