In addition to funding the holder of the Chair of Excellence, the Chairs grant provides support for a full-time research associate and several graduate students. The uniqueness of this instrument is that it permits identification and quantification of heat labile chemicals. Morgan State University Accomplished only after Morgan State received the Massie Chair funding, the University now has master and doctorate of engineering degrees. Morgan State University is in the process of negotiating at least three efforts that have their basis in the Chairs of Excellence Program. One includes a relationship with the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Stone and Webster Company.
Legal discussions are underway.
A second involves a relationship with cleanup problems being experienced at Edgewood Arsenal related to the chemical weapons stock pile. The third is related to the newly established Empowerment Zone project in Baltimore where serious environmental challenges exist due to past industrial practices. As a result of the grant, a Chemiluminescent Source Analyzer, a GBC System 3000 Automated Graphite Furnace, and three HP Workstations have been purchased and incorporated into the existing engineering lab. The research of eight graduate students and 38 undergraduate students have been supported by Chair funds. Matching funds are also being sought from private industry.