ND EPSCoR

ND EPSCoR is pleased to announce the recipients of our FY26 STEM research seed awards. We received 57 proposals from North Dakota researchers. Nearly $500,000 will be awarded to the following eight projects. Funding will be provided to faculty for the purpose of generating preliminary data needed to support the preparation of a proposal for submission to a federal agency.

We offer our thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal, and our congratulations to these awardees. Visit our website to learn more about their projects.

Ali Alshami, Chemical Engineering, UND
Collaborator: Adetola Oke, Engineering, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Project: AI-Driven Catalyst Discovery for North Dakota’s Hydrogen Future

Bappaditya Chandra, Chemistry and Biochemistry, NDSU
Collaborators: Archana Dhasarathy, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, UND; Motoki Takaku, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, UND; Emily Biggane, Intertribal Research and Resource Center, United Tribes Technical College
Project: Deciphering Estrogen receptor alpha - cofactor interactions in distinct cellular environments

Xiaodong Hou, Center for Process Engineering Research, UND
Collaborators: Deniz Cakir, Physics and Astrophysics, UND; Weixin Huang, Chemistry, UND
Project: Graphene-Intercalated Ultra-Stable 1T-MoS2 Heterostructures Catalyst for Green Hydrogen Production: Experimental and Simulation Studies

Inbae Jeong, Mechanical Engineering, NDSU
Collaborator: Youjin Jang, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, NDSU
Project: Energy-Aware Coordination of Heterogeneous UAV–UGV Fleets for Persistent Infrastructure-Free Operations

Maria Morrell, Chemical Engineering, UND
Collaborators: Julia Zhao, Chemistry, UND; Uwe Burghaus, Chemistry and Biochemistry, NDSU; Stefan Vetter, Pharmaceutical Sciences, NDSU; Susan Eliazer, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, UND; Audrey LaVallie, Chemistry, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College; Hilde van Gijssel, Science, Valley City State University
Project: Decoding How Cells Sense and Respond to Nanoparticles

Igor Ovchinnikov, Biology, UND
Collaborator: Paul Ullmann, Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering, UND
Project: Genomic Drivers of Adaptation and Extinction in North American Megafauna: Implications for Contemporary Conservation Efforts and North Dakota Economy

Darshil Patel, Forensic Science, UND
Collaborators: Hannah Correia, Biology, UND; Alena Kubatova, Chemistry, UND
Project: PFAS and Microplastics in North Dakota Snowpacks and Their Implications for Agricultural Landscapes

Qifeng Zhang, Electrical and Computer Engineering, NDSU
Collaborator: Xiaodong Hou, College of Engineering and Mines, UND
Project: Engineering Polar Materials for Enhanced Sulfur Electrochemistry in Lithium–Sulfur (Li-S) Batteries

ND EPSCoR STEM research seed awards announced ND EPSCoR is pleased to announce the recipients of our FY26 STEM research seed awards. We received 57 proposals from North Dakota researchers. Nearly $500,000 will be awarded to the following eight projects. Funding will be provided to faculty for the purpose of generating preliminary data needed to...

The March 2026 ND EPSCoR News and Notes newsletter is now available. We've got a lot of news this month, including:

- Note from the Director
- NSF encourages researchers to submit investigator-initiated proposals
- ND EPSCoR FY26 Undergraduate STEM Research and Education Awards announced
- ND EPSCoR funding opportunities
- RFP open for NATURE Sunday Academy STEM Modules
- UTTC to host 12th Annual Tribal College Research Symposium
- Reminder: let us know about your E-RISE or E-CORE proposal
- ND STEM highlights
- STEM workshops, webinars, and events
- Other funding opportunities

March 2026 ND EPSCoR News and Notes newsletter Our March 2026 News and Notes newsletter is now available. In this issue: - Note from the Director - NSF encourages researchers to submit investigator-initiated proposals - ND EPSCoR FY26 Undergraduate STEM Research and Education Awards announced - ND EPSCoR funding opportunities - RFP open for NATU...

The ND EPSCoR State Office accepted proposals to fund undergraduate STEM research activities at Tribal Colleges and Universities and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions within the state. We are pleased to announce that the following awards have been made for FY26.

Undergraduate Research Awards

Assessing the Correlation between Trexo Robotics Devices and Bowel Movements in Children with Stage (V) and Stage (IV) Cerebral Palsy
PI: Sarah Manka, Dickinson State University
Student researcher: Samuel Stillings

Documenting Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) Presence in ND Waters
PI: Andre DeLorme, Valley City State University
Student researcher: Ezekiel Luchi

Documenting Mussel Populations in North Dakota Rivers
PI: Andre DeLorme, Valley City State University
Student researcher: Lorenzo Luchi

Equipment Awards

Equipment Grant for Macrophotography
PI: Andre DeLorme, Valley City State University

SwimEx Filtration System Equipment
PI: Heather Golly, Minot State University

Under the Dome: Exploring STEM Careers in a Portable Planetarium
PI: Betsy Bannier, Lake Region State College

ND EPSCoR FY26 Undergraduate STEM Research and Education Awards announced The ND EPSCoR State Office accepted proposals to fund undergraduate STEM research activities at Tribal Colleges and Universities and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions within the state. We are pleased to announce that the following awards have been made for FY26.

To better support researchers in ND to build capacity and competitiveness through NSF awards, especially the E-RISE and E-CORE, ND EPSCoR is offering a pre-planning grant for PUI and TCU institutions in ND. These awards are to initiate early-stage team building and project ideation by providing resources to convene collaborative, interdisciplinary, and interinstitutional conversations.

We checked in with previous planning grant awardees Hilde van Gijssel of Valley City State University and Joe Krieg of Minot State University to find out what advice they have for the researchers considering applying for an E-CORE or an E-RISE.

ND EPSCoR pre-planning grant awardees share their advice for E-CORE and E-RISE applicants To better support researchers in ND to build capacity and competitiveness through NSF awards, especially the E-RISE and E-CORE, ND EPSCoR is offering a pre-planning grant for PUI and TCU institutions in ND. We checked in with previous planning grant awardees Hilde van Gijssel of Valley City State Un...

The February 2026 News and Notes newsletter is now available. In this issue:

- Note from the Director
- ND EPSCoR pre-planning grant awardees share their advice for E-CORE and E-RISE applicants
- NSF EPSCoR 2026 Annual Summit travel awards available
- FY26 ND EPSCoR STEM Outreach Activities awards announced
- STTAR applications are now open
- ND EPSCoR funding opportunities
- ND STEM highlights
- STEM workshops, webinars, and events
- Other funding opportunities

February 2026 News and Notes The February 2026 News and Notes newsletter is now available.

NSF is offering travel awards for the 2026 EPSCoR Annual Summit at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, LA. Twelve travel awards will be provided to each EPSCoR jurisdiction. Travel awards will cover transportation, registration, and lodging at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for all participants.

Please submit your application form by February 11 if you’d like to apply for a travel award.

NSF EPSCoR 2026 Annual Summit travel awards available NSF is offering travel awards for the 2026 EPSCoR Annual Summit at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, LA. Twelve travel awards will be provided to each EPSCoR jurisdiction. Travel awards will cover transportation, registration, and lodging.

The ND EPSCoR State Office’s mission is to increase STEM research capacity and competitiveness in North Dakota; to build a stronger STEM pathway that produces our next generation workforce, educators, and researchers; and to foster an informed citizenry that values the STEM ecosystem and economy.

In service of that mission, the ND EPSCoR State Office solicited proposals to fund STEM outreach activities. We are pleased to announce that the following proposals will be funded.

College for Kids STEAM Initiative, Shaun Prince, Lake Region State College

Designing Evidence-based Outreach Activities: A Partnership Between North Dakota State University and the Fargo Moorhead Science Museum (FMSM), Kayla Adamek, Fargo Moorhead Science Museum

Expanding the UdigND Fossil Expeditions Program, Kristyn Voegele, University of North Dakota

INSTEM, Jamie Wirth, Valley City State University

ND BiotechPathways: Molecular Biology Camp and 4-H Biotechnology Trunks, Danielle Condry, NDSU

NDeavor Workshop Series: Innovation Studio 101 and Robotics for Educators, Adam Elznic, NDeavor

Robotics Education & Programming for Middle and High School Students in ND, Beth Demke, North Dakota's Gateway to Science

Visiting Scientist Series: Connecting STEM and Community Through Astronomy, Mandy Guinn, United Tribes Technical College

FY26 ND EPSCoR STEM Outreach Activities awards announced The ND EPSCoR State Office solicited proposals to fund STEM outreach activities. We are pleased to announce that the following eight proposals will be funded.

Are you a North Dakota business interested in hiring a STEM intern this summer? The ND EPSCoR STTAR program might be for you.

The Students in Technology Transfer and Research (STTAR) program provides upper-division students in STEM with an opportunity to use their academic training and experience to address the most challenging science and technology-based problems faced by North Dakota companies. ND EPSCoR cost-shares the student wage at $10 per hour. Interns must be paid a minimum wage of $18 per hour. Businesses are to identify, recruit, and hire their student interns.

Learn more about STTAR and how to apply on our website.

Applications open for 2026 ND EPSCoR STTAR program STTAR provides funding for STEM internships for North Dakota students working at North Dakota companies.

UND graduate and ND-ACES undergraduate student researcher Anjali Nayar recently received some exciting news: she has been accepted to the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, one of seven medical schools she has applied to. Learn more why she recommends that pre-med undergrads get involved in research projects.

ND-ACES student researcher Anjali Nayar accepted to UND Medical School UND graduate and ND-ACES undergraduate student researcher Anjali Nayar recently received some exciting news: she has been accepted to the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, one of seven medical schools she has applied to.

The December 2025 ND EPSCoR News and Notes newsletter is now available. In this issue:

- Note from the Director
- 2025 ND EPSCoR Year in Review
- ND EPSCoR funding opportunities
- In case you missed it: ND EPSCoR launches STEM researchers database
- ND STEM highlights
- STEM workshops, webinars, and events
- Other funding opportunities

December 2025 News and Notes The December 2025 News and Notes newsletter is now available.

The ND EPSCoR State Office is now accepting proposals to fund undergraduate STEM research activities at Tribal Colleges and Universities and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions within our jurisdiction.

Proposals will be accepted in two categories: equipment and undergraduate research. Proposals will be accepted for pieces of equipment (up to $20,000 from ND EPSCoR) that help advance scientific inquiry, R&D, and education. Undergraduate research awards of up to $8,000/student will be provided.

Institutions in the ND Tribal College System, PUIs in the ND University System, and other PUIs in ND are eligible for this solicitation.

Visit our website to learn more about this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity: Undergraduate STEM Research and Education The ND EPSCoR State Office is now accepting proposals to fund undergraduate STEM research activities at Tribal Colleges and Universities and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions within our jurisdiction.

The November 2025 News and Notes newsletter is now available. In this issue:
- Note from the Director
- 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual State Conference update
- SPARK-ND holds first strategic planning meeting
- ND EPSCoR launches STEM researchers database
- ND EPSCoR funding opportunities
- ND STEM highlights
- STEM workshops, webinars, and events
- Other funding opportunities

November 2025 News and Notes newsletter The November 2025 News and Notes newsletter is now available.