Richard Shelby announces $3.2M grant for new research facility at Troy University

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Troy University
Troy University [Photo Credit: Troy University via Facebook]

A $3.2 million grant has been awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to build a new research facility at Troy University.

Alabama senior U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced the grant Friday that will go to build the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences (CMMS), which will serve as a facility for researching recycled plastic materials.

“The new facility at Troy University will serve as an avenue for groundbreaking research, creating an environment for students to learn the issues involving polymers and develop impactful solutions for the plastics industry,” said Shelby. “I am confident that this funding will promote economic development throughout Troy and the surrounding area by training the workforce of the future.”

The $3.2 million grant from NIST will provide Troy with a three-year grant to fund research involving the properties of polymers in plastics during the course of recycling and manufacturing. The new facility will give students the opportunity to learn about the issues and solutions related to plastics recycling. The work at the new center will be guided by an industry road mapping exercise and technical advisory board. The first phase of the funding is primarily intended to develop existing labs to include capabilities in polymer characterization, testing, and processing.

CMMS will serve as a fully integrated multi-disciplinary research facility that will aid across majors and academic ranks. Undergraduate students will be encouraged to enter into research early in their academic career in order to develop a sustained and deeper understanding of the field. Faculty researchers and students will form the mainstay for the Center. The establishment of the center will facilitate and enhance Troy University’s present partnering with the local polymer and plastics industry in order to increase competitiveness in the marketplace. This will assist in improving the targeted industries’ ability to retain and increase job production while also allowing for expansion of products and markets – both locally and globally.