School of Mines researchers and professors received $2,994,624 in research and development funding during February 2009. This brings the current Fiscal Year 09 total to more than $14.5 million, with four months remaining. In comparison, the total amount awarded for FY08 was $10.1 million.
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 February award highlights:
Dr. Joseph Fazio, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $39,287 from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration for the project, "South Dakota Local Transportation Assistance Program (SDLTAP) 2009."
Dr. Brian Hemmelman, chair and professor, electrical and computer engineering, received $32,504 from the Idaho National Laboratory for the project, "System Identification (SysID) Research."
Dr. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $87,000 in additional funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for the project, "Biogeochemical Mechanisms of Nanocrystalline Uraninite Oxidation by Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides."
Dale Skillman, interim vice president for research; Dr. Gregory Buck, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Karim Muci, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Langerman, chair and professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Daniel Dolan, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Umesh Korde, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Lidvin Kjerengtroen, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. William Cross, associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; William Arbegast, director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory; Dr. Haiping Hong, research scientist III, materials and metallurgical engineering; and Dr. Robb Winter, professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $2,823,833 in additional funding from the United States Department of Defense - United States Army Research Laboratory for the project, "Advanced Materials and Processes for Future Combat Systems."
Dr. Andrea Surovek, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $12,000 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Collaborative Research: Structural Mechanics of Steel Columns and Beam-Columns Under Fire Loading."
