Alabama’s plasma science initiative yields promising results, eyes major future funding
A decade-long federal investment of $40 million in plasma science and engineering (PSE) efforts in Alabama, managed by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), is showing promising results.
This initiative, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), aims to position Alabama as a leader in the high-tech PSE industry.
Dr. Sandra Richardson, section head for the Research Capacity and Competitiveness Section in the NSF’s Office of Integrative Activities, highlighted the program’s impact.
“Plasma science and engineering has the potential to transform many areas of modern society,” Richardson noted, citing applications in materials science, agriculture, sterilization, food safety, and space weather forecasting.
She emphasized the program’s alignment with enhancing Alabama’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) capabilities and workforce development.
The NSF EPSCoR program has funded two significant projects in Alabama, both managed by UAH.
The current project, Future Technologies & Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP), is a $20 million, five-year initiative directed by Dr. Gary Zank, Aerojet Rocketdyne Chair of the Department of Space Science at UAH and director of the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR).
FTPP follows the earlier $20 million CPU2AL project, which aimed to connect plasma research with practical technology applications in the state.
FTPP is a collaborative effort involving nine Alabama universities and a research corporation, including UAH, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University, Tuskegee University, the University of South Alabama, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Oakwood University, and CFD Research Corp.
Looking ahead, there is potential for Alabama to secure up to $160 million in additional NSF funding under the Regional Innovation Engines program. This funding would further establish Alabama as a southeastern hub for plasma research and innovation, creating thousands of high-paying technical jobs in the region.
“The success of these projects, alongside other investments, positions Alabama well for major funding opportunities,” Richardson said, highlighting the broader impact of NSF engines on regional innovation ecosystems and workforce development.
Cover image: Provided by Michael Mercier/UAH
