The National Science Foundation has awarded Pitt a $10 million grant to develop programming that will boost STEM enrollment for underrepresented students.

On Star Wars Day, May 4, in a galaxy not so far away, Pitt launched its newest supercomputer into the cosmos — marking the first time that the Pitt script logo, engraved in gold on the top of the machine, could be seen in space.

Tevis Jacobs, an assistant professor in the mechanical engineering and materials science department, received the National Science Foundation’s $500,000 CAREER Award this year to improve nanoparticle performance. “When we talk about nanoparticles, even I, as a scientist that studies nanoscience, have trouble conceiving of how small these are,” Jacobs said. “I am very excited about both [components]. They are both huge endeavors.”

The U.S. government shut down on Dec. 22, and research production at Pitt and other universities may slow down because of it.