Posted on February 10, 2021; Updated: February 10, 2021
COLOMBIA, SC – February 10, 2021 – The University of South Carolina and the Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) are partnering to conduct critical research at one of the country’s leading national laboratories – the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).
South Carolina is an important member of the BSRA team that includes four other universities in the region: Clemson University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia and South Carolina State University. South Carolina also brings the University of South Carolina Aiken as part of UofSC’s partnership agreement with BSRA.
UofSC will impact scientific developments locally, nationally and internationally, providing cutting edge advances in national security, energy and environmental research. The university’s efforts will drive the development of the lab’s workforce and strengthen its ability to meet more needs of national laboratories.
The South Carolina system will recruit faculty members on the Columbia and Aiken campuses as part of its role in supporting the SRNL management and operations contract, announced by the Department of Energy in December. These professors will collaborate with SRNL to train the next generation of national laboratory employees and expand South Carolina’s economic base, developing technology solutions for the state and industries in the country.
In addition, UofSC will recruit other personnel who will engage in workforce research and development during the five-year period of the initial contract.
The contract includes a five-year basic agreement with five one-year options. The estimated value of the contract is $ 3.8 billion over 10 years if all options are exercised.
“The reach of this laboratory will be global. The impact of UofSC in the future will be greatly amplified as a result of this partnership, ”said Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing. “This is also a significant injection into the state’s economy, developing the workforce, recruiting professors and graduate students and bringing in talents that help bring UofSC to the laboratory and create joint positions.”
Employing approximately 1,000 employees, SRNL conducts research and development for several federal agencies, providing practical and economical solutions to the country’s environmental, nuclear safety, energy and manufacturing challenges. As the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Laboratory, SRNL provides strategic scientific and technological support for the country’s $ 6 billion per year waste cleaning program.
UofSC will establish a graduate scholarship program to encourage a diverse workforce in the laboratory. UofSC Aiken, which will focus on advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and virtual reality workforce development and research, will establish an educational summer camp for high school students.
“This means developing the workforce at all levels, specifically reaching students at all levels, up to high school or even younger,” said Haj-Hariri. “Part of the laboratory’s management is to expand its workforce, knowledge base and unique facilities to meet more national needs.”
South Carolina attributes the success of BSRA’s bidding, in large part, to the strong support provided by the state leadership.
“The University of South Carolina is honored to be part of this unique collaboration,” said UofSC President Bob Caslen. “With the support of Governor McMaster and state leadership, researchers and students on our Columbia and Aiken campuses, as well as those in South Carolina and Clemson, will be involved in major scientific discoveries and industrial innovation for many years.”
“This is a transformative opportunity for our research community and will position UofSC to reach new heights of research excellence,” said Prakash Nagarkatti, vice president of research. “Our role in managing the Savannah River National Laboratory will help us attract new innovative teachers and excellent students to join our ranks.”
About the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a globally recognized high-impact research university, committed to a superior student experience and dedicated to innovation in learning, research and community engagement. Founded in 1801, the university offers more than 350 degree programs and is a first-rate research institution of the Carnegie Foundation. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of 20 locations across the state, including the research campus in Columbia. With 56 nationally ranked academic programs, including the best programs in international business, the country’s best honor faculty and differentiated programs in engineering, law, medicine, public health and the arts, the university is helping to build healthier and more educated communities in South Carolina and around the world.
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Topics: Research, Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Computing