Universities are expressing increased interest in learning how to do business with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), a component of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). In response to this interest, last month the Basic Research Innovation and Collaboration Center (BRICC) hosted “AFOSR Engage: HBCU/MI and Special Programs.”  This outreach event was to give Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) interested in working with AFRL a closer look at the AFRL Research Enterprise and an opportunity for researchers from those institutions to learn about funding, partnership, and career opportunities available through AFRL and AFOSR.

The event was held virtually through Zoom Webinar and streamed live through YouTube. Presentations were given on various AFOSR funding programs such as HBCU/MI programs as well as the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) from Program Coordinator Edward Lee. AFRL Program Manager Ashley Blackford spoke about the Minority Leaders/ Research Collaboration Program (ML/RCP). Bryan Stevens, AFOSR’s Chief of Workforce Strategy and Data Intelligence, and Dr. Marcus Smith, AFRL’s Diversity and Inclusion Officer spoke about Recruiting Opportunities. A panel discussion was also held in which Program Officers gave their perspectives on AFOSR funding to help prospective PI’s interface more effectively with PO’s.

The event included many interactive elements. A question-and-answer session was held after each talk, and informal polls were given to attendees throughout the event to gauge their interest in each funding vehicle and to discover their priorities in partnerships with AFOSR. A virtual whiteboard was made available where attendees could provide written feedback to help AFOSR understand how best to support attendees and their institutions. At the end of the presentations, attendees were given access to Wonder, a virtual networking platform, which provided them a chance to interact one on one with Program Officers and Project Managers, simulating a coffee break or happy hour type of environment.

“AFOSR believes in the projects they fund,” said Dr. Abdulla Darwish, Presidential Professor of Physics at Dillard University (DU). “They want to build long-term connections based on trust. The return on investment they are interested in is not just about money, but about solving real problems. They are invested in your success, and care about helping you achieve your scientific goals.”

Dr. Darwish, has a long history of partnering with AFOSR. Dillard has been rated among the nation’s top ten HBCUs, is second in graduating black females in Physics and has also been rated in the top 10 liberal arts schools for social mobility. Among other activities with AFOSR, Dr. Darwish runs Dillard’s AFOSR-funded Women in STEM High School Experience in Summer (WISHES) program. DU WISHES is geared toward black women in 7th–12th grade, providing female students from underrepresented communities hands-on STEM experience and critical thinking training for future college and workforce success.  

AFOSR spends $4.5 million annually on funding for programs at HBCUs and MIs. Between 2016 and 2020, AFOSR funded 278 principal investigators (PIs) over 116 science areas, totaling $216.77 million. HBCUs constitute a significant portion of AFOSR’s annual investment, and this event sought to expand that investment.

The BRICC, enabled through a partnership intermediary agreement between AFOSR and the Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation, aims to provide connections between industry, individuals, universities, and government research centers with experts inside the Air Force science and technology enterprise.

Originally Published: April 13, 2021