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Home | Featured News | Fermilab is a 2023 RENEW Awardee

Fermilab is a 2023 RENEW Awardee

Sep 5, 2023 | Department of Energy, Featured News, Fermilab, Press Release

DOE-SC Diversity Mission

September 5, 2023 – Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is broadening and diversifying the high energy physics (HEP) community through the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science (SC), ‘Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW)’ Funding Initiative.  RENEW aims to support members of underserved communities and fund emerging academic institutions not traditionally represented in the DOE SC research portfolio, with two primary goals: 1. Support investigators in building research infrastructure, and 2. Provide training and research experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty.

In August 2023, the DOE Office of Science announced the 2023 RENEW Awards. Fermilab is among the selectees in two awarded multi-institution team proposals, as lead and partner, respectively. These two teams brought together PIs and SMEs from Community Colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and R1 Institutions, along with Fermilab. The projects will span up to three years.

Learn more about RENEW-2023 Awards

Meet the Teams

Training Through Research in Quantum Information Science and Engineering at the SQMS Center

Principal Investigator: Dr. Silvia Zorzetti1
Co-Principal Investigators: Sandra Charles1, Dr. Henry Lamm1, Dr. Gabriel N. Perdue1, Dr. Stephen Providence2, Dr. Thomas A. Searles3, Dr. Yanhua Zhai4

Institutions:

1Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL 60510
2Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD 21216
3University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607
4Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30314

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) at Fermilab plans to leverage previous investments made by DOE-HEP in radiofrequency and superconducting radiofrequency technologies for particle accelerators and quantum computing to create new and sustainable career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields, including High Energy Physics and Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE), for historically underserved communities. Throughout the proposed Minority Serving Institution (MSI) HEP-QISE network program, participating students and faculty will have access to internships, externships, and hands-on research at Fermilab-SQMS, ultimately filling critical workforce needs in HEP and QISE.

Particle Accelerator Capabilities Enhancement and Modernization Apprenticeship Program (PACEMAP)

Principal Investigator: Danielle Kuglin Seago1
Co-Principal Investigators: Andreas Vrettos1, Dr. Amanda Early2, Michelle A. Ibrahim2

Institutions:

1Community College District 502 (College of DuPage) and Project Hire-Ed, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137-6708
2Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Batavia, IL 60510

Community College District 502 (College of DuPage/COD), and COD Project Hire-Ed Registered Apprenticeship Program, in partnership with Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, seeks to create a multi-year apprenticeship program for Electrical Technicians. A skilled Electrical Technician workforce equipped with the knowledge for projects within particle accelerator fields is necessary, as accelerator laboratories modernize critical systems. PACEMAP will pilot and implement a coordinated school-to-career ecosystem with an apprenticeship model of services and training instruction for six apprentices by the end of the grant term. Individual apprentices will earn both, the Electronics Technology Certificate and the Advanced Electronics Technology Certificate from the COD. The program will also reduce barriers to success and engage these learners in transdisciplinary activities to increase knowledge and skills, much needed in the energy sector.