Vicksburg, Miss.— To attract the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals, the U.S. Army Engineer and Research Development Center (ERDC) hosted several universities as part of a multi-institutional partnership.
Graduate students and faculty from Jackson State University, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University and Texas Southern University are all members of the “Improving Access to Career and Educational Development” initiative (I-ACED), which visited the ERDC campus Feb. 1, for a day of tours, professional development, and STEM career exploration.
I-ACED is a multi-institutional National Science Foundation (NSF)-backed program that integrates internships and research experiences to prepare students for careers in engineering and STEM fields. The grant will support 220 students from low-income backgrounds seeking master’s degrees in engineering, computer science, mathematics and data science. The students choose between three technical tracks (Digital Twinning, Sustainability and Resilience, or Biotechnology), which were selected to align with ERDC research and development priorities. For the ERDC, the program will help create a pipeline of academically talented students from partnering HBCUs and Rice University.
Current ERDC employees who recently graduated from college gave insight to the students about the organization, what it offers and transitioning from intern to employee. Shiloh Williams, a software engineer for ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) who began as a student intern, appreciated the opportunity to advise the visitors and looks forward to seeing the progress of the I-ACED program.
“It felt great to provide insight to possible ERDC STEM professionals,” said Williams, a Grambling State University alumnus. “I think that the I-ACED program could be fruitful to ERDC because it allows us to reach those unaware of our STEM opportunities. As a former student intern who transitioned to an ERDC professional, I’ve always appreciated having opportunities like this one, so I’m excited to see the I-ACED program’s potential.”
The showcase also exposed students to translating their skills into a professional setting and managing work-life balance. Joelle Westcott, a research civil engineer in ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) Centrifuge Research Complex, applauded the I-ACED program for previewing what a career at ERDC looks like.
“Students get a chance to witness firsthand how the skills they are learning in school can be applied in a professional setting, providing practical exposure and real-world insights,” said Westcott, a University of Colorado alumna. “I think opportunities such as the I-ACED visit allow personal and professional development where students can ask about opportunities at ERDC and work-life balance, benefits, quality of life, and other personal considerations.”
Advice from the panelists inspired others to consider beginning their careers at ERDC. Daylon Atkinson, a Prairie View A&M University student majoring in computer science/cyber security, said a career at ERDC is possible after listening to the panelists.
“ERDC is a place I could see myself working, especially after listening to a panel of recent college graduates and their thought process about starting their careers here,” said Atkinson. “I’m able to relate to the graduates’ reasons for wanting to work here, and I like the work/life balance, benefits, the freedom to work on projects and at the lab of your choice, and the ability to research what I feel is impactful to the environment and nation.”
Getting a glimpse into the technology that ERDC engineers research daily also intrigued the visitors. Hend Shahin, a Texas Southern University student majoring in transportation planning and management, was impressed by the projects of ERDC engineers and scientists.
“It was a cool experience seeing research and development being conducted,” said Shahin. “I enjoyed the tour and seeing what scientists and engineers do here. I enjoyed seeing the work that scientists and engineers do with artificial intelligence. It is interesting because the projects remind me of something I’d see in a movie. So, it was cool to see technology like that in real life.”
Visitors admired how ERDC encourages its scientists and engineers to express their ideas and explore ways of bringing them to life. Alejandro Valdez, a master of bioengineering major at Rice University, applauded the agency for providing opportunities for their workforce to thrive.
“ERDC is a great place to conduct research because it positions engineers to express their ideas and seek mentorship to help bring their ideas to fruition,” said Valdez.
The visit ended with Dr. Ramamoorthy Ramesh, executive vice president for Research at Rice University, signing an Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA) along with Dr. David Pittman, ERDC Director, solidifying agreements with all four I-ACED partnering universities.
Quincy Alexander, chief of ITL’s Software Engineer and Informatics Division and ERDC project administration and management team lead for the I-ACED program, believes the signage positions ERDC and partnering universities to collaborate better and engage in research and development efforts.
“The signage provides a mechanism for us to leverage the unique competencies and facilities that the universities offer that complement ERDC research and development efforts while allowing us to engage with students and collaborate with faculty,” said Alexander.
Alexander was honored to play a role in the visit.
“This ranks among the most rewarding outreach efforts that I have been a part of at ERDC,” said Alexander. “Especially after the event concluded, witnessing a large group of students engaging with our leadership, passionately sharing their observations and motivations for returning to ERDC. Similarly, representatives from universities were actively discussing plans for return visits to introduce more faculty members, sustain collaborative discussions, and explore hosting ERDC at their campuses.”