University Collaboration Research Program (UCRP)

The University Collaboration Research Program (UCRP) funds collaborative projects involving faculty from NDSU, UND and at least one other NDUS or ND Tribal College System institution.

Projects funded under this program address EDRF goals to:

  • Stimulating economic activity across the state through innovation of new technology, concepts and products.
  • Enhancing healthcare outcomes.
  • Addressing loss of revenue and jobs in communities with economies that depend primarily on the fossil fuel industry.
  • Providing experiential learning opportunities for students.
9 PROJECTS -- $200K
CARBON QUANTUM DOTS FROM KRAFT LIGNIN: NOVEL BACTERIAL ANTIDOTE?
In partnership with University of North Dakota (lead institution), Valley City State University and Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
  • Uwe Burghaus NDSU associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) have emerged as a promising solution to address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by leveraging unique antibacterial mechanisms. Upon photoactivation, CQDs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage bacterial cell walls, deactivate proteins, and cause nucleic acid damage and lipid peroxidation. They also disrupt protective bacterial biofilms, enhancing antibiotic effectiveness.

CQDs can be sourced from materials like sugarcane bagasse and orange juice. Preliminary results show quantum dots show antibacterial activity against harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli comparable to known bactericides such as 70% ethanol and bleach. Furthermore, studies highlight their biocompatibility and safety, including P-doped CQDs, which show promise for biomedical applications without toxicity to human cells.

 

AMMINES FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND AMMONIA PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT
In partnership with University of North Dakota (lead institution) and Dickinson State University
  • Adam Gladen NDSU associate professor of Mechanical Engineering

Ammonia, due to its use in fertilizers, is a critical commodity for North Dakota farmers and ranchers, and, globally, it is a ~$80-90 billion market in 2024 with expected continued growth. The Haber-Bosch process, the dominant method for industrial ammonia production, faces critical challenges, including energy intensity, fossil fuel dependence, and greenhouse gas emissions. The process produces ammonia by reacting hydrogen with nitrogen. It requires high temperatures and pressures to combine them into ammonia, making the process both costly and energy intensive. This project explores an innovative approach to address these limitations through real-time ammonia removal using sorbents within the reactor. By employing a reaction-absorption process, it removes ammonia as it is produced to allow for the hydrogen to react efficiently with the nitrogen. The system leverages a conventional catalyst and solid absorbers to enable ammonia synthesis at lower pressures and temperatures, improving efficiency and sustainability. The ultimate goal is to create a more efficient and cost-effective method for ammonia production.

 

ELECTROCATALYST DEVELOPMENT FOR OXYGEN EVOLUTION FROM WATER SPLITTING
In partnership with University of North Dakota (lead institution) and United Tribes Technical College
  • Dmitri Kilin NDSU associate professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) is essential for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, a critical process for renewable energy systems. However, its slow kinetics and high energy demands, driven by a four-electron transfer process, pose challenges due to expensive and unstable catalysts. Recent advancements include exploring the lattice-oxygen-mediated mechanism (LOM), which engages lattice oxygen to lower energy requirements, as an alternative to the conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM). Future efforts aim to develop cost-effective, stable catalysts by stabilizing oxygen intermediates, refining structures, and optimizing performance in both alkaline and acidic conditions.

 

EXAMINING THE ROLE OF A HONEY-POMEGRANATE SUPPLEMENT ON MUSCLE HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS
In partnership with University of North Dakota, North Dakota State College of Science, Mayville State University and Asozo Health Sciences
  • Ryan McGrath NDSU associate professor of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences
  • Yeong Rhee NDSU professor and head of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences

This pilot study will investigate the effects of a honey-pomegranate supplement on muscle function and health in older adults. The study will assess the supplement's antioxidant activity, its impact on muscle function, physical performance, and self-perceived vitality, as well as gather feedback on taste and acceptability. Twenty participants will consume the supplement daily for a week, with evaluations of strength, physical performance, cognitive function, and more. The findings aim to optimize the supplement's antioxidant profile, support physical function, and explore potential benefits like improved muscle health, enhanced daily activities, and reduced health risks for older adults.

 

3D-PRINTED SCAFFOLD SENSOR USING ADVANCED MATERIALS (2D MXENE) FOR MONITORING LATE STAGE CANCER
In partnership with University of North Dakota and Cankdeska Cikana Community College
  • Danling Wang NDSU associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Kalpana Katti NDSU Distinguished Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

This project seeks to develop a scaffold-based sensor using MXene/MMT nanocomposites for real-time monitoring of circulating cancer cells. The primary objectives are: (1) synthesizing high-purity MXene, an advanced functional material, and tailoring its surface with functional groups to enhance interactions with cancer cells, and (2) formulating 3D printing ink based on MXene to fabricate sensor devices for bone-specific applications. The sensor will be evaluated on bone-mimetic metastasis testbeds to assess its performance.

The methodology involves engineering a 3D-printed bone-mimetic scaffold seeded with cancer cells, simulating physiological flow conditions in a bioreactor, and integrating the sensors to monitor cancer cell dynamics and tumor formation. Anticipated outcomes include real-time tracking of cancer cell circulation, improved control over tumor development, and advancements in cancer treatment strategies.

 

REINFORCING FOOD SECURITY BY UTILIZING NEW APPROACHES FOR UNDERSTANDING POLLINATOR SUCCESS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS
In partnership with University of North Dakota, Minot State University and Turtle Mountain College
  • Travis Seaborn NDSU assistant professor of Natural Resource Sciences
  • Jason Harmon NDSU professor of Natural Resource Sciences

Biodiversity, or the diversity of life, can often protect systems from negative change while also increasing the benefits to people by bolstering ecosystem services.  One important ecosystem service is pollination and the required habitat of the necessary pollinators. Pollinators such as honeybees, native bees, butterflies, and moths play a crucial role in both agricultural and natural ecosystems in North Dakota. The state leads U.S. honey production, and pollinators are essential for crops like sunflowers, canola, dry beans, and buckwheat. However, habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change threaten pollinator populations and the subsequent ecosystem services. This project aims to understand how biodiversity across biological levels synergize, from floral food resource diversity, to gut microbiome diversity, to the pollinators’ own genetic diversity. Strong linkages across these levels of diversity could have direct management impacts by providing the foundational knowledge about how to increase biodiversity across biological levels. The results of this research will ensure strong pollinator services that benefit natural and agricultural ecosystems, resulting in economic growth for the region and national food security in North Dakota.

     

    HOW AIRBORNE POLLEN BREAKS IN WATER DROPLETS AND THE EFFECT ON PRECIPITATION
    In partnership with University of North Dakota (lead institution) and Cankdeska Cikana Community College
    • Giancarlo Lopez-Martinez NDSU assistant professor of Biological Science

    This project aims to foster a new multi-institutional research collaboration in North Dakota, focusing on the economic, agricultural, environmental, and health impacts of bee pollen. North Dakota, the leading honey producer in the U.S., generated 31.2 million pounds of honey valued at $82 million in 2022, with apiaries contributing to the state’s economy through licensing and registration. However, despite its economic importance, the physical, biological, and chemical processes of pollen are poorly understood. Pollen's rupture increases before and during storms, influencing atmospheric processes such as cloud nucleation, which in turn affects precipitation. Additionally, pollen plays a critical role in pollination, impacting both native and commercial pollinator health. This research aims to better understand pollen's structure and its role in both precipitation and pollinator health, incorporating novel scientific approaches to attract competitive external funding for further study.

       

      NURSING RETENTION IN NORTH DAKOTA
      In partnership with University of North Dakota (lead institution) and Lake Region State College
      • Nancy Turrubiates NDSU assistant professor of practice of Nursing

      In North Dakota, rural facilities are struggling to meet nurse staffing requirements, with only 14% expected to meet federal standards for 24/7 RN coverage by 2027. Additionally, the rising use of contract nurses has increased costs significantly, from $24 million in 2020 to $73 million in 2023. High turnover rates, particularly among RNs (43%) and certified nursing assistants (66%), exacerbate staffing shortages. This crisis is not only impacting healthcare delivery but also the broader economy, especially in rural areas where facility closures disrupt local businesses and services. Addressing nursing retention could help diversify North Dakota’s economy, attract investment, and improve public health. This study aims to describe the current status of nursing workforce employment in North Dakota to support development of a strategy to address nurse staffing challenges, and will include compiling current filled and vacant positions along with frequency of turnover to identify variables that impact those numbers, describing current retention strategies used by ND facilities, and nurse respondents’ views of those strategies.  

         

        INNOVATIVE AND STABLE ELECTRODES FOR EFFICIENT PFAS REMOVAL USING NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS
        In partnership with University of North Dakota and United Tribes Technical College
        • Jiale Xu NDSU assistant professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

        Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are chemicals widely used in various industrial and commercial products, including food packaging, cosmetics, aqueous film-forming foams used in firefighting, and Teflon materials. PFAS are carcinogenic and toxic but have been found in groundwater and surface water, resulting in a serious risk to human health. Exposure to PFAS was linked to harm to unborn children, kidney cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease, and elevated cholesterol levels. Current traditional water treatment technologies fail to effectively and efficiently remove PFAS from contaminated water.

        This project aims to create a new material by modifying Ti4O7 electrochemical materials with carbon materials derived from agricultural waste, such as soybean hulls. The goal is to use this material to remove harmful PFAS chemicals from landfill leachates. The project offers four key benefits: (1) repurposing soybean waste to create a useful product, (2) improving water and environmental quality by addressing PFAS contamination, (3) offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for PFAS removal, and (4) providing new economic opportunities for farmers, chemists, and engineers, with the potential to apply this technology nationwide.

           

          Top of page