Dochtermann named RCA Undergraduate Research Director

Ned Dochtermann, NDSU professor of biological sciences and Engberg Presidential Professor, has been named NDSU Office of Research and Creative Activity Undergraduate Research Director.

A part-time appointment, the Director provides leadership for campus-wide undergraduate initiatives and oversees the development and administration of undergraduate research programs within the RCA Office, including a summer undergraduate research program.

As Director, Dochtermann will work to identify, develop and promote mentored research opportunities for NDSU undergraduate students while increasing understanding of the impacts of undergraduate research on student learning and success. He’ll also provide professional development opportunities for undergraduate research students and serve as a resource for faculty on student mentorship and proposal development to increase undergraduate research funding and broaden its impact.

Dochtermann joined NDSU in 2012, earned the NDSU Excellence in Research Award from his college in 2017, and received the Jordan A. Engberg Presidential Professorship Award in 2025. With a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, Dochtermann is an evolutionary biologist focused on understanding how behavioral differences among individuals shape evolutionary outcomes. He has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, EPSCoR and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

“I view this position as a chance to help create opportunities for our undergraduates here at NDSU, whether it's part of their overall education and the experiences they gain here or becomes more than that,” Dochtermann said.

The Undergraduate Research Director position is a part-time appointment, and Dochtermann will continue to serve as an NDSU faculty member during his tenure in the role.