DSU OSCAR Science Team Awarded $330,000 Research Grant

Highly sensitive detection and analysis of nuclear, chemical and biological materials is the goal of a new joint research and educational project recently awarded to the Optical Science Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) to train Delaware State University students. 

Funded by a $330,000 grant from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) – an agency within the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) – the project will familiarize students engaged in OSCAR programs with the NNSA mission. It will open up future employment opportunities in NNSA laboratories as well as collaborative projects for the OSCAR faculty.

“This is a logical step that OSCAR researchers are taking,” says Dr. Noureddine Melikechi, director of OSCAR and dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology.  “Excellence of our work is gradually but surely being recognized.  Being part of a major effort that could potentially yield new discoveries and technologies is an honor and a privilege.  OSCAR students will have excellent opportunities to contribute to a global scientific and technological challenge.”

DSU will join eight other universities and three DOE National Laboratories, (Los Alamos National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex) in work to enhance a collaboration that will integrate the academic activities of the universities with the research objectives of the national laboratories.  OSCAR faculty will lead these activities at DSU.

The effort is a $4.6 million project lasting three years, with DSU’s share being $330,000.  Some DSU students will do the research work in OSCAR and other University laboratories, while others will spend time at one of the DOE National Laboratories.

The project is entitled “Research on the Science and Engineering of Signatures,” or ROSES.  “Signature” in this sense refers to indications or evidence of specific materials being present, in the same way that a person’s written signature is evidence of his or her presence.  The signature of a particular nuclear compound or toxin, for example, might involve detecting specific colors (or wavelengths) of light emitted by the substance.

DSU’s participation in ROSES is led by Dr. Hacene Boukari, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Engineering and a member of the OSCAR science team.

“This program provides great opportunities to our students and researchers to familiarize themselves with the NNSA mission and research activities.,  Dr. Boukari said. “DSU is well-positioned to contribute in this growing field by integrating our strength in diverse areas of optical sciences with the research interests of NNSA.”