FAU Awarded $4M in Federal Funding to Support Key Research Programs
Federal Awards Snapshot: FAU has secured $4 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2026 to support three transformative programs advancing national priorities in defense readiness, semiconductor workforce development and neurological disease research. The investment strengthens FAU’s research infrastructure and reinforces its role as a leading public R1 university delivering high-impact research, workforce training and solutions that benefit ֱ̲ and the nation.
The awards include $2 million from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force to advance secure wireless networks for AI-enabled autonomous systems, $1 million to establish a Chip Design Hub preparing students for careers in the semiconductor industry, and $1 million to expand FAU’s NeuroInnovate Center to accelerate noninvasive treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Together, these initiatives will drive innovation, support economic growth and improve quality of life through advances in national security, technology and health.
ֱ̲ Atlantic University has secured $4 million in federal funding in fiscal year 2026 to support three transformative programs that advance national priorities in defense readiness, semiconductor workforce development and neurological disease research. The funding, awarded across multiple federal budget categories, reinforces FAU’s position as a leading R1 public research university.
“We are thankful to President Trump and our congressional delegation for championing federal funding to advance innovation and discovery at their Hometown University. We truly appreciate Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for her appropriations leadership on our neurological disease initiatives and Congressman Moskowitz for his support of the semiconductor chip design hub. We are also excited about what this means for our leading research-driven programs,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “This federal investment recognizes ֱ̲ Atlantic’s growing national impact in strengthening our economy, enhancing our national security, and improving quality of life. It solidifies our role as the region’s academic leader, bridging world-class research with industry-ready solutions that position South ֱ̲ as a premier innovation hub.”
The largest award, $2 million from the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force, supports the Programmatic Computing Fabric Networks initiative led by FAU’s Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Directed by Dimitris Pados, Ph.D., professor, director of the CA-AI, and a fellow of the FAU Sensing Institute in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the initiative establishes a joint ֱ̲–New York Air Force University Center with the University at Buffalo to advance research, development and education in secure, resilient and software-programmable wireless networks for AI-enabled robotic platforms.
As wirelessly networked autonomous systems increasingly define both defense and civilian operations, ensuring secure and agile control of the electromagnetic spectrum has become a critical national imperative. This program addresses that need by accelerating U.S.-based research in programmable radios, adaptive networks and secure computing silicon capable of operating across environments ranging from underwater to space. By developing software-defined networks that are interference-avoiding, self-healing and resilient in highly contested electromagnetic environments, the center aims to preserve and expand the nation’s strategic advantage in spectrum operations.
Equally important, the initiative is designed to cultivate the next generation of engineers and computer scientists who will build and deploy these advanced systems. Through a comprehensive model that integrates innovative, project-based learning and workforce development from high school through doctoral education, students will gain experience spanning antenna design to real-world applications. The center’s work will also fuel economic growth in South ֱ̲ by strengthening ties with defense and technology partners, supporting job creation and reinforcing the region’s role in advancing the National Defense Strategy.
FAU also secured $1 million, championed by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., to establish a Chip Design Hub through advanced chip design, testing and fabrication laboratory equipment in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Led by Maria Larrondo-Petrie, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the initiative supports the creation of a collaborative South ֱ̲ Regional Chip Design Hub aligned with statewide and national efforts to reestablish American leadership in semiconductor innovation.
As the semiconductor industry undergoes rapid transformation and expansion, the demand for a highly trained workforce has never been greater. This investment represents a strategic commitment to equipping students with the technical skills, laboratory experience and applied knowledge required to succeed in microelectronics engineering. By providing access to state-of-the-art equipment and immersive, hands-on learning opportunities, FAU is preparing graduates to address the full complexity of modern chip design, testing and fabrication.
The Chip Design Hub will serve as a cornerstone for regional collaboration, connecting education, industry and government to support innovation and economic growth. Through this initiative, FAU is building critical infrastructure that not only strengthens the talent pipeline but also positions South ֱ̲ as a meaningful contributor to the nation’s semiconductor ecosystem and long-term technological competitiveness.
A third $1 million award, championed by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., advances the FAU NeuroInnovate Center, a key component of FAU’s robust neuroscience ecosystem. With Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) affecting millions of Americans – and ֱ̲ ranking among the states most impacted – this investment enhances FAU’s ability to pursue groundbreaking research and clinical innovation aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes.
The NeuroInnovate Center brings together FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine, the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, and medical technology partner Insightec to advance the use of focused ultrasound as a noninvasive treatment for neurological disease. This technology has already demonstrated success in treating PD and is showing promise in enabling targeted drug delivery for AD and other conditions by safely disrupting the blood-brain barrier.
Equipped with an integrated suite of advanced clinical and preclinical technologies – including high-field MRI systems, functional neuroimaging, in-scanner EEG, physiological monitoring and focused ultrasound – the NeuroInnovate Center supports the full continuum of discovery, from foundational research to FDA-regulated clinical trials and patient care. Under the leadership of Michael Dobbs, M.D., chair of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, the center provides students, residents and researchers with unparalleled exposure to emerging tools that are reshaping how brain diseases are studied and treated.
“As an R1 research university, ֱ̲ Atlantic is committed to conducting bold, interdisciplinary research that delivers real-world impact,” said Gregg Fields, Ph.D., FAU vice president for research. “These federal investments accelerate our ability to push the boundaries of discovery, translate innovation into practice and train the talent that will shape the future. From advancing national defense and rebuilding America’s semiconductor leadership to transforming the treatment of neurological diseases, FAU’s research enterprise is improving lives across ֱ̲ and far beyond. The impact of this work will be felt for generations.”
-FAU-
Tags: research | engineering | medicine | technology | AI