The Infrastructure Program (IP)

Jiale Xu, NDSU assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are toxic chemicals mainly found in groundwater, and their presence in crops and drinking water poses a serious risk to human health. PFAS are a group of highly persistent chemicals that have been widely used in various industrial and commercial products, which include food packaging, cosmetics, aqueous film-forming foams used in firefighting and Teflon materials. Due to their extensive usage, PFAS have been detected in diverse environmental matrices, including water, soil, air, and plants. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to several serious health issues, including harm to unborn children, kidney cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease and elevated cholesterol levels. Xu’s research analyzes the source of PFAS contamination, studies the fate and transport of PFAS and develops innovative technologies for PFAS control.

The research will be enabled by the purchase of a mass spectrometer, the Agilent 6460 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System, which is a highly specialized instrument for analyzing PFAS in water samples. With this instrument, this research will contribute to the development of effective strategies for controlling PFAS contamination and protecting human health.

Scott Payne, NDSU executive director of Core Research Facilities and director of NDSU Electron Microscopy Core

The state of North Dakota is home to companies with strong concentrations in composite materials, coatings and device manufacturing. For research and product development, local companies use instrumentation and services offered through our NDSU Core Facilities. These industry partners include but are not limited to Marvin Windows, Marvin Composites, Elinor Coatings, John Deere Intelligent Solutions (JDIS), Appareo Systems, Packet Digital, and 701x, all of whom rely heavily on NDSU graduates for new hires.

The goal of this project is to purchase accelerated weathering testing instrumentation that reproduces the damage caused by full-spectrum sunlight and rain and a temperature/humidity test chamber with creates temperature and humidity extremes for sample testing. Accelerated weathering chambers provide an intense controlled environment that reduces the time needed to test formulations of coatings and materials from years to days. This creates a unique training experience for NDSU students specifically in Coatings and Polymeric Materials and various Engineering fields. Students will receive hands-on training from expert staff using the same instruments that are being used in the local industry. Acquisition of this equipment will provide students with outstanding learning opportunities and practical experience not available elsewhere in the region.

Scott Payne, NDSU executive director of Core Research Facilities and director of NDSU Electron Microscopy Core

This project aims to enhance experiential learning opportunities and workforce development aligned with local microelectronics industry standards. Equipment ordered includes a semi-automatic heavy wire bonder, an automatic thermosonic wedge and ball bonder, and an automatic wafer dicing saw. This project will enable a partnership with John Deere Intelligent Solutions and provide NDSU students with hands-on experience using the same tools found in local industry, improving their marketability and contributing to the region’s microelectronics workforce.

Sijo Mathew, NDSU assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Acquisition of this Small Animal Telemetry Instrumentation will support research on cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal diseases, specifically focusing on the effects of obesity on the heart, lungs, kidneys, vascular, and other vital systems. The instrument is essential for studies on hypertension, a key risk factor for dementia and chronic diseases of the kidney and heart. This tool will help investigate lipotoxicity—the buildup of lipids that cause cell damage and insulin resistance. Further, this will be a powerful tool to address aging-mediated risk for developing chronic diseases. By improving our understanding of various factors that increase blood pressure including obesity, aging, kidney functions, and vascular diseases, the research aims to address the growing public health issue in North Dakota and the U.S. Most importantly, the acquisition of this instrumentation will enable new collaborative research activities and training our undergraduate and graduate students on new techniques and important biomedical research areas.

Edson Ncube, NDSU research specialist II of Plant Pathology

This project will acquire a Perten Lab Mill 3310 Laboratory Mill, a mill with a robust, metal design for reliability and long mill life used to grind grain samples for mycotoxin analysis in wheat and durum. This disc-type mill grinds samples rapidly, and the size of particle distribution can be easily adjusted, which is crucial for accurate mycotoxin testing, and complies with USDA guidelines. It will be integrated into ongoing projects sponsored by the North Dakota Wheat Commission and used in the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative of USDA-ARS. The acquisition strengthens industry partnerships, particularly with Syngenta Crop Protection and BASF, allowing for early evaluation of new products. Located at the Williston Research Extension Center, the mill will support ongoing research.

Andriy Voronov, NDSU professor of Coatings and Polymeric Materials

The BPC Blue is a laboratory instrument designed to assess the biodegradability (compostability) of plastics under various environmental conditions. The instrument supports both aerobic and anaerobic biodegradability analysis and can test up to 18 samples simultaneously, reducing manual labor and minimizing errors with a straightforward setup process that takes only 2-3 hours.

This instrument enables the development of sustainable polymers and polymeric materials with optimized compostability rates and foster interdisciplinary collaboration across NDSU departments.

Additionally, students will gain hands-on experience with polymer synthesis and characterization, while developing technical skills in using and maintaining advanced lab equipment, preparing them for real-world applications in polymers and environmental research.