Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) is pleased to announce that Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, GA has been awarded a $49,526 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The award will support a workshop project to connect engineering and science students from underrepresented populations to currently funded NSF Research Centers.
 
This project, entitled Broadening Participation in Engineering through Center-based Research, will be carried out under the direction of Felicia Jefferson, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Fort Valley State University. The award has an official start date of September 1, 2018. The project will provide for a workshop to connect underrepresented and women students with socially relevant, convergent research to build capacity for competitive fellowship applications. The workshop incorporates introductions to researchers, professional development, and training in scientific writing.
 
“As an 1890 Public Land Grant University, Fort Valley State has long been dedicated to providing a science and research focused education to underserved audiences, and this grant for the National Science Foundation enhances that mission,” said Congressman Bishop. “The workshop supported by this grant will connect students directly with researchers, providing students with the opportunity to apply their education to new and ongoing research opportunities.”
 
Originally chartered in 1895, Fort Valley State University is located in Peach County, GA. As a public historically black college or university (HBCU), Fort Valley has highly commended biology and chemistry departments which send more students of African descent to medical and dental schools than any other state school in Georgia.