; (3) leverage Federal interagency research mechanisms and the academic research enterprise; (4) educate and train students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to conduct research and standards development relevant to transportation technologies, materials, systems, operations, processes, and policies; and (5) fostering collaboration among Federal researchers and academic researchers. (b) Interagency collaboration The Secretary shall collaborate on, identify, and disseminate within the Department, as appropriate, advanced transportation research, development, and other activities of other Federal agencies, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense to ensure the Department’s research investments are making the best possible contribution to the Nation’s goals of public health and safety, economic prosperity, national security, and environmental quality. (c) Research grants The Secretary may support the purposes of the program and carry out activities described under subsection (a) through— (1) competitive, merit-based basic research grants to individual investigators and teams of investigators