Scientific Leadership Awards

DHS canceled this program in April 2025. In support of the Science and Technology Directorate's mission to build a pipeline of diverse talent knowledgeable in the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of University Programs administers the Scientific Leadership Awards (SLA) for Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). SLAs fund homeland security-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research at MSIs and supplement existing academic institution curricula with homeland security challenges to prepare MSI students for successful careers within the homeland security enterprise. OBJECTIVES: (1) provide advanced professional and research development opportunities for fellows, scholars and faculty in targeted areas; (2)increase the intellectual capacity, skills and talents, especially those of U.S. citizens in areas of relevance to homeland security; (3) to attract undergraduate and graduate students to obtain advanced degrees in disciplines of importance to homeland security; and (4) to increase the diversity of and highly talented cadre of new and emerging science and technology expertise working in areas of importance and need to homeland security.