NY’s Alfred State gets $474K NSF grant for robotics technician training

Alfred State has been awarded a $474,019 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop educational pathways for robotics and automation technicians in agricultural and industrial sectors. The funding addresses the growing demand for skilled technicians in automation—a critical need for maintaining food security and supporting manufacturing workforces in rural areas.

What you should know: The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant will fund a comprehensive program designed to prepare students for high-paying automation careers through innovative educational strategies.

• Assistant Professors Jessica Hutchison and Dr. Mohamed Eleshaky are leading the project titled “Developing a Robotics and Automation Technician Pathway for the Agricultural and Industrial Sectors.”
• The program includes industry partnerships, immersive summer institutes, and hands-on training with programmable robotic dogs.
• Students will earn industry-recognized credentials while gaining practical skills in robotics and automation technologies.

Program goals: The initiative targets three key objectives to build a stronger technical workforce pipeline.

• Capturing student interest through residential summer programs featuring robotics technology and real-world applications.
• Increasing representation in technical fields using evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies.
• Reducing math anxiety through a specialized pre-enrollment jumpstart course designed to prepare students for technical coursework.

Why this matters: The grant positions Alfred State to address critical workforce shortages while strengthening rural economic competitiveness in an increasingly automated landscape.

• Rural communities often struggle to attract and retain young talent, but well-paying technical jobs in automation can provide compelling career opportunities close to home.
• Local businesses need skilled technicians to implement automation technologies and remain competitive in evolving markets.
• The program directly aligns educational outcomes with industry needs, ensuring graduates are “career-ready from day one.”

What they’re saying: Political and educational leaders emphasize the strategic importance of this workforce development investment.

• “This grant provides an exciting opportunity to engage high school students in robotics through residential summer programs,” commented Hutchison. “By working with programmable robotic dogs and earning valuable industry credentials, students will gain skills that could shape their future and perhaps lead them to careers they hadn’t thought possible.”
• Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) noted: “This grant is an investment that will prepare students in our rural communities for high-demand, good-paying jobs while giving local businesses the workforce they need to stay competitive in a world with greater automation.”
• Vice President for Academic Affairs Carrie Cokely highlighted how the grant “will enable us to continue to develop and offer high quality academic programs that combine faculty expertise in both our School of Arts & Sciences and our School of Architecture, Management, and Engineering Technology.”

The bigger picture: This funding contributes to Alfred State’s $40 million Unleashing Potential Comprehensive Campaign, which prioritizes career readiness as one of four strategic goals.

• The ATE program has focused on technician education since 1993, with community and technical colleges serving as the primary source of technician training in the United States.
• Alfred State’s emphasis on applied learning and hands-on experience aligns with the practical skills needed in high-tech manufacturing and agricultural automation.