UTRGV announces new partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory

EDINBURG, Texas – Dr. Hiram Moya is associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering at UT-Rio Grande Valley.


In a recent interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Moya spoke about a new collaboration UTRGV is forging with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

Moya said UTRGV will collaborate with LANL and its partner, TechSource, Inc., with LANL committing $1.5 million over three years. 

He said the goal is to create a robust pathway for engineering and scientific talent to meet LANL’s critical needs, particularly in preparing engineers and technologists to help solve national security challenges.

“So, we are one of the universities that are partnering with Los Alamos National Lab to bring in exposure and opportunities to the students of the Valley,” Moya said.

“We’re helping Los Alamos in manufacturing and industrial engineering, but we’re also helping them with engineering technologists and a variety of other engineering fields.”

Dr. Hiram Moya, associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering at UT-Rio Grande Valley. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

Moya said there is no doubt the Valley has the talent to work in places like Los Alamos. 

“We already sent three students for internship this past summer. They did fantastically. So, we are really preparing them to be at the cutting edge of research into nuclear deterrent because Los Alamos is keeping our nation safe and from all the different bad actors. It was a really good experience for our students.”

What is even more impressive, Moya said, is that UTRGV is one of only eight universities across the nation to be working with LANL.

“This multi-year, $1.5 million-plus collaboration is only the beginning,” Moya said. “So, our partnership with Los Alamos focuses on three major objectives: establishing research-based activities, exposing our engineering students to career opportunities at LANL, and fostering networking opportunities within the LANL environment.”

Moya said the partnership is designed to prepare UTRGV engineering students with the necessary skills to significantly contribute to LANL’s national security efforts.

“UTRGV already has placed several students in internships and full-time positions at LANL and other National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sites with excellent career options,” Moya said. “One outcome of our partnership is to prepare and engage the next generation of engineers, technologists and scientists in a career in the DOE-NNSA pathway.”

At a recent press conference that was attended by LANL and TechSource representatives, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, UTRGV President Guy Bailey emphasized the importance of partnerships in the university’s continued success.

“We couldn’t be doing what we’re doing in research without partners like Los Alamos National Lab. They are the premier lab, and being selected as one of only eight institutions nationwide to partner with them in this capacity is a tremendous honor,” Bailey said.

“We are not just preparing students for the future,” he said. “We are shaping it by giving them the tools and opportunities to contribute to national security. Our students’ success is our success, and with LANL as our partner, we’re reaching new heights in research, innovation and workforce development.”

The other institutions in the WP-TNT program include:

• Arizona State University.
• Auburn University.
• Brigham Young University.
• Montana State University.
• Texas A&M University.
• UT El Paso.
• University of Michigan.

The post UTRGV announces new partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.