9630167 Odom The major strategies to yield permanent improvements in the quality of science and technology research that will increase the competitiveness of the State's major research universities for federal and private sector R&D funds are: 1) the addition of new tenure track faculty in targeted research areas, 2) graduate student support, and 3) programs to increase linkages between academic researchers and their industrial colleagues. Three multi- disciplinary research areas have been selected for enhancement based on their scientific merit and potential for high payoff and success. They are: Mechanics and Materials Research to Evaluate and Improve the Strength of Structural Joints in Transportation Systems; Fundamental Studies at Polymer/Material Interfaces: A Junior Faculty Development Proposal in Optical Sensing; and An Interdisciplinary Program in Signal Transduction. Partnerships with two other NSF-funded initiatives in South Carolina-the Statewide Systemic Initiative (SSI) and Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) programs will also be established to increase the number of minority students being encouraged to pursue careers in science, engineering and mathematics fields.
