A new research institute is coming to Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering through a $9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to create and improve technologies for security, health and various other benefits.

The Convergence Lab Initiative was announced last week, and will recruit a range of professional and student engineers, scientists and technicians to work under the leadership of electrical and computer engineering professors Nibir K. Dhar, Erdem Topsakal, and Ümit Özgür.

CLI will focus its work on electro-optics, infrared, radio frequency and edge security technologies, with its research scope ranging from semiconductor device modeling and quantum simulation to advancements in microelectronics and future generation wireless technology.

“We are transforming engineering at VCU in collaboration with industry and government partners to better address the needs of society as well as those of the technical and scientific communities,” said Azim Eskandarian, dean of the VCU College of Engineering, in a VCU announcement.

“(CLI) is an exceptional platform for VCU to demonstrate innovation in defense-relevant technologies,” he said. CLI will also prepare our students for the future scientific and engineering workforce, enabling them to participate in and help advance the DoD’s science and technology efforts.”

Funding spread over several years will support the education and specialized training of students working as part of CLI. Beyond national defense, VCU officials believe the potential technology and research from the CLI could also be applied for health care, transportation and other commercial avenues.