School of Mines researchers and professors received more than $1 million in research and development funding during April 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 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 April award highlights:
Dr. Sookie Bang, professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Sangchul Bang, professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $12,250 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Microbial Dust Suppression."
Dr. William Capehart, associate professor, atmospheric sciences, received $46,000 in additional funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the project, "Evaluating the Effects of Institutional Change on Regional Hydrometeorology: Assessing the Vulnerability of the Eurasian Semi-arid Grain Belt."
Dr. Melvin Klasi, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $29,081 from the Federal Highway Administration for the project, "South Dakota Department of Transportation/South Dakota Local Transportation Assistance Program 2008."
Dr. Charles Kliche, professor, mining engineering and management, and Dr. Zbigniew Hladysz, professor, mining engineering and management, received $57,275 from the U.S. Department of Labor - Mine Safety and Health Administration for the project, "Mine Health and Safety Training."
Dr. James Martin, professor, geology and geological engineering, paleontology program coordinator, and curator, vertebrate paleontology, received $2,000 from the U.S. Department of Interior - Bureau of Land Management for the project, "Curation of Fossils Collected from Fossil Lake."
Dr. James Sears, director, Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, received $849,673 from the U.S. Department of Defense - U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity for the project, "Bio-Medical Materials Initiative (BMI)."
Dr. Larry Stetler, associate professor, geology and geological engineering, and Dr. Arden Davis, Mickelson professor, geology and geological engineering, received $75,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, "Characterization of the Precambrian Aquifer at the Homestake DUSEL."
Dr. James Stone, assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering; Dr. Larry Stetler, associate professor, geology and geological engineering; and Dr. Pallaoor Sundareshwar, assistant professor, atmospheric sciences, received $238,742 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the project, "Statewide Mercury TMDL Assessment Project."