About LSAMP NSF International Center of Excellence (NICE)
NSF International Center of Excellence (LSAMP-NICE) is a venue of support for facilitating and promoting student development via high impact international research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The Center is particularly focused on promoting the access and participation of underrepresented minority students to international research opportunities. The core function of the center is dissemination of information to connect students and their faculty mentors to partner intuitions which provide international research opportunities. This is accomplished by:
- Collaborative leadership from the four founding institutions
- Established robust partnerships comprised of 23 different LSAMPs nationwide and 21 Tribal-Serving Institutions, representing nearly 30,000 students from historically underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
- Development of a dynamic archive of information about international research training opportunities through the Centers virtual portal and the Annual LSAMP-NICE Conference
- Offering professional development for students and faculty from LSAMP institutions through the Center’s portal and Annual Conference
- Organizing the Annual LSAMP-NICE conference to bring together students, faculty, representatives from international partners, and other stakeholders to share experience, develop a network, and participate in professional development
LSAMP-NICE is funded by the National Science Foundation through its Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. The Center operates through collaborative management of team members from four institutions serving a diverse student population at different degree levels.
The lead institution is Salish Kootenai College, a tribal college with a mission of providing quality post-secondary educational opportunities for Native American through the United States. Salish Kootenai College leads a network of 34 tribal colleges across 12 states through the Louis Stokes STEM Pathways & Research Alliance: All Nations AMP (ANAMP).
Jackson State University (JSU) in Jackson, Mississippi, a leading urban university historically serving African-Americans in Mississippi and beyond, is a partner institution with a strong connection to nine institutions engaged in Lewis Stroke Mississippi Alliance for Minorities (LSMAMP). JSU leads the NSF-LSAMP sponsored Bridge to Doctorate program, which has produced over 200 PhD students and over 50 research scientists conducting research and teaching at diverse institutions.
Louisiana State University (LSU) is a research institution with very high research activity, an extensive STEM program, and experience in training underrepresented minorities at graduate and undergraduate levels. LSU is a member of the Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LS-LAMP).
University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) is an urban Hispanic serving and research-intensive institution. UIC is a member of Illinois LSAMP (ILSAMP) comprised of nine public and private universities, four regional community colleges, and one Federal Laboratory. In addition, UIC is the current site of Illinois LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate program.