RALEIGH, N.C. — From airport security to securing the nation’s water system, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is always trying to stop terrorist attacks. Two Raleigh college students may hold the key.

Monday, North Carolina State University seniors Kevin Taff and Mitra Tashakkori received scholarships from the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Taff and Tashakkori are electrical engineering students. U.S. Rep. Brad Miller says they’re two of 50 college students to receive the award across the country.

“It has provided me with an opportunity to take engineering and apply it to something that has a bit more meaning for me,” Taff said.

This summer, Taff will work at Oak Ridge National Laboratories in Tennessee, focusing his studies on water quality.

“Basically using algae to discover contamination by chemicals or chemical warfare by water supplies,” Taff said.

Tashakkori is heading to Argon National Laboratories in Illinois to work on developing an artificial nose.

“I’m going to be developing sensors and improving ones that can detect different types of gasses,” Tashakkori said.