RALEIGH - A new analytics lab on N-C State's Centennial Campus will boost the Triangle's momentum as an innovator in the field of data science. It was made possible by a National Security Agency research contract, which is the largest in the university's history.

Chancellor Randy Woodson says the project will be a job-creator.

"The National Security Agency will bring some jobs to the areas right out of the chute, but in addition to that, the research that they fund at NC State will allow us to hire students and researchers and allow us to expand our workforce."

Woodson says the lab also offers students real-world experience in studying how of the largest agencies in the country analyzes complex data.