Louisiana Tech University is strengthening its role as an engine of research, innovation, and economic growth with a new $954,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand engineering research capacity and develop the next generation of researchers and leaders.
The award comes amid growing research activity within Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science (COES). Research expenditures increased more than 30 percent from 2024 to 2025, while proposals seeking external research funding have increased 16 percent. Together, those gains reflect the College’s broader success in expanding research and scholarship efforts, attracting investment and talent, and strengthening Louisiana Tech’s role as an engine of innovation and economic growth for the region.
Through the three-year NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program, six doctoral students in COES will conduct advanced research while receiving leadership training, mentoring, and opportunities to work with industry and community partners. By investing in both research and the people who drive it, the program will strengthen Louisiana’s workforce and position the region for continued innovation and economic growth.
“This investment is about building the research capacity and intellectual capital that can move our region forward,” said Dr. Collin Wick, dean of COES and principal investigator for the project. “We want Louisiana Tech to be a place where talented engineers and scientists come to learn, conduct meaningful research, and generate ideas that lead to innovation and economic opportunity. Developing that kind of environment strengthens our university, but its impact extends far beyond our campus.”
Wick serves alongside co-principal investigators Dr. Arden Moore, Dr. Krystal Cruse, and Dr. John Matthews. Their collaboration reflects a broader effort within COES to grow research activity at every level.
“Graduate education is about developing technical expertise, but it is also about preparing people to use it effectively,” said Moore, associate dean for Research in COES. “By connecting research with leadership, mentoring, and regional partnerships, this program gives our doctoral students an opportunity to grow as researchers while contributing to Louisiana’s workforce and economy.”
Work on the grant is slated to begin in March 2027 and continue through February 2030.