Apr 01, 2014 05:23 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Michigan received a hefty donation to improve nuclear technology, MLive reported.

The National Nuclear Security Administration gave the school a $25 million grant to lead a team of 13 universities and eight national laboratories in conducting research and development for "nuclear arms control verification technologies, including nuclear safeguards effectiveness," MLive reported.

About $5 million per year will be allocated for the project for five years to support the research and development.

 "Developing the R&D expertise of tomorrow can take years to cultivate," Anne Harrington, deputy administrator of National Nuclear Security Administration, said in a statement. "But we are linking national laboratories and academia by funding the next generation of researchers to perform complex research and gain an understanding of technical challenges in areas of major importance for the nuclear nonproliferation mission that can only be garnered first-hand at the national laboratories."

The National Nuclear Security Administration said the development of nuclear arms control verification technologies are crucial because they provide tools to support and improve the ability of the United States government. They are also used to monitor for compliance with nuclear arms control commitments and treaty obligations.

MLive reported that Nuclear safeguards monitor "International Atomic Energy Agency's mission to monitor the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the commitments of signatory countries to refrain from developing new nuclear weapons."

The project will aid the International Atomic Energy Agency in monitoring nuclear materials.  The University of Michigan, along with the 13 universities and eight national laboratories, will also have to work on geophysical modeling, which will allow for the detection of underground nuclear testing sites.

In addition to the University of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton and North Carolina State are also part of the consortium. 

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