North Dakota State University Fargo

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-07

The ability of cells to detect viral infection and cell damage is essential for the body’s first-line immune defense and for protecting human health. Foreign or misplaced genetic material, such as viral DNA or RNA or a cell’s own nucleic acids appearing in the wrong part of a cell, serves as an important danger signal that alerts cells to these threats. This project asks a fundamental question: can electrically active cells, such as heart cells, use electrical signals to detect and respond to such danger signals? To address this question, the project will study how misplaced DNA and RNA inside heart cells alter cellular electrical activity and influence immune defense. The work is expected to reveal a new link among infection, inflammation, and abnormal heart electrical activity, promoting the progress of science and advancing human health. The project also includes an educational program that engages high school and undergraduate students in hands-on STEM training through the design of affordable laboratory tools, open-source resources, and practical solutions that address real research needs and benefit the broader research community. This project will test the hypothesis that cytosolic nucleic acids can alter the electrical activity of cardiomyocytes by modulating ion channels or their regulatory proteins, and that these electrical changes, in turn, influence innate immune responses. The research will combine patch-clamp electrophysiology, calcium imaging, molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational structural analysis to (1) determine how different cytosolic nucleic acids affect action potentials and intracellular calcium dynamics; (2) identify the ion channels and molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects; and (3) evaluate how changes in electrical activity regulate innate immune signaling pathways. By integrating electrophysiology with innate immune biology, this work aims to establish a new framework for understanding how bioelectric signals participate in innate immune defense. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-05

This planning project will support the development of a full EPSCoR-Research Incubator for STEM Excellence project in the state of North Dakota. During the planning stage, the project will identify key risks to energy systems in North Dakota and build jurisdiction-wide collaborations across the state. It will search for advanced theories, emerging technologies and tools to strengthen resilience and reliability against extreme weather and cyber threats. To achieve this goal, this project will define priority research areas in enhancing physical, energy-water, and cyber resilience for North Dakota’s energy systems through assessing research capacity, identifying gaps, and outlining practical solutions. It will also explore strategies to strengthen workforce resilience supporting North Dakota’s energy sector. This project will therefore make efforts to support innovation, improve infrastructure reliability, and reduce economic losses from natural and human-caused disruptions. These benefits can extend to all counties in the state and offer insights for broader national applications. Led by North Dakota State University, this project plans to build partnerships with University of North Dakota, Bismarck State College, Minot State University, and Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, and engage academic institutions, industries, and communities to expand STEM participation for a skilled and inclusive workforce. This planning project will establish a jurisdiction-wide collaboration to design a comprehensive research infrastructure focused on enhancing energy resilience and reliability in North Dakota. It will define the scope, priorities, and coordination mechanisms needed to support a future large-scale research and education initiative as an NSF EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence (E-RISE) proposal. The intellectual contribution of the planned initiative will include the development of integrated, use-inspired, and bottom-up frameworks that couple physical, water, and cyber resilience of energy systems under extreme conditions. The project will investigate potential solutions that advance knowledge in modeling interdependent energy systems, artificial intelligence, data-driven analysis, risk assessment, and resilience optimization, with an emphasis on scalable and transferable approaches that engage key stakeholders. This project will include capacity assessments, scenario development, and iterative planning processes guided by advisory committees and external facilitation. Led by North Dakota State University and collaborated with academic institutions and industry partners across the state, this effort will also integrate research with workforce development, industry engagement, and cross-sector partnerships to build a sustainable research ecosystem. This project is supported by the EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence (E-RISE). E-RISE supports the development of sustainable research infrastructure and capacity in EPSCoR jurisdictions through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, or problem-driven research and workforce development to improve competitiveness in selected STEM fields. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-05

The 31st ACM International Conference on Architectural Support for Programming Languages and Operating Systems (ASPLOS), sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), to be held Pittsburgh, USA, from the 22nd to the 26th of March 2026. ASPLOS is a leading forum for multidisciplinary systems research spanning computer architecture and hardware, programming languages and compilers, and operating systems. It involves participants (researchers, developers, students, and practitioners) from academia, industry, laboratories, and commerce coming together to discuss recent advances and trends. ASPLOS seeks to increase student participation in the conference and the field. The funding will support student travel and the recipients will be able to attend the main conference, workshops, and tutorials. Travel grants will encourage the research interests and the involvement of students in the field who are not well funded and those who are just beginning their participation in the field or are interested in entering it. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-04

Strengthening the nation’s engineering research infrastructure depends on access to modern tools that help scientists and engineers do accurate, high-quality work. This Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) grant provides funding for the acquisition of a PSV QTEC H 3D Scanning Vibrometer that will expand North Dakota State University’s research capabilities, support collaboration across disciplines, and help train the next generation of engineers and scientists. This safe, non-contact laser-based instrument allows researchers to precisely measure vibrations and sound in a wide range of systems, from bridges and machines to electronic devices and living organisms. The instrument will support research that improves honey bee health monitoring and agricultural productivity, enhances transportation safety through better assessment of roads and bridges, and contributes to the development of more reliable machines and electronics. It will also enrich STEM education by giving students hands-on experience with advanced research tools. By enabling research that benefits agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and public well-being, this grant helps advance scientific knowledge and supports the nation’s overall welfare. The PSV QTEC H 3D Scanning Vibrometer is a high‑precision, full‑field vibration measurement system capable of capturing non-contact three‑dimensional motion of a structure or living organism up to 25 MHz. Its non‑contact laser-based technology eliminates mass‑loading effects associated with accelerometers and other traditional sensors, providing true vibration response data and enabling integration of measured geometries into computer‑aided engineering models. The grant’s technical goals span multiple disciplines. In entomology, this instrument enables high-fidelity quantification of honey bee vibroacoustic responses, facilitating mechanistic modeling of stress-induced behavioral changes. In mechanical and industrial engineering, this laser vibrometer is employed to resolve full-field structural dynamics, characterize composite material behavior, and analyze noise–vibration–harshness phenomena in rotating machinery and braking systems. In electronics research, the instrument supports precise evaluation of vibration-induced performance degradation in sensitive circuitry under realistic environmental loading. In ergonomics and health sciences, it provides accurate measurement of whole-body and segmental vibration exposure for occupational risk assessment and standards development. In civil and transportation engineering, the instrument delivers high-resolution, non-contact vibration data critical for modal analysis and structural health monitoring of pavements and bridges. Together, these capabilities position the instrument as a core shared resource for advancing experimental research, enabling data-intensive modeling, and strengthening North Dakota State University’s interdisciplinary research in alignment with NSF scientific objectives. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Composting is a widely used method for managing organic waste and producing nutrient-rich fertilizers. About 35% of U.S. households use compost for gardening. However, recent studies have found that compost can contain PFAS — a group of harmful, long-lasting chemicals. These chemicals can accumulate and move through compost piles in unexpected ways, eventually ending up in soil and water when compost is applied. This project will investigate how PFAS behave in compost under different environmental conditions. By understanding the factors that influence PFAS movement through compost, the project will help make composting safer. The findings will support public health, guide regulatory decisions, and raise awareness through outreach to communities, students, and composting facilities. The project focuses on understanding the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in compost, a unique and environmentally relevant matrix used in organic waste management. Unlike relatively static matrices such as soil or sediment, compost exhibits dynamic physicochemical properties—including high porosity, elevated levels of dissolved organic matter (DOM), temperature gradients, and variable hydraulic conductivity—that evolve with feedstock type and compost maturity. To develop a mechanistic understanding of PFAS fate and transport in compost, the project will pursue three integrated objectives: (1) elucidate how compost temperature gradients, physicochemical characteristics, and hydraulic properties influence precipitation-induced PFAS leaching; (2) investigate PFAS leaching mechanisms under freeze-thaw conditions; and (3) evaluate the role of PFAS molecular isomerism on leaching behavior. Laboratory experiments will be conducted, including batch desorption studies, saturated column tests, and large-scale unsaturated column experiments using mature composts derived from different feedstocks (e.g., yard waste, food waste). PFAS leaching potential will be evaluated under realistic environmental conditions, including simulated precipitation events and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. The research will employ advanced analytical techniques such as fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy to characterize DOM composition, molecular weight fractionation to assess DOM size distribution, and isomer-specific PFAS quantification. Extractable organic fluorine (EOF) and total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assays will complement targeted PFAS analyses, offering a broader perspective on known and unknown PFAS pools. Air–water interfacial partitioning behavior will be measured to assess the impact of compost porosity on PFAS retention, particularly in unsaturated conditions. Flow-interruption tracer studies and non-reactive tracer modeling will provide insights into kinetic limitations and mass transfer phenomena relevant to PFAS mobility. The findings will support the development of mitigation strategies such as compost washing and help shape future regulatory frameworks. The project will include targeted outreach to industry and regulatory stakeholders, public education campaigns at composting sites, and hands-on training for undergraduate and graduate students, fostering PFAS literacy and improved public health. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-01

This project seeks to serve the national interest by improving green chemistry curricula in undergraduate organic chemistry courses so that students are better prepared to address real-world sustainability challenges. Green chemistry emphasizes the design of safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly chemical processes and substances, and it is increasingly integrated into undergraduate chemistry education. As of 2023, the American Chemical Society requires certified programs to provide students with a working knowledge of green chemistry principles. However, instructors currently lack rigorous tools to assess the impact of green chemistry curricular innovations on student learning. This project will develop a collaboratively written, research-based assessment instrument to measure college students' understanding of key green chemistry concepts, enabling institutions to meet new national standards. The instrument will be administered and evaluated in multiple colleges and universities. The project will also explore the use of artificial intelligence to support item development and scoring. Faculty will also receive professional development to support the adoption of evidence-based instructional practices. Ultimately, this work will support more relevant, engaging chemistry instruction and serve as a model for assessment development in STEM education. This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project will develop and seek validity evidence for the Standardized Polytomous Assessment for Community Explorations in Green Chemistry Education, a diagnostic tool designed to assess students' knowledge of green chemistry in the context of organic chemistry instruction. This instrument development project will use an exploratory sequential research design that includes Delphi studies, open-ended prompts, and item response theory analysis. The specific objectives of the integrated research and education plan include: (1) investigate students' ideas related to green chemistry; (2) collaborate with stakeholders to develop a diagnostic tool for measuring students' knowledge of green chemistry; (3) explore the utility of artificial intelligence (AI) to support item generation and scoring; (4) gather evidence for the validity and reliability of the assessment tool and the psychometric properties of the items using Item Response Theory (IRT) across multiple institutions; and (5) provide faculty development opportunities in the assessment practices for potential adopters via workshops and online faculty learning communities. The project’s products—including assessment tools, scoring guides, and national norm data—will contribute to the growing field of Green Chemistry Education Research and inform assessment practices in other STEM disciplines. The CAREER program is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-wide activity that supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. This CAREER project is supported by NSF STEM Education Directorate’s Improving Undergradute STEM Education (IUSE: EDU) program. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-10

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award funds the acquisition and deployment of Bison -- a GPU-accelerated high-performance computing system for computationally intensive and artificial intelligence (AI) research. Bison will transform the capabilities of North Dakota State University (NDSU) and of other institutions in the state of North Dakota to conduct leading-edge research which has implications in public policies, agriculture and food security, healthcare, energy, engineering, environment, quantum information science, among others. The new system will be a state-wide regional resource that provides faculty, staff, and students at all eleven institutions within the North Dakota University System and the five tribal colleges in North Dakota with needed infrastructure. Bison is crucial to the growing spectrum of research and training activities and will be used to foster collaboration with research and education partners within North Dakota and across the country, especially on AI research, and will thus contribute to efforts to democratize AI. The project will acquire, deploy, and operate a GPU-accelerated high-performance computing system architected for highly arithmetic-intensive and AI/machine learning processing. The instrument (Bison, named after the majestic American mammal) consists of a premier storage system built to support AI workflows and a GPU cluster for highly compute-intensive computation and AI training and inference tasks. At NDSU and fifteen other higher-education institutions in the state of North Dakota, the new instrument will enable leading-edge research in multiple science and engineering areas, including social sciences, computer science, bioinformatics, biomechanics, fluid dynamics, physics, chemistry, materials science, civil engineering, among others. It will also enable education and training of the next generation of scientists and engineers, technologists, and research computing users and professionals. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-08

This project led by North Dakota State University will build a strong and sustainable STEM community across North Dakota. Collaborating institutions include Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Mayville State University, Minot State University, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College, Turtle Mountain College, United Tribes Technical College, University of North Dakota, and Valley City State University. The project will focus on connecting researchers across North Dakota, improving STEM opportunities in rural areas, and facilitating STEM education for students at tribal colleges. It will address the lack of STEM opportunities in rural communities, challenges faced by students at tribal colleges, community colleges, and primarily undergraduate institutions, as well as the barriers posed by distance between research institutions. By creating new partnerships between schools, colleges, and universities, the project will increase opportunities for STEM education and careers. It will promote hands-on learning, social connections in STEM education, and opportunities for students from across the state to succeed. It will also bring researchers together to solve important problems. The project will measure its success through detailed evaluations and aims to leave a lasting impact by creating new educational pathways, stronger research networks, and a more skilled STEM workforce in North Dakota. This project will establish a comprehensive and sustainable STEM ecosystem in North Dakota through three targeted focus areas: Administrative Core, STEM Pathways Core, and Tribal Colleges & Universities Core. The project team will connect geographically dispersed researchers, enhance STEM literacy among rural communities, and strengthen STEM participation at tribal colleges. The team will use targeted strategies to mitigate barriers, such as limited rural opportunities and geographical isolation. Through interdisciplinary research networks, expanded STEM outreach, and relevant educational programming and research, the project team will foster collaboration across North Dakota institutions, broaden participation in STEM, and enhance educational and workforce outcomes. Partnerships between universities, tribal colleges, and rural schools will ensure enduring impacts, including heightened research capacity and a stronger STEM workforce. Key metrics, longitudinal evaluation, and sustainability plans will guide the project's progress, aiming to create a thriving STEM landscape that aligns with North Dakota’s strategic goals. This project is supported by the Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Program: EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems (E-CORE). E-CORE supports jurisdictions in building research capacity and research infrastructure to drive substantive and sustainable impacts to their research ecosystems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-08

This project investigates the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled radio frequency identification (RFID) sensing systems through an international research collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia. The core research theme of this project is to enhance the accuracy and affordability of RFID-based sensing by integrating AI frameworks into custom-designed sensor systems. Through this international partnership, eight U.S. students per year participate in an immersive eight-week summer research program at UTS. This project is mutually beneficial, strengthening our existing international collaboration by advancing critical applications such as smart packaging and precision agriculture, while simultaneously training U.S. students in this vital area of research. This project strengthens the training of U.S. students in RFID sensing systems by providing first-hand experience in the design, fabrication, and testing of these technologies. In addition, professional development workshops and industrial site visits further enrich the students' experience in this critical research area. This project addresses fundamental challenges in RFID sensing system design, specifically improving sensor accuracy and reducing overall system cost, to enable broader adoption of this technology across various applications through collaborative research between the United States and Australia. This work is expected to enable the development of low-cost and accurate RFID sensing systems by creating an AI framework that accounts for external environmental factors affecting sensor performance. This project provides students with the opportunity to (i) design RFID sensing systems through simulations, (ii) fabricate and characterize them using state-of-the-art equipment at the University of Technology Sydney, and (iii) analyze data and develop AI algorithms to enhance sensing system accuracy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-07

This Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award supports research, education, and outreach activities dedicated to understanding and improving the health and swarming behavior of honeybee colonies. Honeybees are essential pollinators, supporting over 35 percent of global crop production and contributing $15 billion annually to the US agricultural economy. Despite their importance, bee populations face significant declines due to environmental stressors such as pesticides, pathogens, and climate change. Research activities under this award will focus on creating novel diagnostic methodologies that integrate vibroacoustic and electric field measurements to monitor the health of bee colonies. These methodologies aim to reduce labor costs and increase the effectiveness of beekeeping practices. Educational activities will engage students in bioinspired engineering through hands-on experiences and create graduate-level course modules covering vibroacoustics, mathematical modeling, and signal processing. Outreach activities will disseminate findings to academic and beekeeping communities, enhancing the societal relevance of bioinspired engineering systems while broadly promoting STEM education. This research aims to develop a new methodology to accurately assess the dynamic responses of honeybee colonies to external stressors and environmental changes, including prediction of the swarming behavior triggered by the arrival of new queens. The approach combines mathematical modeling, vibroacoustic and electric field signal processing, and machine learning algorithms to create a robust data-driven platform for real-time bee colony monitoring and predictive swarm management. By harnessing the vibroacoustic responses, communication patterns, and electric field signals of honeybees, this research will pioneer a methodological framework for the bioinspired engineering systems. This framework will facilitate the development of a data processing platform equipped with machine learning algorithms capable of analyzing and interpreting diverse data on honeybee dynamics. These advancements will pave a new way for precision beekeeping, real-time monitoring and proactive management of colonies that will improve crop pollination and honey production, reduce labor costs for beekeepers, and support honeybee conservation efforts. This project is jointly funded by the Dynamics, Control and Systems Diagnostics (DCSD) program, and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-03

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity, posing serious challenges to soil health, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem recovery. In October 2024, wildfires in Western North Dakota burned over 110,000 acres, significantly impacting croplands, rangelands, and unmanaged ecosystems. Soil microbial communities, which drive nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and plant recovery, are particularly vulnerable to fire-induced disturbances. Disruptions to these microbial processes can lead to long-term declines in soil fertility, reduced crop yields, and compromised land productivity, threatening both local economies and national food security. However, the dynamics of microbial recovery in human-managed systems remain poorly understood. This RAPID project takes advantage of a critical time-sensitive window to investigate wildfire-driven shifts in microbial communities and soil function before they are obscured by seasonal agricultural activities. Without immediate study, key microbial and biochemical transitions may go undocumented, limiting our ability to develop effective recovery strategies. By tracking microbial composition, functional genetic activity, and soil toxicity across different land-use types, this research will provide much-needed insights into ecosystem recovery dynamics. Findings will inform sustainable land management strategies, ensuring that agricultural soils remain productive and resilient in the face of increasing wildfire disturbances. The study will also support North Dakota’s agricultural sector by guiding post-fire recovery efforts that protect soil fertility and mitigate nutrient loss, benefiting both local and national food security. This study integrates high-resolution microbial and biochemical analyses across three critical post-fire time points: immediately after the fire (November 2024), pre-planting (March 2025), and post-growing season (September 2025). Soil samples will be collected from burned and unburned sites within agricultural, rangeland, and unmanaged ecosystems to compare microbial recovery trajectories. Next-generation sequencing of bacterial and fungal markers will assess microbiome diversity, while digital PCR will quantify functional genes related to nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and carbon cycling. Soil toxicity and respiration assays will evaluate microbial activity and overall soil health. Multivariate statistical analyses and microbial network modeling will be applied to identify key drivers of microbial resilience and functional restoration. This interdisciplinary approach will provide critical data to policymakers, land managers, and researchers working to mitigate the ecological and agricultural consequences of wildfires. Outreach efforts through extension services, field days, and public engagement will ensure that research findings translate into actionable strategies for sustaining fire-affected landscapes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-02

A monolithic three-dimensional integrated circuit (M3D IC) is a promising alternative for realizing compact and efficient ICs since conventional two-dimensional integration is limited by lithography and power constraints. In M3D IC technology, the substrate layers are realized sequentially, and these layers are connected through metal inter-layer vias (MIVs). This project addresses significant challenges associated with the process technology for implementing M3D ICs to ensure reliable, compact and efficient designs. The project will facilitate further advances in M3D IC electronic design automation (EDA) methodology to efficiently address the potential challenges in M3D IC technology for full-scale chip designs. The proposed approaches to address the process-dependent challenges in M3D IC will provide future opportunities for M3D IC technology at all design levels – device, circuit, and EDA. The educational goals of this project are to (1) develop activities aiming from high-school students to graduate students that focus on hands-on learning such as a custom lego-like toolkit that captures the EDA optimization problems of M3D ICs and, (2) IC tape-out activities along with emphasizing the need for energy-efficient and compact ICs. This project aims to develop a process-aware reliable and efficient EDA framework for M3D IC designs by addressing the following key concerns: (a) How significant is the impact of MIV on the performance of devices around it in bulk-substrate M3D IC process and how to reduce this impact for efficient and reliable M3D IC designs in this process technology? (b) How beneficial is the back-end-of-line transistor in the ultra-thin selective-substrate process and how to efficiently use this extra dimension for compact and efficient M3D IC designs in this process technology? and (c) How to obtain efficient M3D IC designs for heterogeneous integration considering both bulk-substrate and ultra-thin selective-substrate processes? The first concern will be addressed by developing a custom shielding mechanism based on the M3D IC process to nullify the MIV impact. The second concern will be addressed by developing the design rule-based custom physical design methodology specific to ultra-thin selective substrate process. The third concern will be addressed by combining the above two approaches based on the substrate layer process. The new challenges and exciting optimization problems posed by these approaches will also provide new directions to the EDA research. This project is jointly funded by the Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF) program of the Computing and Communications Foundations (CCF) Division, and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) at NSF. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-02

Quantum computing offers the potential for exponential speedup in solving complex problems, such as optimization, cryptography, and simulation, by leveraging quantum superposition and entanglement to process vast amounts of information simultaneously. Many applications of quantum computing are safety-critical and security-critical, i.e., errors or security breaches in quantum software can lead to catastrophic failures and/or harm of human life. The goal of this project is to develop scalable formal verification methods for quantum software. Formal verification provides a rigorous mathematical framework to prove that quantum programs behave as intended under all possible conditions, which is especially important given the difficulty of detecting and correcting quantum errors through traditional testing methods. The significance of this project lies in developing scalable formal verification methods for quantum software to ensure the correctness and reliability of safety-critical and security-critical quantum applications, where errors or vulnerabilities could lead to catastrophic outcomes. Success will be extremely beneficial as it will be an important step towards widespread utility of quantum computers. The project will also benefit students in North Dakota, a geographically underrepresented area in computing and quantum information science and engineering. The significant challenge in verifying quantum software is that quantum operations are modeled in Hilbert space (complex vector space), and existing verification tools are not very scalable for Hilbert space. Our central hypothesis is that abstractions can be used to reduce the verification problem from Hilbert space to bit-vector space, for which verification tools are orders-of-magnitude more efficient and scalable. This hypothesis is based on preliminary investigation with two abstractions: (1) rotational abstraction that exploits the rotational behavior of quantum operations; and (2) superposition abstraction that abstracts the superposition behavior of quantum programs. The goals of the project are to generalize rotational and superposition abstraction, develop a unified abstraction framework that incorporates both, develop algorithms and tooling to apply the abstractions automatically, and study the applicability of the abstractions to implementations of many quantum algorithms that have potential for real-world applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-10

This project aims to serve the national interest by advancing the understanding of the mathematical ideas and practices that students encounter in introductory calculus-based physics, with a particular emphasis on concepts and procedures covered in introductory calculus. The project will investigate how students perceive and reason with the mathematics that they experience in introductory calculus-based physics. The results will be used to develop and assess research-based instructional exercises that can be incorporated into a standard physics course. This project focuses on the first semester introductory calculus-based physics course, which generally covers classical mechanics, and in which students begin to encounter calculus in physics, applied to both scalar and vector quantities. This project will generate valuable new knowledge on the role of calculus and the interplay between calculus and physics in a crucial introductory course for many science and engineering majors. The work will take place at three institutions with high percentages of first-generation college students, one that is a Hispanic-Serving Institution. This project will perform research on the mathematical ideas and practices that students encounter in introductory calculus-based physics, with three goals: (1) Conduct research on practices in introductory mathematics and physics courses relevant to physics instruction; (2) Study how students perceive and reason with the mathematics that they experience in introductory calculus-based physics; and (3) Develop and assess a series of research-based instructional exercises that can be incorporated into a standard calculus-based introductory course. Findings from research in undergraduate mathematics education and physics education will inform studies of disciplinary understanding and perception of calculus as well as the development of instructional strategies and materials. This will generate relevant and necessary pedagogical content knowledge for effective development of mathematical modeling, quantitative and covariational reasoning, and knowledge transfer between mathematics and physics among students in the introductory sequence, applied to both scalar and vector quantities. Research methods will be mixed, including qualitative studies of individual students and classroom observations as well as quantitative data collected on surveys of content understanding and disciplinary practices. The NSF IUSE: EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-10

This S-STEM Research Hub will contribute to the national need for a well-educated STEM workforce by researching factors that influence the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need. Building on a collaboration among Mississippi State University, North Dakota State University, Indiana Wesleyan University, University of North Alabama, and Texas Tech University, the project will develop a strategic alliance among Rural Serving Institutions (RSIs) to collaborate and conduct research aimed at increasing rural, low-income college students’ success in STEM majors and participation in STEM careers. In particular, the alliance seeks to build capacity to conduct research about important aspects of belonging that can develop, accommodate, and support the graduation of domestic, rural, low-income STEM students. As a result the project will inform ways that RSIs can support the growth of the STEM workforce in rural communities. Specific project activities include building and managing Rural Serving Institution Network Groups to gather and analyze data and insights from the experiences of rural, low-income students who are participating in the NSF S-STEM program. The Research Hub will also provide capacity-building and technical support for STEM faculty at RSIs to conduct education research about the role of belonging in rural student persistence, graduation, and STEM employment. Research results about interventions that better support rural, low-income student success and contribute to the social and economic well-being of the rural communities they serve will be disseminated to the broader community of Rural Serving Institutions. The overall aim of this project is to address the existing gap in rural STEM higher education research about how to support rural, low-income students, who face specific challenges in enrolling in, persisting in, and completing STEM degrees. Three project goals guide the project's efforts. First, is to conduct research through Rural Serving Institution Network Groups that gather and analyze data and insights resulting from the experiences of rural, low-income students participating in S-STEM projects. Second, is to provide capacity-building, technical support, and strategic alliances for researchers at RSIs, including Summer Institutes and Network Group facilitation, to contribute to the collective understanding of rural, low-income students’ enrollment, persistence, and completion of STEM degree programs. Third, and finally, is to disseminate research to share information about what works and what does not for STEM students who are both rural and low-income. This project is funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields. It also aims to improve the education of future STEM workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-09

Teaching students about green and sustainable chemistry (GSC) connects chemical concepts to the real world and provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to be healthy, informed consumers. In fact, both national and global groups have called to include GSC in chemistry classes. For example, the fourth United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal is that by 2030 all students have the knowledge and skills to support global, sustainable development. Unfortunately, GSC is still not widely covered in organic chemistry textbooks, leaving instructors to decide if and how to include GSC. Furthermore, many organic chemistry instructors are not yet familiar with GSC. Thus, this study will identify how GSC is currently taught and assessed and what resources instructors need to teach GSC, both of which are critical for developing effective instructor training and resources. In addition, the study will also explore how teaching GSC impacts the way students, particularly from rural areas, see organic chemistry. To accomplish this, the study will involve redesigning the introductory organic chemistry curriculum to include GSC. This redesigned curriculum will provide readily available materials for other instructors. Finally, integrating GSC into the organic chemistry curriculum will help educate environmentally responsible consumers who understand how their decisions impact their community and environment. This study addresses two research aims: 1) to explore the nationwide integration of GSC into the organic chemistry curriculum and 2) to explore how integrating GSC into the introductory organic chemistry curriculum impacts student perception of organic chemistry, with a particular emphasis on its impact on rural students. To accomplish the first aim, an explanatory sequential design will be used in which the results of a previous quantitative survey study will frame the development of the qualitative interview questions and the subsequent analysis of the responses. Then, a nationwide survey will be developed and administered to explore the cohesiveness of faculty interview responses with a nationwide sample. To accomplish the second aim, data will be collected on student perception and class performance from an introductory organic chemistry course in the first year to be used as a historical control. The course curriculum will then be modified using results from a literature review, the interviews, and independently prepared instructional modules so that the prescribed curriculum is taught from a green perspective. Student perception and class performance of all students will then be evaluated to measure the impact of incorporating GSC. It is predicted that incorporating GSC will benefit all students, especially rural students, due to its ties to the environment and sustainability. This project is supported by NSF’s STEM Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (STEM Ed PRF) Program. The STEM Ed PRF Program aims to enhance the research knowledge, skills, and practices of recent doctorates in STEM, STEM education, education, and related disciplines to advance their preparation to engage in fundamental and applied research that advances knowledge within the field. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-08

This project focuses on research investigates manufacturing challenges associated with the synthesis and processing of state-of-the-art fluorescent silicon carbide (SiC) quantum dots, from precursor to final product. Quantum dots are of commercial interest because of their ability to emit bright light of tunable color under steady excitation, a trait that recently won these materials a Nobel Prize in chemistry. However, bright fluorescence at the blue-to-green end of the visible spectrum is particularly challenging, especially without the use of toxic materials, such as lead. Proposed research will intend to enable the ‘bottom-up’ production of nontoxic nanocrystalline silicon carbide quantum dots of varied shape and size, with bright blue/green fluorescence for applications in displays, labels and sensors. In contrast to silicon, bandgap photoluminescence (PL) from SiC quantum dots has never been observed, with the reported PL reflecting impurities. The proposed research will attempt to resolve this issue to usher in a new era of quantum-confined nanocrystalline SiC materials, with broad relevance to defect tolerance and control in wide-bandgap semiconductors in general. The research resides on three successive tiers: precursor, processing, and surface treatment. Green purification schemes targeting the liquid precursor cyclohexasilane (CHS) will exploit its phase behavior to empower production at scale, where such precursors are safer than current standards like silane gas. At the processing level, intrinsic particle charge will be exploited for in situ field-flow fractionation, providing universal insight into the broad impact of surface charge on quantum yield. Finally, CHS/cyclohexane mixtures are ideal for SiC because of their matched stoichiometry, and plasma processing will enable the precise surface chemistry required for correct passivation. The insight gained from this research could lead to controlled size-tunable PL across the entire visible spectrum from nontoxic silicon-based materials, with bright blue/green emission from 2D and 3D nanoscale SiC. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-06

This REU Site award to North Dakota State University (NDSU), located in Fargo, North Dakota, will support the training of ten students for ten weeks during the summers of 2025-2027. Students will be engaged in undergraduate research in the area of discipline-based education research (DBER) in an environment that emphasizes the importance of collaborative research practices. This project includes a professional development series designed to focus on career development, DBER methodologies, and science communication. Through mentoring, authentic research experiences, professional development seminars, and social activities, this project fosters interdisciplinary research and aims to encourage talented students to pursue graduate programs. This project will help students build a broad skill set appropriate for a variety of career paths and facilitate the retention of students as DBER scholars. This project also highlights to students how research is used to inform teaching practices, with dissemination of students' research findings contributing to our understanding of effective teaching and learning in STEM. Recruitment activities involve maintaining an active website, social networking, targeted emailing regionally and nationally, and partnering with NDSU offices to disseminate the availability of the REU program. Applications will consider material from the applicant, interviews, and research team objectives to build the REU cohorts. Project evaluation involves a mix of qualitative and quantitative measures that will be collected from students and mentors throughout the summer, which provides the opportunity to obtain both formative and summative feedback when assessing goals. Students will be tracked after the program in order to determine student career paths. Students will be asked to respond to an automatic email sent via the NSF reporting system. More information is available by visiting https://www.ndsu.edu/dber/reu_program/. This project is funded by NSF's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program, which supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-05

The project funds the acquisition of an advanced ultrasound platform for collaborative research in fluid and material science at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Traditional optical measurements encounter significant challenges when dealing with internal characteristics through opaque materials, multiphase fluids, and complex wall boundaries. These challenges arise from issues such as reduced light transmissivity, optical distortion, laser glares, and high particle volume fractions. A research ultrasound system will enable quantitative acoustic measurements through opaque fluids and complex material boundaries, addressing challenges faced in optical experiments. The platform extends to its seamless transition into a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) instrument for investigating internal structures and defects in materials. This capability will have a far-reaching impact on a wide spectrum of research collaborations at NDSU, including but not limited to thermal fluid sciences, materials degradation, electrical systems, energy storage, transportation, and biological sciences. The acquisition will also benefit undergraduate and graduate students at NDSU in terms of research training in thermal-fluid measurements, NDE applications, as well as ultrasound technology basics. The Verasonics system to be acquired serves as a versatile laboratory research platform designed for the acquisition, storage, display, and analysis of various levels of open data. The primary goal is to enable Echo-PIV (echo particle image velocimetry) for opaque fluids and through non-transparent complex wall boundaries, which represents a fundamental challenge for cardiovascular flow experiments. Echo-PIV will enable acoustic access to internal flow data without the need to simultaneously match the material and optical properties of phantom models, a task that is often difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in cardiovascular flow phantoms. This field currently suffers from a notable scarcity of experimental data, including transient flow velocity, wall shear stress, and fluid-structure interaction inside complex geometries. This deficiency hinders progress in validating computational fluid dynamics simulations and the fundamental understanding of cardiovascular flows. The ultrasound will also benefit research in interfacial dynamics, immiscible fluid transport, complex fluids, fluid-structure interaction, and turbulence transition by providing open access to multiple layers of acoustic data, including raw radiofrequency data, brightness-mode images, and movement-mode data. The instrument will enable a brand-new advanced flow diagnostic technique at NDSU and create valuable training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate researchers across departments and colleges. Additionally, the instrument can be seamlessly integrated into undergraduate laboratory courses and outreach activities to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in STEM education. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.