November Research Funding More Than $1 Million

School of Mines researchers have been awarded more than $1 million in research and development funding during November 2009. This brings the current Fiscal Year 10 total to more than $14.4 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 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 November 2009 award highlights:

• William Arbegast, former director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP), received $35,000 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." These funds will be used to support students working for the School of Mines' Center for Friction Stir Processing.
• Jason Ash, instructor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Batchelder, chair, electrical and computer engineering; and Dr. Jeff McGough, associate professor, mathematics and computer science, received $5,000 from NASA for the project, "Lunar Regolith Excavator Competition."
• Dr. Andrew Detwiler, professor, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, received $56,279 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignment."
• Dr. Edward Duke, manager of analytical services, Engineering and Mining Experiment Station, and professor, geology and geological engineering; Dr. Haiping Hong, research scientist III, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Wayne Krause, professor, mechanical engineering; and Dr. Jan Puszynski, professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $750,000 from NASA for the project, "CAN/Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) - 2009." The proposed project is to develop a nanofluid thermal management system concept and methodology to enhance thermal conductivity significantly for coolant applications.
• Dr. James Sears, director, Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, received $100,010 from the / U.S. Department of Defense - Armament Research, Development & Engineering Center for the project, "Direct Printing Additive Manufacturing." This project will apply Direct Printing Additive Manufacturing techniques, including aerosol and syringe micron scale deposition and room temperature Photonic Curing for powder consolidation, surface modification and low volume production for the US Army's current and future generation munitions and armament systems.
• Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, associate professor, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, received $70,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit for the project, "Phosphorous Speciation as an Indicator of Land Use and Conservation Practices on Wetland Condition." This study will explore the speciation of phosphorus in wetlands soils under various land se to evaluate the current status and progress of wetland restoration.