WASHINGTON –
U.S.
Senators Benjamin L. Cardin
and
Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) today announced the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) will receive $131,265 in grant funding from the United States Department of Education (USDE).
The funds will be used to increase the number of U.S. nationals and permanent residents seeking a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
“UMBC is one of our premier institutions in engineering, math and science and this grant will enable the university to attract and support future Ph.D. students in mechanical engineering,” said
Senator Cardin. “We need to support our educational institutions to ensure that America remains competitive in math, engineering and sciences, fields that will dominate the future.”
“Maryland has the resources and the infrastructure to guarantee any mechanical engineering graduate student a rich experience, not to mention job prospects in any of the technology and government industries located along the Baltimore-Washington corridor,”
Senator Mikulski said. “I applaud Dr. Hrabowski for pursuing this important source of funding, ensuring that Maryland stays competitive in graduate education – and the global economy.”
With the help of this USDE grant, UMBC will provide stipends and tuition for five graduate students and fund two fellowships within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. UMBC will use the awards to attract highly qualified Ph.D. applicants, giving priority to applicants based on citizenship, financial need and those traditionally underrepresented in mechanical engineering programs.
“We are excited about this funding because it allows us to produce even more American engineers who not only can fill more jobs, but also create jobs through their research,” said Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of UMBC. “This is great for Maryland's economy.”
The grant is awarded through USDE’s
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program
. The program provides funding to institutions of higher education to assist students to pursue graduate and doctoral degrees in a field designated as an area of national need.