16/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 16/04/2024 09:14
To bolster the success of cutting-edge technologies, the Department of Defense (DoD) has announced a $221 million allocation towards basic defense-related research projects. UC San Diego researchers and scientists are leading teams or part of teams on four key projects.
This significant investment is part of the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI)awards program, aimed at fostering innovative solutions to complex challenges faced by the military.
This year's funding will support 30 teams across 73 U.S. academic institutions, with an average award amount of $7.5 million over five years. These grants, subject to satisfactory research progress and funding availability, are expected to accelerate scientific breakthroughs and facilitate the transition of basic research into practical applications.
"Celebrating UC San Diego's pivotal role in advancing critical defense research, we are honored to lead and participate in groundbreaking projects that promise to enhance the landscape of U.S. defense advantage and scientific discovery," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "Our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative solutions underscores our university's unwavering dedication to addressing the complex challenges facing our nation and the world."
Since its inception in 1985, the MURI program has been instrumental in advancing crucial technologies for military and civilian purposes. Notable achievements include breakthroughs in quantum sensing and detection physics for landmines.
This is the second year that the university has had a strong showing amongst awardees. In 2022 UC San Diego was a record-setter among MURI-competing institutions with five awards: two as the lead institution and three as a partner.
"UC San Diego is proud to be at the forefront of transformative research initiatives that enhance our nation's defense capabilities and drive innovation across diverse scientific disciplines," said Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa. "Through our continued collaboration with the Department of Defense and other esteemed institutions, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering a brighter, more secure future for all."
In an effort to promote continued diversity and inclusion, the Fiscal Year 2024 competition allocated additional funding to support historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. Seven such proposals were selected to receive support in the MURI projects, underscoring the program's commitment to fostering talent from all backgrounds.
Dr. Bindu Nair, Director of the Basic Research Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, emphasized the program's commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
"The science and engineering challenges we face today are highly complex and cross-disciplinary," Dr. Nair stated. "The MURI program acknowledges these complexities by supporting teams whose members have diverse sets of expertise as well as creative scientific approaches to tackling problems."
The rigorous selection process involved a comprehensive review of 276 white papers, culminating in 30 final awards. Among the recipients, UC San Diego stands out for its notable contributions. Projects with UC San Diego participation include researchers Boris Kramer, Jorge Cortes, Kamalika Chaudhuri and Matthew Alford promise groundbreaking advancements in various domains, ranging from multi-agent systems to deep-sea exploration.
With these investments, the DoD aims to stay at the forefront of technological innovation, ensuring the nation's defense capabilities remain robust and resilient in an ever-evolving landscape of threats and challenges.
UC San Diego is notable for being the lead or part of four notable projects in various disciplines: