Image: ACCEPT students presenting to USNO and Microchip reps – Univ. of Alabama
ACCEPT: University of Alabama prepping next generation of PNTF experts
The University of Alabama, with the support of the National Science Foundation, has established a program unlike any other in the country. One focusing on positioning, navigation, timing, and frequency (PNTF) as its own discipline, with a special emphasis on precise timing.
The Alabama Collaborative for Contemporary Education in Precision Timing (ACCEPT) is an NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program designed to train the next generation of graduate (MS and PhD) degree holders in PNTF.
ACCEPT provides interdisciplinary training and education for physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science majors. The school hopes to eventually make it a graduate program. Enrollees are awarded a fellowship that includes a $34,000/yr stipend.
“The ACCEPT program was created because industry and government officials told us they could never find enough people in this field,” said Adam Hauser, the program’s Executive Director, who is also an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the university. According to Hauser “It is the only program in the nation directly addressing a larger scale workforce development in precision timing.”
ACCEPT’s Technical Director (also billed as “Time Lord”) is Thejesh Bandi, also an Associate Professor. He reinforces Hauser’s message about the scarcity of focused talent in the area. “This field is greying,” he says. “We need young minds who will also bring in fresh ideas.”
Hauser describes the program as “a flexible multidisciplinary course curricula that includes professional development, and real-world training with our industry and government partners.”
The “inter-disciplinary” nature of the program is reflected in the ACCEPT team. In addition to Physics and Astronomy, faculty from Mathematics, Electrical and Computer, Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering are included, as are the Communications and Higher Education departments.
Dr. LeClair, Dr. Hauser, Dr. Bandi, Founders of ACCEPT Program
This diversity of expertise is needed for ACCEPT’s ‘holistic education” approach founded on four pillars.
1 – Industry Directed Curriculum
First, because the goal is to supply qualified graduates to fill critical national needs in industry, the foundational curriculum is based on and will continue to evolve with input from commercial entities in the PNTF space.
In addition to several government agencies and labs, the ACCEPT Advisory Board includes representatives from SpectraDynamics, Aerospace Corporation, Raytheon Technologies, Microchip Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, OEWaves, Inc, Safran S.A., Northrop Grumman Corporation, and the RNT Foundation.
2- Sustained Industry & Community Immersion
Moving beyond academia is a major focus on the program. Internships and PNTF professional community events are mandatory.
Students attend the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Time and Frequency Division’s time and frequency seminar, each year.
In their second year, students begin attending the Institute of Navigation’s annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) meeting. They are expected to progress from attendee to poster presenter and speaker as their research and professional skills mature.
3 – Professional Development
Reinforcing preparation for moving beyond the classroom, ACCEPT trains students to “… effectively work across academic, policy, governmental and industry sectors,” according to Hauser. “They need to be able to effectively advocate as a professional to a larger audience.”
This means including students in programs like the university’s Speaking Studio and Capstone Center for Student Success. Communications skills, teamwork, and ethics are particular focus areas.
4- Research
Bandi’s Research Quantime Lab is hosted by Professor Patrick LeClair’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. “Research projects for ACCEPT fellows and trainees are designed in conjunction with our government and industrial partners and focus on cutting edge innovations that solve today’s problems in currently-used technologies,” Le Clair said.
The lab has a strong focus on Quantum Engineering research, though there are also opportunities in Characterization and Calibration, Networking and Synchronization, and research into Precision Device
For More Information about applying for an ACCEPT fellowship or becoming an industry partner, visit https://accept.ua.edu/
