2026 Collaboration Grant Awards
Project Title: Integrated Shared Autonomy and Digital Twin Framework for Intelligent Human-Robot Teaming in Warehouse Logistics
Institutional Partners: Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Tesca Fitzgerald, Dr. Moses Garuba, Dr. Younho Seong, and Dr. Sun Yi
Project Scope: Modern warehouse and logistics operations increasingly depend on robotic systems to manage the scale and variety of fulfillment demands. This project unites two complementary research thrusts into a single, integrated framework for intelligent human-robot teaming. The first thrust, led by Yale and Hampton University, focuses on Shared Autonomy for precision manipulation: developing
algorithms that allow human supervisors to easily specify not just what objects the robot should manipulate, but how to manipulate them. The second thrust, led by NC A&T State University and Yale, introduces Digital Twin simulation and Gesture-Based Reinforcement Learning: an intuitive virtual-reality interface that lets operators modify robot behavior in real time through natural hand gestures. The 16-month project will produce open-source software, peer-reviewed publications, and a pipeline of diverse, highly-trained STEM researchers.
Project Title: AI-Powered Hurricane Turbulence: Next-Gen Remote Sensing
Institutional Partner: Hampton University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Alex Wong and Dr. Stephen Guimond
Project Scope: This collaborative project between Hampton University and Yale University aims to improve hurricane intensity forecasts by integrating unique radar turbulence data with geostationary satellite data using artificial intelligence algorithms. The goal is to achieve comprehensive spatial and temporal coverage of critical boundary layer properties needed for accurate prediction systems.
Project Title: Multi-Domain Modeling and Control of Batteries for Grid Service
Institutional Partner: Hampton University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. David Kwabi and Dr. Xiang Huo
Project Scope: The M2C-BaGSP project aims to develop a unified, low-cost, multi-domain modeling and control framework that combines realistic predictions of battery performance with the requirements and constraints of a power grid. The resulting work will bridge physics-based battery dynamics with distribution-level grid service provision to guide battery-to-grid integration, enhance grid resilience, and strengthen STEM workforce development.
Project Title: Proton Radiation – Induced Metabolic and DNA-Repair Vulnerabilities in Pediatric Sarcomas
Institutional Partner: Hampton University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Juan Vasquez and Dr. Mengistu Shukare
Project Scope: This project brings together complementary expertise in mitochondrial remodeling, proton beam induced stress responses, and therapeutic targeting of metabolic and DNA repair pathways in pediatric sarcoma. This project will investigate how proton radiation–driven mitochondrial stress reshapes NAD⁺ metabolism, DNA-repair signaling, and macrophage-mediated immune responses in pediatric sarcomas. This research partnership will deepen the collaborative infrastructure between Hampton University and Yale University and create meaningful research engagement for trainees and faculty in radiation and cancer metabolism.
Project Title: Developing and Piloting The Self Preservation Tool: Clinical Training and Toolkit for Black Women’s Mental Health
Institutional Partner: Howard University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Jasmine Abrams and Dr. Tywanda McLaurin-Jones
Project Scope: This study will develop and pilot The Self-Preservation Protocol, a clinical toolkit and provider training designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills to effectively serve Black women clients. Drawing on the research team’s extensive expertise in the SBW (strong Black woman) schema and mental healthcare, this team will create a training program that helps clinicians identify how the SBW schema manifests in therapeutic contexts and provides practical tools for supporting Black women’s authentic well-being.
Project Title: Shoot for the Stars: Building HBCU Data Infrastructure for Sustainability Leadership
Institutional Partner: Howard University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Gerald Torres, Dr. Amy Quarkume and team
Project Scope: The Shoot for the STARS Initiative addresses a critical gap: HBCUs lack the data infrastructure needed to document their sustainability work, access climate funding, and build cleantech ecosystems. With Yale partnership and technical support, this project builds permanent faculty and managerial capacity as well as data management systems for 5 institutions through STARS assessment and cleantech mentorship that can position these 5 HBCUs as sustainability leaders while creating a replicable model for the 90+ remaining HBCUs nationwide.
Project Title: ASCEND Dry January® USA Research Collaborative: Building a Yale-Meharry National Infrastructure to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harm
Institutional Partner: Meharry Medical College
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Vasilis Vasilou and Dr. Michael Caldwell
Project Scope: The ASCEND Dry January® USA Research Collaborative, a joint effort between Yale University and Meharry Medical College, addresses one of America’s most under-recognized public health challenges: alcohol-related harm. Alcohol remains the most widely used psychoactive substance in the U.S., contributing substantially to preventable death, chronic disease, and social harm — yet lacks coordinated national infrastructure to reduce consumption at scale. This collaboration brings together Yale’s world-leading expertise in alcohol metabolism, toxicity, and alcohol-related cancer, with Meharry’s national implementation leadership and health equity mission.
Project Title: AI-Enhanced Remote Sensing for Caribbean Climate Adaptation: Monitoring Sargassum Seaweed to Protect Tourism and Coastal Resilience in the Dominican Republic
Institutional Partner: Morehouse College
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Xuhui Lee and Dr. Kinnis Gosha
Project Scope: This project establishes a Yale-Morehouse collaboration to develop AI-driven remote sensing tools for tracking Sargassum accumulation and forecasting coastal inundation in the Dominican Republic. The team will train deep learning models on multi-sensor satellite imagery to detect seaweed, estimate biomass, and model drift patterns. Primary deliverables include validated detection algorithms, forecasting models, and environmental maps providing actionable intelligence for coastal management and tourism planning.
Project Title: Developing an Open-Source On-Screen Guide (OSIG) Prototype to Promote Practical Hands-On Learning Experiences on Building Information Modeling
Institutional Partner: North Carolina A&T State University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Rex (Zhitao) Ying and Dr. Yuhan Jiang
Project Scope: The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector expects a digital transformation with Building Information Modeling (BIM), which can save 10~25% for office buildings and 15~25% for highway construction projects. However, the lack of skilled BIM workforces is a major challenge for the growing infrastructure investment demands. Dr. Jiang at North Carolina A&T (NCAT) and Dr. Ying at Yale are teamed to develop an On-Screen Interactive Guide (OSIG) prototype to employ “Learning by Doing” to promote practical hands-on learning experiences on BIM software as a pathway towards successfully educating and producing more skilled BIM workforces.
Project Title: Decoding F-box E3 Ligases: Potential Hidden Switches of Drought Resistance
Institutional Partner: North Carolina A&T State University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Joshua Gendron and Dr. Mohammad Salehin
Project Scope: This project will uncover novel drought-responsive F-box proteins and their regulatory networks in Arabidopsis thaliana, providing fundamental insights into how plants adapt to water-limited environments. By integrating high-throughput genetic screening, CRISPR validation, and biochemical assays, the project will generate new molecular targets for improving crop resilience while producing transgenic resources, publications, trained students, and competitive NSF/NIH grant submissions.
Project Title: Lead-Free Skies, Connected Communities: Modeling Health and Economic Spillovers from Unleaded Fuel Adoption at General Aviation Airports
Institutional Partner: North Carolina A&T State University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Johan Ugander and Dr. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi
Project Scope: This project develops a causal framework to quantify the regional health and economic benefits of coordinated adoption of unleaded aviation fuel across general aviation airports. By integrating environmental exposure modeling and network-based causal inference, the study identifies how cooperative policy action maximizes population-level reductions in lead exposure.
Project Title: Pathology Unveiled: A Digital Gross Pathology Library with AI-Enabled Diagnostic and Teaching Platform
Institutional Partner: Tuskegee University
Lead Collaborators: Dr. Jacob Musser and Dr. Sherein Salem
Project Scope: This project addresses variability in necropsy case availability by creating a Digital Gross Pathology Library with AI-assisted histopathology diagnostic support, and a retrieval-augmented, LLM learning platform. By combining Tuskegee’s pathology expertise with Yale’s AI-driven computational capabilities, the project will support case-based pathology education and diagnostic reasoning while establishing a long-term HBCU–Yale research collaboration.