Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Building Research Infrastructure in the Environmental Sciences in North Dakota
EPA Grant Number: R828081E01Title: Building Research Infrastructure in the Environmental Sciences in North Dakota
Investigators: Boudjouk, Philip
Institution: North Dakota State University Main Campus
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: May 1, 2000 through August 31, 2003
Project Amount: $258,596
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The overall objective of this research project was to expand environmental research capabilities in North Dakota and to increase the competitiveness of North Dakota scientists for federal grants in support of environmental research. The specific objectives of our Strategic Improvement Program (SIP) were as follows: (1) develop a comprehensive strategy for developing a nationally competitive environmental science and engineering research program; (2) increase the number of investigators that effectively compete for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants; (3) increase the number of new research programs in environmentally related areas; and (4) increase the number of students who pursue careers in environmental science and engineering.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) State Steering Committee, in consultation with the executive leadership teams (presidents, provosts, vice presidents for research) of the two collaborating research universities, the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University, developed and implemented a coordinated, comprehensive SIP for expanding environmental research in the state. The North Dakota EPSCoR Steering Committee identified that the major barrier to achieving expanded competitiveness was the size and scope of the state's intellectual assets, including the number of Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers as well as the numbers of post-doctoral and graduate students. The SIP was designed to overcome these barriers by increasing the number of scientists engaged in environmental research and by increasing the capabilities of faculty and students to conduct environmentally related research. The focus of the plan was to develop specific areas in the chemical, life sciences, and engineering departments deemed to have existing/emerging strength in terms of research track record, facilities and equipment, and graduate programs; these areas included biodiversity/conservation biology, bioremediation, and environmental contamination/toxicology.
Faculty Development
Two programs were implemented in an effort to increase the number of scientists engaged in environmental research and to increase the capabilities of faculty to conduct environmentally related research: the New Faculty Start-up (NFS) Program and the Seed Grant (SG) program. All awards were made on a competitive basis following an external review. Recipients were required to submit applications to the EPA and other federal agencies to sustain the initiated research activities. New Faculty Start-up (NFS) awards were made to departments during the hiring process to help recruit top-quality faculty by offering competitive start-up packages. The proposals were judged by a panel comprised of outside experts with research and administrative experience at the senior level. The strengths of the departments (e.g., research track record, facilities and equipment, mentoring, teaching/service load) and their strategic environmental research objectives played key roles in the award process. In addition to identifying the most promising environment for placing new faculty, the review process also provided important feedback to departments concerning their research development plans. EPSCoR funds, which were matched one to one with institutional resources, were used by the new researchers to build their laboratories (e.g., acquire new equipment), hire students, and obtain preliminary research data; factors that contribute to the development and submission of proposals that will compete effectively for federal grants. A total of three new researchers were recruited to the state through this program.
SGs were awarded to existing faculty to develop research projects relevant to the EPA. Preference was given to faculty in the critical early stages of their career (e.g., years 2-5). EPSCoR funds were awarded for up to 2 years and were used by these researchers to acquire critical instrumentation, hire students, and obtain the necessary preliminary data to establish the feasibility of a particular line of environmentally related research. A total of six awards were made.
The NFS Program and the SG Program have served to increase the environmental research capacity of North Dakota in several ways. First, they have expanded the number of scientists engaged in environmental research and increased the scope of environmental research being conducted in the state's two research-intensive universities. Examples of the lines of inquiry that were developed include the following: membrane filtration of organics in water, development of advanced marine coatings to address the problems of ship fouling and the release of antifouling compounds to the environment and studies to reduce the toxicity of the coatings, and the study of biodegradable dissolved carbon in water. In particular, research has found how seemingly inert ingredients of paints may be affected by industrial pollution in the atmosphere. Mechanisms have been discovered that help explain how coatings may degrade, become porous, and release chemicals into the environment. Overall contributions to the field have been significant, with 16 publications and 12 presentations made by EPSCoR-supported scientists.
Second, and most importantly, the research initiated through these programs has led to the development and submission of grants to mainstream (non-EPSCoR) sources. A total of 25 extramural proposals were submitted; 8 of these proposals were funded and 11 are still pending. More than $9.8 million was awarded for an investment return of almost 18.7 to 1. The current proposal success rate (32 percent) clearly demonstrates that the researchers supported by our SIP are nationally competitive, even if none of the additional pending proposals is successful.
Student Outreach and Recruitment
The student outreach and recruitment component of our SIP recognizes the importance of students in the conduct of research and underscores our commitment to the education and training of the next generation of scientists who will conduct environmentally related research. Numerous students (one postdoctoral researcher, eight graduate students, and five undergraduate students) received research education and training though the NFS and SG Programs. In addition, our Students Engaged in Environmental Research Program afforded undergraduate summer research opportunities for students to participate in faculty-mentored research at a time when students are making decisions about their future careers. Awards were made to four students on a competitive basis. They participated in wetlands restoration research, bioremediation using green algae, measurement of heavy metals in fly ash, and novel cross-linking of polymer coatings. The students indicated on a questionnaire that the program dramatically increased their interest in doing research and they intended to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school.
Conclusions:
The SIP has made significant and lasting impacts on the environmental research capabilities in North Dakota. Through this program, several new scientists have been attracted to the state and numerous lines of environmental research have been expanded and initiated. The research initiated through this program has provided new insight into environmental issues that are of state, regional, national, and global importance. Some of this research has commercial potential (three patents pending). In addition, the project has contributed to the education and training of numerous students, thereby better preparing them for the job market and expanding visions of their career options. Lastly, the SIP has increased the competitiveness of North Dakota scientists for federal grants in support of environmental research. This is exemplified by the 25 proposals submitted by EPSCoR-supported scientists that led to eight awards in the amount of more than $9.8 million. The total return on investment (EPA and North Dakota funds) exceeds 18:1 at this time. The impact of the program will continue into the future as the pending proposals (11) reach maturity and as the investigators supported under this program continue to expand their research.
Journal Articles on this Report : 13 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 26 publications | 14 publications in selected types | All 13 journal articles |
---|
Type | Citation | ||
---|---|---|---|
|
Arruda AF, Goicoechea HC, Santos M, Campiglia AD, Olivieri AC. Solid-liquid extraction room temperature phosphorimetry and pattern recognition for screening polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in water samples. Environmental Science and Technology , 2003; 37(7): 1385-1391. |
R828081E01 (Final) R829415E02 (2003) R829415E02 (Final) |
not available |
|
Bystol AJ, Campiglia AD, Gillispie GD. Laser-induced multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy in shpol'skii matrices with a fiber optic probe at liquid helium temperature. Analytical Chemistry 2001;73(23):5762-5770. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Bystol AJ, Thorstenson T, Campiglia AD. Laser-induced multidimensional fluorescence spectroscopy in Shpol’skii matrixes for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in HPLC fractions and complex environmental extracts. Environmental Science and Technology 2002; 36(20):4424-4429. |
R828081E01 (Final) R829415E02 (2003) |
not available |
|
Croll SG. DLVO theory applied to TiO2 pigments and other materials in latex paints. Progress in Organic Coatings 2002;44(2):131-146. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Croll SG, Skaja AD. Quantitative use of ultraviolet spectroscopy to calculate the effective irradiation dosage during weathering. Macromolecular Symposia 2002;187(1):861-872. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Croll SG, Skaja AD. Spectroscopic adsorption and effective dosage in accelerated weathering of a polyester-urethane coating. Journal of Materials Science 2002;37(22):4889-4900. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Croll SG, Skaja AD. Quantitative ultraviolet spectroscopy in weathering of a model polyester-urethane coating. Polymer Degradation and Stability 2003;79(1):123-131. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Whitcomb JL, Bystol AJ, Campiglia AD. Time-resolved laser-induced fluorimetry for screening polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons on solid-phase extraction membranes. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2002;464(2):261-272. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Yang XF, Vang C, Tallman DE, Bierwagen GP, Croll SG, Rohlik S. Weathering degradation of a polyurethane coating. Polymer Degradation and Stability 2001;74(2):341-351. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Yang XF, Tallman DE, Croll SG, Bierwagen GP. Blistering and degradation of polyurethane coatings under different accelerated weathering tests. Polymer Degradation and Stability 2002;77(1):103-109. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Yang XF, Tallman DE, Croll SG, Bierwagen GP. Morphological changes in polyurethane coatings on exposure to water. Polymer Degradation and Stability 2002;77(3):391-396. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Yang XF, Li J, Croll SG, Tallman DE, Bierwagen GP. Degradation of low gloss polyurethane aircraft coatings under UV and prohesion alternating exposures. Polymer Degradation And Stability. 2003;80(1):51-58. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
|
Yang XF, Tallman DE, Bierwagen GP, Croll SG, Rohlik S. Hydrolytic degradation of polyurethane coatings. Polymer Degradation and Stability. |
R828081E01 (Final) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
environmental research, research infrastructure, North Dakota, ND, strategic improvement program, SIP, environmental science and technology, environmental issues, ecosystems, indoor air, bioremediation., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, ECOSYSTEMS, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecosystem Protection, State, Ecological Monitoring, Ecology and Ecosystems, Ecological Risk Assessment, Environmental Engineering, ecological effects, environmental health, ecological health, environmental awareness, environmental risks, environmental information, ecological assessment, ecological impacts, ecological researchProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.