School of Mines researchers and professors received nearly $6 million in research and development funding during September 2008.
The awards are funding research in departments across campus. Some research is basic, and is designed to create new knowledge or to add to the literature on a given topic. Other research is applied, and is meant to produce real-world products. The School of Mines has placed an emphasis on applied research to benefit the state, region and nation.
The School of Mines, an engineering and science university in Rapid City, is home to several research institutions and centers, and plans are underway to expand the number of graduate degrees and to enhance the technology-transfer process.
The School of Mines boasts a solid research program. During the 2008 fiscal year, researchers and professors received more than $10.1 million in 90 awards from federal and state agencies, from corporations and from direct Congressional appropriations. Since 2001, the School of Mines has received more than $84 million in Congressional appropriations for research and development.
The September award highlights:
Dr. Scott Ahrenkiel, assistant professor, nanotechnology, received $420,000 from the United States Department of Energy EPSCoR for the project, "Lattice-Mismatched III-V Epilayers for High-Efficiency Photovoltaics."
William Arbegast, director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Lab, and instructor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Antoinette Logar, professor, mathematics and computer science; and Dr. Michael West, assistant professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $100,000 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Friction Stir Processing Industry / University Cooperative Research Center."
Arbegast also received $70,000 in additional funding from the Friction Stir Processing Industry/University Cooperative Research Center Memberships for the project, " Design, Analysis, and Performance of "Built-Up" Aluminum Friction Stir Welded (FSW) and Friction Stir Spot Welded (FSSW) Structures."
Dr. William Capehart, associate professor, atmospheric sciences and Dr. Mark Hjelmfelt, chair and professor, atmospheric sciences, received $112,649 in additional funding from the United States Department of Defense - Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) for the project, "Advanced Atmospheric Sciences Technology and Applications to Support NAMK and NAGIK Projects."
Dr. Shawn Decker, director, Center for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale, and Dr. Jon Kellar, chair and professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $282,000 from the United States Small Business Administration for the project, "Black Hills Nanoscale Materials Institute."
Dr. David Dixon, chair and professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Duane Abata, professor, mechanical engineering, received $109,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "I/UCRC Center for Bioenergy Research and Development."
Dr. Edward Duke, manager of analytical services, Engineering and Mining Experiment Station, and professor, geology and geological engineering, received $18,000 in additional funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the project, "South Dakota Space Grant Consortium - Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Higher Education 2007."
Dr. Scott Kenner, professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $100,000 from the United States Geological Survey for the project, "USGS National Water Quality Assessment Project in South Dakota."
Dr. Carter Kerk, professor, industrial engineering and engineering management; Dr. Jennifer Karlin, assistant professor, industrial engineering and engineering management; Dr. Jon Kellar, chair and professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Scott Kenner, professor, civil and environmental engineering; and Dr. Stuart Kellogg, chair and professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, received $600,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Tiospaye in Engineering."
Dr. Perry Marteny, director, Composite and Polymer Engineering Laboratory; Dr. Gregory Buck, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry; Dr. Karim Muci, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Langerman, chair and professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Daniel Dolan, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. David Boyles, professor, chemistry; Dr. Umesh Korde, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Batchelder, professor, electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Brian Hemmelman, chair and professor, electrical and computer engineering; Elaine Linde, instructor, electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Vojislav Kalanovic, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. John Weiss, professor, mathematics and computer science; Dr. Lidvin Kjerengtroen, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. William Cross, associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; and Dr. Jon Kellar, chair and professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $3,392,600 from the United States Department of Defense - United States Army Research Laboratory for the project, "Advanced Materials and Processes for Future Combat Systems."
Dr. James Martin, professor, geology and geological engineering, received $7,000 from the United States Department of Army-United States Army Corps of Engineers for the project, "Collection and Field Documentation of Plesiosaur Exposed."
Dr. Todd Menkhaus, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry, received $315,269 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Fabrication and Bioseparation Studies of Adsorptive Nanofelts Made from Electrospun Cellulose and/or Carbon Nanofibers."
Dr. Dana Medlin, Nucor Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; and Dr. Jon Kellar, chair and professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $14,141 in additional funding from Radiance Technologies, Inc. for the project, "Advanced Electronic Rosebud Integration (AERI) Research and Development Program."
Dr. Andre Petukhov, professor and chair, physics, received $30,000 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the project, "Studies of Spin-Spin Interaction in SI: LI Quantum Computing System."
Dr. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering; Dr. James Stone, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering; and Dr. Larry Stetler, associate professor, geology and geological engineering, received $48,750 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Acquisition of a Kinetic Phosphorescence Analyzer for Uranium-focused Research and Education."
Dr. James Sears, director, Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, received $50,000 from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for the project, "Deposition Technique Development."
Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, assistant professor, atmospheric sciences, received $94,916 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Collaborative Research: Exploration of the Mechanistic Basis and Biogeochemical Implications of Differential Nutrient Limitation Among Trophic Levels." Sundareshwar also received $40,000 from the United States Geological Survey for the project, "Collection and Analyses of Soil Samples From Prairie Pothole Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region."
Dr. Michael Terry, assistant professor, geology and geological engineering, received $75,000 from the United States Department of State for the project, "Educational and Research Exchanges in Science with Mongolia."
