N.C. A&T, Collins Aerospace Sign Research Agreement for Engineering

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Jan. 31, 2024) ­- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University College of Engineering has partnered with Collins Aerospace in an agreement that will enable rapid development and execution of fundamental research in areas critical to future aerospace technologies. Collins is a business of RTX, the world’s largest aerospace and defense company.

Research areas critical to both Collins and N.C. A&T such as material science, autonomous systems, AI and machine learning, and sustainability made the agreement synergistic, said Stephanie Luster-Teasley, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Engineering.

“There are direct relations to the research we do in the College of Engineering and the mission purpose of Collins Aerospace,” Luster-Teasley said. “Being able to partner with Collins really gives our students the opportunities for hands-on research at each level – undergraduate and graduate.”

“Our collaboration with N.C. A&T holds great significance, marking Collins’ first master research agreement with a historically Black college or university,” said Mary Lombardo, vice president, Applied Research & Technology for Collins Aerospace. “Through this partnership, we aim to harness the institution's technical prowess, conducting pivotal work in emerging aerospace technologies. Simultaneously, we are dedicated to fostering diversity by contributing to the development of the next generation of Black engineers.”

With locations in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and the Raleigh-Durham area, A&T’s presence near Collins sites in North Carolina also contributed to the partnership.

“We are very intrigued with the level and depth of research at N.C. A&T as well as the continued investment in building up research facilities on campus. That and the proximity to our locations was paramount to us,” Lombardo said. “There is such great talent in our own backyard and we are excited to have the opportunity to develop a closer relationship between N.C. A&T students and our global engineering workforce throughout RTX.”