By Andi Anderson
The Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has received $750,000 in funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
The funding will support the expansion of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program through a proposal titled “Digital Applications of Technology in Agriculture for Sustainable, Multidisciplinary, Accessible, Resilient, and Translatable (DATA SMART) Systems.”
The award will be provided over a five-year period and will help continue and strengthen opportunities for undergraduate students interested in agriculture, life sciences, and related biological science fields. The funding ensures that the CDA REU program can continue serving students for another five years.
The CDA REU program is a 10-week summer research experience designed to encourage students to explore careers in research and innovation. It provides students with practical exposure to modern agricultural technologies and scientific research. The program places special emphasis on attracting students from community colleges and institutions that do not offer PhD programs, helping broaden access to research opportunities.
Each summer, approximately eight to ten students will participate in the program. Students will work closely with faculty mentors on research projects focused on digital agriculture and related fields. In addition to research activities, participants will attend professional development sessions and enrichment seminars that help prepare them for future academic and professional careers.
A key feature of the program is its mentorship structure. Along with faculty guidance, every participant will be paired with a graduate student mentor who will provide support throughout the research experience. This approach helps students build skills, confidence, and professional networks.
The new award is led by Angela Green-Miller and Mohammed Kamruzzaman, professors in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. They are joined by CDA Managing Director Christina Tucker and Christopher Anderson of Dominican University. Together, they will oversee the successful implementation of the program and its educational activities.
The University of Illinois will manage and host the program, while Dominican University will assist with student recruitment efforts. The university will draw on its connections established through the former Promotion of Underrepresented Minorities in Academic STEM (PUMA-STEM) Alliance program to reach a diverse group of students.
By combining research, mentorship, and workforce development, the DATA SMART initiative will help prepare the next generation of agricultural innovators while advancing the use of digital technologies in sustainable and resilient farming systems.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy