9/24/2026
FAU Wins $400K Grant for STEM Careers
The three-year NSF project aims to boost biotech workforce readiness for undergraduate students.
Florida Atlantic University has received a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant for “Research to Reality: Connecting Discovery, Industry, and Innovation to Accelerate Workforce Readiness.” The three-year project will explore how industry-informed research, entrepreneurship training and early engagement can better prepare undergraduate students for careers in biotechnology and the life sciences.
The project will connect students with research, internships, industry experiences and AI-enabled learning while expanding access to workforce opportunities. The project team also will examine how these approaches can strengthen career readiness, particularly for transfer and first-generation students, and develop practices that can be adapted by institutions nationwide.
“This grant gives us an opportunity to rethink how we prepare students for the life sciences workforce by bringing the realities of research, industry and innovation directly into the undergraduate experience,” said principal investigator Bethany A. Stanhope. “Students need more than scientific knowledge; they need opportunities to solve authentic problems, work in teams, communicate their ideas and understand how research translates into real-world applications. This project will help us identify and strengthen those experiences so students graduate with the confidence, skills and practical experience to succeed in the rapidly evolving life sciences workforce.”