Establish Research Partnerships at the MATRIX Open House

University researchers, defense contractors and government officials gathered Wednesday at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) SMART Building to explore research partnerships and workforce opportunities during the University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering MATRIX Lab Industry Open House. This is a unique opportunity to connect with small businesses, major defense primes (including lead sponsor HII Mission Technologies), and federal organizations eager to partner on university research and student recruiting.

Reza Ghodssi, executive director of the University of Maryland MATRIX Lab and a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering and the Institute for Systems Research, said the lab’s primary mission is to build partnerships among academia, industry, government and national laboratories to accelerate autonomous systems research while preparing students for careers in the region’s growing technology sector.

“One of our key functions is to establish bridges and collaborations between academia and industry and national labs and government,” Ghodssi said. “The ultimate goal is to provide opportunities for our students to interact with industry colleagues and also have opportunities to pursue employment upon their graduation.”

Ghodssi said the lab specializes in autonomous systems research, including drones, underwater vehicles and other autonomous technologies, supporting projects from initial design and manufacturing through testing, validation and evaluation. He said collaboration with industry leaders helps bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application by helping move laboratory prototypes into real-world applications.

In an article published by the Baynet, MATRIX Lab Assistant Director for Research Development and event organizer Dr. Jamison Watson said this is an opportunity to foster relationships.

“We really want this event to help us showcase the talent we have here,” Dr. Watson said. “We want to help inspire connections, inspire ideas and help the community learn how to make the most of their resources. It’s all about figuring out how we can help.”

More information can be found on the Baynet News and UMD ECE News (17 - July / 2026)