Florida A&M University has received a two-year, $321,000 subaward through Purdue’s BIP 2.0 program, funded by the Office of Naval Research, to expand student research and workforce development. The award supports geospatial science, nearshore mapping, and AI-enabled marine sensing, and backs training, research assistantships, coastal fieldwork, and computational modeling. Led at the consortium level by Luciano Castillo, Ph.D., the effort builds on FAMU collaborations spearheaded by Rosny Jean, Ph.D., including the SHIP-AID underwater hazard-detection algorithm. The project emphasizes hands-on student experience and federal partnerships to advance environmental intelligence and national-security research.
Florida A&M Wins $321K Subaward to Advance Geospatial, Marine and AI Research
Florida A&M University (FAMU) has received a two-year subaward worth $321,000 as part of a national initiative led by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to cultivate a diverse, highly skilled STEM workforce. The funding supports student training and research addressing emerging environmental challenges and national security priorities, strengthening FAMU’s role in research, innovation, and workforce development.
The subaward is provided through Purdue University’s Blue Integrated Partnership (BIP 2.0), a program backed by a $9.89 million ONR grant. The overall project is led by Luciano Castillo, Ph.D., Kenninger Professor of Renewable Energy and Power Systems in Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering. Through this partnership, FAMU will expand programs in geospatial science, nearshore mapping, and AI-enabled marine sensing.
"This project places our students at the intersection of data, environment, and national priorities," said Provost Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D. "By engaging in applied research alongside federal and academic partners, they develop the skills and perspective required to solve complex problems beyond the classroom."
The subaward builds on FAMU’s growing portfolio of collaborative research led by Rosny Jean, Ph.D., assistant professor of geospatial and environmental analysis in the FAMU School of the Environment. Jean has partnered with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWC Newport), where he developed the SHIP-AID algorithm. SHIP-AID uses deep learning and advanced geospatial analytics to detect and assess underwater hazards — an example of how FAMU researchers are applying AI to environmental and national-security problems.
"This partnership creates tremendous opportunities for our students to work on real-world problems that matter," Jean said. "Whether through geospatial applications, ocean modeling, or advanced machine learning, students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in defense innovation and environmental intelligence."
Project Activities and Student Opportunities
The project will fund a range of academic and research activities designed to build workforce readiness and interdisciplinary expertise, including:
- Student training programs and experiential learning
- Research assistantships and mentorship with federal and academic partners
- Coastal fieldwork and nearshore mapping exercises
- Advanced computational and AI-enabled modeling for marine sensing
- Consortium-wide collaboration with peers and experts across institutions
By combining hands-on fieldwork, computational modeling, and federal partnerships, the subaward aims to prepare FAMU students for careers at the nexus of environmental science, artificial intelligence, and national security.
