In the past three years, the
National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded
$32 million in funding for research led by faculty at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
that expands human understanding of the microbial world. Much of the research
focuses on the environment microbes occupy when they attach to surfaces and
create what is commonly known as a biofilm.
The broad range of studies on microbes
and biofilms, funded by these grants, has a wide potential for applications
across many sectors of industry and society including energy generation, new
medicines, wastewater purification, agriculture, corrosion resistance, new
materials and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The research effort of the newly
announced $20
million NSF grant titled “Building
on the 2020 Vision: Expanding Research, Education and Innovation in South
Dakota”
will be led by researchers at SD Mines, SDSU and USD. The funding was awarded
through the South Dakota Established Program
to Stimulate Competitive Research (SD EPSCoR) and the South Dakota Board of
Regents. The state of South Dakota is providing $4 million in matching funds
for the grant. The Governor’s office of Economic Development and Board of Regents
are providing $3 million and there is a ...