: Modesto JC awarded $400k grant by National Science Foundation. What will the grant be used for?

Modesto Junior College has secured a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation through its Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation (EPIIC) initiative. The funding will support a collaborative research program with Louisiana State University Eunice and the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill.

The EPIIC program is designed to assist minority-serving, two-year colleges that are expanding their research capabilities. At MJC, the School of Science, Engineering & Math and the School of Agriculture are slated to receive the majority of the funding.

The three colleges will collaborate on a project called A-SPARK: Agriculture and Science Practice and Access for Research-Driven Knowledge. According to MJCs press release, the grant will strengthen research infrastructure, broaden workforce development partnerships, and align initiatives with advances in biomanufacturing and the bioeconomy.

This support positions MJC as a central participant in the expanding circular bioeconomy of the North San Joaquin Valley, the statement read. It will provide students and faculty with new opportunities in education, professional growth, applied research, and collaborations with local industry and employers.

Author: Sophia Brooks