Virginia Tech’s Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering received a $1 million U.S. Department of Energy award to expand mining education, according to Virginia Tech News on Oct. 26, 2026. The award is intended to address a workforce shortage in a field the university’s announcement describes as critical to national security.
The award is part of the federal Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies, or PROSPECT, Planning Prize, which aims to increase the number of graduates prepared for mining careers, according to the announcement. Virginia Tech said the funding will help attract more students, expand educational pathways and connect graduates with jobs in the critical minerals sector.
The Department of Energy estimates the nation will need about 6,000 new mining engineers over the next decade, the announcement reported. The broader PROSPECT initiative aims to double the number of graduates in mining and minerals engineering over the next two years, according to Virginia Tech News.
Aaron Noble, head of the department, said the award will support new pathways into the field and more educational and experiential learning opportunities. Virginia Tech News reported that mining professionals help produce and process minerals used in smartphones, electric vehicles, energy infrastructure and national defense systems.
The award builds on Virginia Tech’s participation in a White House announcement in August of a $100 million investment in mining and critical minerals education, the university said. The announcement lists Chelsea Seeber as the media contact at 540-231-2108.
