UAH produces tangible results in plasma science and engineering research

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. ( WHNT ) — The University of Alabama in Huntsville is producing results in plasma science and engineering during a 10-year federal investment.

A $40 million federal investment was given to nine Alabama universities and a research corporation for the Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Process (FTPP):

• The University of Alabama at Huntsville
• 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
• CFD Research Corp

The current grant is a $20 million, five-year FTPP project directed by Dr. Gary Zank. This grant follows an earlier five-year, $20 million grant called CPU2AL: Connecting the Plasma Universe to Plasma Technology in Alabama.

Dr. Sandra Richardson said UAH is providing tangible results that are encouraging for future research and development. Dr. Richardson is the section head for the Research Capacity and Competitiveness Section in the Office of Integrative Activities at the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Sustained support by the NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is expanding Alabama’s expertise and knowledge in plasma, a versatile and highly energized form of gas. This plasma is said to have numerous scientific and commercial applications.

Alabama is powering toward leadership nationally in the high-technology PSE industry by building a homegrown collaborative base for research, new technology development and a commercialized and knowledgeable workforce.

Dr. Richardson said, “Plasma science and engineering has the potential to transform many areas of modern society.”

FTPP is the starting point towards a larger grant of up to $160 million under a program that funds Regional Innovation Engines. Reaching that level of support would establish Alabama as a southeastern hub for plasma expertise. It would boost the creation of thousands of high-paying technical careers in the state and region.

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