Issue:
Biological threats and hazards can significantly impact the Nation’s health, critical infrastructure, and economy. To help address these threats, CBTS is partnering with Texas A&M University to continue the Summer Research Institute in agriculture biodefense for two more years. This program will help build and sustain future homeland security capacity by engaging undergraduate students in biodefense research projects. The CBTS Summer Research Institute will support faculty who are subject matter experts in plant pest and disease detection and upper-class undergraduate student teams in hands-on 10-week summer research programs to counter biological threats, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate in origin and whether impacting human, animal, plant, or environmental health. Invited guest lectures and field trips with industry and DHS officials will round-out student experiences with opportunities to learn about the broad range of career opportunities in the homeland security enterprise.
Objective:
- Provide education and hands-on research experience for promising science and engineering undergraduate students.
- Engage faculty and students in DHS mission-relevant projects, learn about careers in the homeland security enterprise, and engage with DHS stakeholders
- Enhance the professional development and career interests of these students and make them aware of career opportunities within Homeland Security and the greater Homeland Security enterprise.
Value Proposition:
This project builds on the success of the previous year’s SRI programs. This program will provide opportunities for undergraduate students to gain research experience in biothreat defense and become exposed to relevant careers in the homeland security enterprise.
| Project Lead | Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Weslaco |
| Research Team | PI: Kranthi Mandadi, PhD |
| Budget | $511,522 |
| Duration | TBD – December 2026 |