Arkansas State University has secured a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology to advance its research in artificial intelligence and steel manufacturing. The funding will benefit the university’s Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM) and support northeast Arkansas’ growing steel industry.
The project, led by Dr. Robert “Drew” Fleming, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, aims to expand infrastructure and research capabilities. Collaborating with Fleming as co-principal investigators are Dr. Yeonsang Hwang, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Rajesh Sharma, director of civil, mechanical, and engineering technology programs; and Dr. Mohammadreza Daroonparvar, assistant professor of materials engineering.
The grant will fund resources including a GPU-accelerated high-performance computing cluster for artificial intelligence and machine learning research, a Gleeble 3800 thermomechanical simulator for replicating industrial steel processes, and advanced Thermo-Calc software libraries for alloy design. These tools are designed to elevate faculty research efforts and equip students with technological skills directly applicable to advanced manufacturing. This initiative will enhance CAMSM’s capacity for materials development, steel processing, and data-driven manufacturing work.
According to Dr. Travis Marsico, vice provost for research, innovation, and discovery at A-State, the funding is a critical step toward advancing the university's research capabilities. “Dr. Fleming and his team of collaborators are poised for success as we use these funds to build the physical infrastructure – the instrumentation and computational elements – to grow our research in the field of metals and other materials,” Marsico said.
Fleming highlighted the grant’s significance for both the university and the region. “This funding substantially enhances our steel research and testing capabilities at CAMSM, while also advancing college-level initiatives to produce highly trained, steel-literate engineers to serve our regional industries and beyond,” Fleming noted. He also credited U.S. Representative Rick Crawford for supporting the project and expressed hope for expanded industrial partnerships in northeast Arkansas.
The investment is expected to further integrate university research with workforce development in the steel sector. It will provide hands-on opportunities for students and create avenues for collaboration between A-State researchers and steel manufacturers, along with supply chain companies.
Fleming emphasized that federal investments like this are vital to leveraging A-State’s location in the Arkansas Delta, where steel manufacturing has become a key industry. “We are the only research university in the Arkansas Delta region, the same region as the new North American center of steel manufacturing,” Fleming said.