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New Mexico EPSCoR seeks sustained funding for microgrants, workforce pathways and research infrastructure
Summary
EPSCoR representatives told the committee microgrants, undergraduate research awards and a new RIO NM center aim to expand research access across 24 two‑ and four‑year institutions; presenters requested state investment to leverage federal awards and workforce pipelines.
New Mexico EPSCoR told the Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee it is scaling small, targeted grants and workforce pathways to broaden access to research across community colleges, tribal colleges and universities.
Ganesh Balakrishnan, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of New Mexico and associate director of EPSCoR, summarized microgrant programs launched this year — Connect workshops, SHURE undergraduate research experience awards and SPARK seed awards — designed to lower administrative barriers and build capacity at 2‑ and 4‑year institutions.
Selena Keneally, EPSCoR associate director, highlighted the program’s record of leveraging state and federal dollars: EPSCoR‑supported projects have attracted more than $275 million in outside funds over 25 years, and the New Mexico Smart Grid Center example showed $4 million of state support helped secure a $20 million NSF grant and generated more than $103 million in subsequent federal investment.
EPSCoR also described a recent eCOR award from NSF (the RIO NM center) that brought $8 million to the state to connect 24 institutions and create research pathways for undergraduates and community‑college students. Staff said the main constraint to expanding awards is limited funding and asked legislators to consider sustaining microgrant programs and targeted investments in instruments and workforce pathways.
Committee members asked about pre‑college outreach, dual‑enrollment participation and whether EPSCoR tracks high‑school students participating through community‑college pathways. EPSCoR said it partners with organizations such as Explora for middle‑ and high‑school programs and will explore tracking dual‑enrollment outcomes but that its primary federal funding targets higher‑education institutions.
EPSCoR requested continued collaboration with economic‑development offices and legislative committees to sustain microgrants, workforce pipelines and equipment investments that can broaden participation in STEM research across New Mexico.
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