Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi’s leading research university is receiving $8 million from the National Science Foundation to lead transformative science and technology capacity-building efforts across the state.

The four-year NSF award to Mississippi State, announced last week, establishes the Mississippi Research Alliance as a central hub for the state’s research ecosystem, leveraging existing strengths, expanding networks, and creating new opportunities to advance research and development. The funding is part of NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research program—Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program, or E-CORE RII.

“Our state has some of the best research institutions and most talented researchers, but they have often been disconnected from one another. This grant will centralize the efforts of four Mississippi universities, resulting in a better statewide research ecosystem. I fought to increase the funding stream that made this grant possible, and I am glad Mississippi State University is leading the way on this effort,” Sen. Roger Wicker said.

In addition to MSU, collaborating institutions include Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. The grant funds a new portal for shared research instrumentation and a statewide directory of researchers to assist with forming interdisciplinary team networks. Funding also supports faculty startup packages, instrumentation purchases and voucher grants, seed grants for collaborative activities, instrumentation voucher grants, and travel awards for networking and training.

Katie Echols, executive director for research initiatives and innovation in MSU’s Office of Research and Economic Development, is the state of Mississippi’s EPSCoR director and the grant’s principal investigator. CO-PI’s include MSU’s Tonia Lane, director of the Institute for Imaging and Analytical Technologies; MVSU’s Victor Bii, bioinformatics assistant professor and program coordinator; UM’s Nathan Hammer, chemistry and biochemistry professor; and USM’s Alex Flynt, associate professor of biological, environmental and earth sciences.

 “The Mississippi Research Alliance is going to have a transformative impact on our state by enhancing and connecting our entire research ecosystem,” said MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan. “By linking the exceptional talent and cutting-edge resources across the state, we are fostering networks of innovation that will lead to groundbreaking discoveries and advancements, touching the lives of all Mississippians. I thank our state’s congressional delegation for supporting this investment in Mississippi’s future.”

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said, “The NSF EPSCoR program is critical to ensure that we are creating opportunities and investing in innovation in every part of the United States. These new E-CORE and E-RISE awards will positively impact our nation by advancing the breadth of STEM research, research infrastructure and workforce development, while catalyzing opportunities for research and education in EPSCoR jurisdictions and beyond.”

The newly formed alliance will be guided by university representatives, industry leaders, government officials, K-16 educators, non-profit groups and other stakeholders. The NSF has the option to renew the award for an additional four years and $8 million following the initial award cycle.

For more on research at MSU, visit www.research.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

The 2024 college football season is shaping up to be a challenging one for Mississippi State football.

Under first-year coach Jeff Lebby, the Bulldogs face six teams ranked in the top 25 of the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. Lebby takes over for Zach Arnett, who served as the head coach last season and was fired with two games remaining as the Bulldogs went 5-7. Arnett was originally named the coach after Mike Leach died on Dec. 13, 2022, following complications related to a heart condition.

REQUIRED READING: Where Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby saw improvement in preseason scrimmage

The Bulldogs open the season on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky and open SEC play against Florida on Sept. 21. Mississippi State closes the season out with the annual Egg Bowl against rival Ole Miss, which enters the season ranked inside the top 10.

MORE: Buy Mississippi State football tickets on StubHub

Here’s a look at the entire Mississippi State football schedule, including available start times and TV channels:

Mississippi State football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates, start times

All times Central.

• Saturday, Aug. 31: Mississippi State vs. Eastern Kentucky | 6 p.m. | ESPN+, SEC Network+
• Saturday, Sept. 7: Mississippi State at Arizona State | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Mississippi State vs. Toledo | 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 21: Mississippi State vs. Florida* | Noon
• Saturday, Sept. 28: Mississippi State at No. 4 Texas*
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Bye
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Mississippi State at No. 1 Georgia*
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Mississippi State vs. No. 20 Texas A&M*
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Mississippi State vs. Arkansas*
• Saturday, Nov. 2: Mississippi State vs. Massachusetts | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Mississippi State at No. 15 Tennessee
• Saturday, Nov. 16: Bye
• Saturday, Nov. 23: Mississippi State vs. No. 11 Missouri
• Friday, Nov. 29: Mississippi State at No. 11 Ole Miss* | 2:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)

* Denotes SEC game

Watch select Mississippi State games live with Fubo (free trial)

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