School of Mines researchers and professors received nearly $1 million in research and development funding during September 2007. 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 2007 fiscal year, researchers and professors received more than $17.1 million in 72 awards from federal and state agencies, from corporations and from direct Congressional appropriations. Since 2001, the School of Mines has received nearly $80 million in Congressional appropriations for research and development.
The September award highlights:
William Arbegast, director, advanced materials processing and joining laboratory (AMP), and instructor, materials and metallurgical engineering, and Dr. Anil Patnaik, former assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $26,000 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Friction Stir Processing Industry/University Cooperative Research Center."
Dr. David Dixon, chair and professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $10,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Center for BioFuel Research and Development."
Dr. Edward Duke, manager of analytical services, Engineering and Mining Experiment Station, and professor, geology and geological engineering, received $125,000 from NASA for the project, “South Dakota NASA EPSCOR Research Infrastructure Development Program.”
Jolie McCoy, director of counseling/student ADA services, received $75,000 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for the project, "School of Mines Campus Suicide Prevention Program (CSPP)."
Dr. Todd Menkhaus, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Patrick Gilcrease, professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $199,786 from the United States Department of Agriculture for the project, "Simultaneous Enhancement of Solid-Liquid Clarification and Reduction of Fermentation Inhibitory Compounds from Biomass Slurries."
Dr. William Roggenthen, professor, geology and geological engineering, received $138,054 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Collaborative Research: Towards the Transparent Earth."
Dr. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor, Dr. Sookie Bang, professor, and Dr. David Dixon, chair and professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $14,855 from South Dakota State University for the project, "Permeable Reactive Bio-Barriers for Uranium Removal: Role of Iron Minerals on Uranium Fate and Transport."
Dr. James Sears, director, Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, received $23,000 from Carpenter Powder Products for the project, "Development of Functionally Graded Materials for Manufacturing Tools and Dies and Industrial Processing Equipment."
Dale Skillman, assistant professor, mechanical Engineering and director, Office of Technology Transfer, received $20,000 from the West River Foundation for Economic and Community Development for the project, "Genesis of Innovation for South Dakota / Technology Transfer and Entrepreneur Center Project."
Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, assistant professor, atmospheric sciences, received $75,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "SGER: An Opportunity to Study the Impact of Nutrient Pulsing in an Oligotrophic Forest Stream in South Dakota."
Dr. Jianbin Wei, assistant professor, mathematics and computer science, received $150,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "CSR-PDOS: Non-Intrusive Monitoring and Management of End-to-End Performance for Secured Internet Service."