RUSTON, La. — Louisiana Tech University has received more than $155,000 in grant funding from the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium through NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR.

The funding will support projects in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences and the College of Engineering and Science, with a focus on building research programs in aerospace and advanced technology. The university said the awards will provide opportunities for students and faculty to pursue hands-on projects and strengthen Louisiana’s role in space-related research.

“This LaSPACE award is an incredible opportunity for our students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world research,” said Gary Kennedy, dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences.

Collin Wick, dean of the College of Engineering and Science, said the grants also reinforce the university’s broader research profile. “They recognize the innovative work of our faculty and students and strengthen our position as a leader in advancing aerospace and related research on a national scale,” he said.

Louisiana’s participation in the NASA EPSCoR program allows institutions to compete for funding that ranges from small travel awards to multi-year research projects. State officials have said the program helps expand research capacity in aerospace fields while contributing to workforce development in science and technology.