Bridging the Gap: Career Pathways and Education in Mass Timber Construction

NSF Award Search · 04002526DB NSF STEM Education · $500,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

This project serves the national interest in impacting workforce development for students in the School of Engineering at Colorado State University- Pueblo. The proposal is uniquely tailored to support the growing mass timber sector—a timely initiative given the increasing job opportunities in this field. With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program, this Implementation and Evaluation project will strengthen the capacity of Colorado State University-Pueblo to address a critical gap between current academic curricula and the evolving needs of the mass timber industry. The project will develop course modules aligned with industry-relevant skills, increase student awareness of mass timber career pathways, and expose students to industry-aligned learning experiences. The project aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry by identifying workforce needs in mass timber construction and developing educational materials that equip students with relevant knowledge and skills. To achieve this, the project has three objectives: (1) identify career opportunities in the mass timber industry through job market analysis; (2) assess the alignment between academic curricula and industry requirements by collecting data from students, academic units, and industry professionals through surveys and interviews; and (3) develop, implement, and evaluate educational resources that will be pilot-tested with undergraduate students

Key facts

NSF award ID
2524522
Awardee
Colorado State University-Pueblo (CO)
SAM.gov UEI
W6KGB2MW5KL9
PI
Husam A Alshareef
Primary program
04002526DB NSF STEM Education
All programs
Improv Undergrad STEM Ed(IUSE), UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Estimated total
$500,000
Funds obligated
$500,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
10/01/2025 → 09/30/2028