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The Research Report for the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

NON PROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE PAID

RAPID CITY, SDPERMIT #541

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology501 East Saint Joseph St.Rapid City, SD 57701

Page 2: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been a national leader in preparing world-class engineers and scientists since 1885. Our graduates design, construct, and operate the most modern technology to meet complex challenges such as climate change, bioenergy, mineral extraction and processing, advanced materials, environmental quality, and national defense. Our alumni are held in the highest regard by their fellow leaders in industry, consulting, government, health, research, and education.

The School of Mines continuously adapts to meet the needs of engineering and science. Rugged individuals and pioneers in engineering and science founded the School of Mines’ intellectual environment more than a century ago. Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni carry on that tradition today.

The School of Mines is a state-funded, public university that provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in science and engineering. The School of Mines is an AQIP institution, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and committed to quality and continuous improvement.

2009-2010 Enrollment2,177 students from 40 states and 35 countries

Costs and FeesA School of Mines education has never offered a better return on investment. 2009-10 annual undergraduate costs for tuition, fees, books, room, board, and supplies (including a Tablet PC) total approximately $13,860 per year for South Dakota residents and $15,240 for non-residents.

Placement:Starting salary offers to School of Mines graduates average approximately $56,000. Ninety-eight percent of graduates find jobs in their career fields or continue on to graduate or professional programs within one year of graduation.

ResearchResearchers conduct high-tech research that benefits the state, region, and nation through advances in technology and economic development. In Fiscal Year 2009, researchers received nearly $21 million in funding for 92 projects. Funding agencies included the Department of Defense, NASA, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, State of South Dakota, and many more.

FacultyThe School of Mines employs 135 full-time faculty members, more than 74 percent of whom hold doctorate or other appropriate terminal degrees. The faculty to student ratio is 1:13.

Honors and AwardsOne of America’s Best College Buys for 12 consecutive years2008 Carnegie South Dakota Professor of the YearNamed Military Friendly School

Campus ProfileBachelor of Science DegreesChemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer EngineeringComputer ScienceElectrical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringGeological EngineeringGeology -Applied Geology -Earth System Science -PaleontologyIndustrial Engineering and ManagementInterdisciplinary Sciences -Atmospheric Sciences -Pre-Professional Health Sciences -Science, Technology, and SocietyMathematics (Applied and Computational) Mechanical EngineeringMetallurgical EngineeringMining EngineeringPhysics

Master of Science DegreesAtmospheric SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical EngineeringCivil EngineeringConstruction Management Electrical EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyPhysics Robotics and Intelligent Autonomous SystemsTechnology Management

Doctor of Philosophy DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceMechanical Engineering (pending)Nanoscience and NanoengineeringPhysics (pending)

Degree Options

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, military status, gender,

religion, age, sexual orientation, political preference, or disability in employment or the provision of service.

A Publication of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 4,000 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $1.18 each.

Printed with Soy Based Inks on Recycled Paper containing 30% Post-Consumer Waste

PresidentRobert A. Wharton, Ph.D.

Academic AffairsDr. Duane C. Hrncir, Interim Provost and Vice President

AthleticsDr. Richard “Dick” Kaiser, Director

Business and AdministrationTimothy G. Henderson, Vice President

Research AffairsDr. Ronald J. White, Vice President

SDSM&T Alumni AssociationTim Vottero, Director

SDSM&T FoundationL.R. “Rod” Pappel, President

Student AffairsDr. Patricia G. Mahon, Vice President and Dean of Students

University and Public RelationsJulie A. Smoragiewicz, Special Assistant to the President

Graduate EducationDr. John H. Helsdon, Dean

Facilities ServicesMitch M. Miller, Director

Faculty SenateDr. David A. Boyles, Chair

Career Service EmployeesCassie M. Schweigerdt, Chair

Exempt EmployeesL. Eric James II, Chair

Student AssociationLukasz M. Dubaj, President

University Cabinet

Page 3: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Executive EditorsJulie A. SmoragiewiczRonald J. White, Ph.D.

EditorsL. Eric James IIPeter J. RobertsMitchell S. Vander Vorst

WriterBreanna V. Bishop

Graphic Design and LayoutMelinda A. Poyourow

Circulation AssistantSharon F. Dominicak

Production Staff

FeaturesWelcome .....................................................................................2

School of Mines Welcomes Vice President for Research .....4

Research Funding Reaches Nearly $21 Million .....................5

DUSEL Project Continues to Grow ........................................6

School of Mines Home to New Research Center ............... 10

Research Funding ................................................................... 12

Black Hills Nanosystems ....................................................... 14

A Campus Makeover.............................................................. 15

Mines Medal ............................................................................ 16

Campus Briefs ......................................................................... 17

Research Awards ..................................................................... 19

The Research Report is published annually by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. For additional information, subscription requests, or address corrections:

South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyOffice of University and Public Relations501 E. St. Joseph StreetRapid City, SD 57701-3995(605) 394-2554 • (877) 766-0012e-mail: <[email protected]>

Page 4: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

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WelcomeI am pleased to welcome you to the 2009-10 edition of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Research Report. I hope you enjoy reading about the exciting research described in this report. This snapshot of the current research activity at the School of Mines only provides a glimpse into the capabilities and innovation of the university’s research personnel.

I am writing this letter after only a few short weeks as the new vice president for research, but, in that short time, I have learned that one word really describes the research environment here at the School of

Mines: opportunity. This is what drew me to the university and my first weeks here have verified my initial judgment. Opportunity is in the air, and the feeling of opportunity is palpable. Opportunity to: carry out basic and applied research in many disciplinary and multidisciplinary areas; move into new and exciting research areas as the university grows and develops in new directions; transfer research accomplishments into the classroom and strengthen the already solid educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students; capitalize on the strong partnerships already formed and in the formative stage with other universities, industrial partners, and international institutions.

The pages that follow summarize many of the achievements of the past year. They will give you a hint of the excitement and strength of the environment at the School of Mines, but they are only a slight indication of the most important qualities of the university: the excitement that pervades the culture here at the School of Mines, the quest for knowledge, and the translation of that knowledge into meaningful applications.

This excitement can be translated into achievement in the research and development funding for Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009). The School of Mines received $20.9 million in funding, more than at any other time in the university’s history and more than twice the amount received in Fiscal Year 2008. The 92 awards received in Fiscal Year 2009 were made to 42 investigators, about one-third of the school’s faculty. This is an impressive record that sets the bar high for the future, and puts us well on the way to our goal of $25 million.

As I look into the future, I see the school translating the accomplishments of the past into a solid foundation anchored in a strong commitment to the traditional ideals of education and applied research, but moving in new directions that complement the ongoing research program and provide the basis for substantial growth and development. I also see the university’s research program continuing to make increasingly important contributions to the Rapid City community, the State of South Dakota, and the nation. I am excited by the opportunity to participate in these events at one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities.

Sincerely,

Ronald J. White, Ph.D.Vice President for Research

Page 5: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Mission, Vision, and GoalThe South Dakota School of Mines and Technology serves the people of South Dakota as their technological university. Its mission is to provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for leadership roles in engineering and science; to advance the state of knowledge and application of this knowledge through research and scholarship; and to benefit the state, region, and nation through collaborative efforts in education and economic development.

The School of Mines is dedicated to being a leader in 21st century education that reflects a belief in the role of engineers and scientists as crucial to the advancement of society. Our vision is to be recognized as a premier technological university in the United States.

Most immediately, our goal is to be recognized as the university-of-choice for engineering and science within South Dakota and among our peer group of specialized engineering and science universities.

Strategic Focus Areas • Optimizing Enrollment • Securing Resources • Growing graduate education and the research enterprise • Continuous quality improvement

Research CentersAdditive Manufacturing Laboratory (AML)

Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Lab (AMP)

Center for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale/Printed Electronics Applied Research Laboratory (CAAN/PEARL)

Center for Bioenergy Research and Development (CBERD) – NSF I/UCRC

Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development (CBRD) – SD 2010 Center

Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP)

Center for Friction Stir Processing - NSF I/UCRC

Composite and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE)

Computational Mechanics Laboratory (CML)

Engineering and Mining Experiment Station (EMES)

Institute of Atmospheric Sciences (IAS)

Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service Applied Research Center (R3S) – SD 2010 Center

South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Program

South Dakota Space Grant Consortium

Page 6: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

School of Mines Welcomes Vice President for ResearchWith the start of the new fiscal year, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology was pleased to welcome Ronald J. White, Ph.D., as the university’s new vice president for research.

White earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has a substantial record as a researcher and administrator in academia and with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Since 2003, White served as a senior fellow in the Division of Space Life Sciences with the Universities Space Research Association Center for Advanced Space Studies and also as a senior scientist for the NASA Human Research Program, where he was responsible for developing and maintaining the Science Management Plan, coordinating peer review of research proposals and multilateral activities related to biomedical countermeasures, and more.

From 1996-2003, White served as professor of otorhinolaryngology and communicative sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine and also as the associate director of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. In addition, he has held positions as chief scientist of the Life Sciences Division at NASA Headquarters; research professor of physiology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; manager of biomedical research, analysis and planning at the General Electric Company; and professor of mathematics and director of honors at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

“The School of Mines is a vigorous institution with an impressive research portfolio and a long tradition of academic excellence. I am very pleased and honored to join the first-rate administrative team that Dr. Wharton has assembled,” White said. “I am excited by the prospect of contributing, at this particular time, to the imminent future growth of the university’s dynamic research enterprise.”

As vice president for research, White will provide administrative oversight, leadership, and mentorship in the development and implementation of campus-wide research and graduate studies that are integrally linked to the university’s mission. His experience with management of research activity at the federal and institutional levels and with strategic planning will be key as the university looks to growing its research platform.

“Dr. White will play a major leadership role in guiding and supporting initiatives at the School of Mines that help us achieve our institutional priorities,” School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., said. “His many experiences in working with federal agencies and multi-disciplinary programs will be essential to our focus in building our dynamic research enterprise and strengthening our status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities.”

The School of Mines has a long tradition of excellence in teaching, and White looks to harness those historical strengths as he develops the research plan for the future.

“Research strengthens traditional education by providing students with insight into how knowledge is created and how it is applied in the real world,” White said. “Research as a facet of education is a critically connected component as we grow our research program.”

Page 7: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Research Funding Reaches Nearly $21 MillionSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology researchers have been awarded nearly $21 million in research and development funding during Fiscal Year 2009, the highest amount in the history of the university and more than double the $10.1 million received in Fiscal Year 2008.

During the 2009 fiscal year, researchers received 92 awards averaging approximately $227,000 from federal and state agencies, corporations, and direct Congressional appropriations. The awards represent 23 departments, centers, and labs and have been awarded to 42 principal investigators. More than half of all proposals submitted were funded. The National Science Foundation’s average funding rate was 25 percent in 2008. Individual awards ranged from $2,000 for the collection of fossil vertebrates to $3,392,600 to study advanced materials and processes for future combat systems.

“Our focus is to expand the size and scope of our research enterprise and strengthen our status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities. This growth is impressive and shows that we are well on our way to realizing these goals,” School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., said. “This milestone is a clear indication of the stellar level of faculty and researchers on our campus.”

Wharton has identified growing the research enterprise as one of four strategic key focus areas that will guide the university, with the specific goal of reaching $25 million within five years. In Fiscal Year 2004, the School of Mines was awarded $11.9 million. Five years later, with funding at nearly $21 million, this impressive growth makes $25 million a goal well within reach.

A key funding piece in reaching this historic marker was the more than $6.2 million awarded from the National Science Foundation for the site selection and technical design development of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), located in Lead, South Dakota, at the

site of the former Homestake Gold Mine (p. 6). The DUSEL project was reviewed by the National Science Advisory Board in late September, and awarded $29 million for the end of the preliminary project design phase. Technical evaluation and design work being conducted through the School of Mines will determine the type and character of the rock underground and where the best locations will be for the placement of the surface and underground lab facilities. These facilities will contain multiple experimental lab suites and at least one large cavity big enough to house the Statue of Liberty — and its base! — all located nearly a mile below the surface of the Earth. The School of Mines is proud to be a leading partner with the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the DUSEL project.

The State of South Dakota awarded $86,613 to create the newest 2010 Research Center, the Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service Applied Research Center (p. 10). As troops return to the United States, they bring with them all of the equipment used during the past several years. This grant creates a center to develop new repair and refurbishment techniques for this equipment using the latest technologies including friction stir welding and cold spray deposition.

Since 2001, the School of Mines has received approximately $80 million in Congressional appropriations for research and development including $3.2 million in the 2009 Defense Spending Bill.

“I am proud to have the campus engaged in research that advances scientific knowledge and also has applications that are relevant to national defense. These awards generate economic development opportunities and impact for our region, South Dakota, and our nation,” Wharton said. “U.S. Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune, and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin continue to champion applied research initiatives that support the security of our nation and the safety of our soldiers.”

Page 8: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

DUSEL Project Continues to GrowFor the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), 2009 began with the project’s first annual review, held January 28-30, 2009, at the University of California, Berkeley. The review provided the DUSEL team with an opportunity to further define the preliminary design report, which will be necessary for submission to the National Science Board in early 2011.

“This first annual review was quite successful,” Dr. William Roggenthen, geology and geological engineering professor at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and the DUSEL co-Principal Investigator, said. “These reviews are critical because we are a year into the project and are getting a better handle on the preliminary design report. This gives us the opportunity to make sure we are on the right track and moving in the right direction.”

Another milestone was also achieved in May 2009. The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, which continues to pump water from the former mine, reached the prized 4,850-foot level, at which early science experiments in physics will be conducted.

The first contract for geotechnical characterizations at the 300- and 4,850-foot levels has been awarded to RESPEC of Rapid City. RESPEC is overseeing geological mapping for structural stability, necessary for the design of cavities for laboratories and detectors at those levels. Interest in the DUSEL project has also come from the Department of Energy (DOE). DOE advisory panels have indicated that interesting science would be gained by developing a neutrino beam receptor to connect the Fermilab outside of Chicago with the DUSEL. This would allow observations of the effects on neutrinos as they travel on their long path through rock in the Earth’s crust.

One thing is for certain: the creation of the DUSEL is the creation of new opportunities for scientific study in a multitude of areas, including physics, geology, and microbiology.“We are starting to see that the DUSEL is becoming a draw,” Roggenthen said. “In the world of this kind of science, this is going to be the place to be.”

The School of Mines is proud to be a leading partner in bringing the DUSEL from an extraordinary vision to a phenomenal reality. The longstanding connections between the university and the Homestake Mine began in 1885 when the university was established to meet the growing research needs of the nation’s mining industry, led by Homestake. These connections continued when nearly a decade ago, the School of Mines helped champion the conversion of the mine into a national laboratory. Today, as we continue to prepare leaders in engineering and science, we are collaborating with our colleagues to transform Homestake into a world-class laboratory to further exceptional research and discoveries not yet imagined.

“For nearly 125 years, the School of Mines has been educating some of the best and brightest students in the nation and preparing them for leadership positions in engineering, science, and technology,” School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., said. “Just as the School of Mines creates transformational opportunities for our students, we believe the DUSEL will create transformational opportunities for the School of Mines, for all our university collaborators in South Dakota, for our region, state, nation, and the international scientific community.”

Page 9: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Student SpotlightTravis Hoon (chemical engineering, Aberdeen) and Tyler Vogel (industrial engineering/physics, Rapid City) are two of 11 students selected as Davis-Bahcall Scholarship recipients for 2009. These scholarships, established by Governor Michael Rounds, and funded by 3M, supported a five-week study program that took the students to the Sanford Laboratory at Homestake, Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy, and Princeton University in New Jersey.

Jeremy Simon (electrical engineering, Aberdeen) and Brandon Soulek (civil engineering, Armour) were selected as recipients of the Summer Science Scholarship. Both visited the Sanford Laboratory at Homestake for one week, followed by week-long visits to Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, for Simon, and to Fermilab, near Chicago, for Soulek.

Terence Satchell (civil engineering 09) was one of 10 students from colleges and universities across South Dakota invited to display their research during the Pierre Poster Session at the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota. Satchell’s project, “Dewatering the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory,” illustrated the issues with ground water removal from the mine shafts. The Homestake Mine was continuously dewatered during its production years, but when production ceased, dewatering was interrupted allowing ground water to infiltrate the mine shafts. A permit was issued by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources to pump ground water out of the mine shafts and discharge it into Gold Run Creek. The water residing in the mine shafts contains iron, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, and ammonia. Satchell’s senior design project examined how a water treatment system for the produced water could reduce the concentration of the contaminants.

Page 10: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

����Fred and Moses Manuel and partner Hank Harney make Homestake claim.

���� George Hearst buys Homestake claim for $70,000.

Early �9�0sHomestake prospers; during Depression, sets shorter workweek with higher wages and gives bonuses.

�9��Gold mining suspended by War Production Board. Homestake foundry and machine shop produces goods needed for war effort.

�9��Dr. Ray Davis begins installation of neutrino experiments 4,850 feet underground at Homestake.

�00�Homestake Mine officially closes after more than 125 years.

NSF sponsors the International Workshop on Neutrinos and Subterranean Science, during which scientific groups showcased the wide variety of science that would be enabled by an underground laboratory.

Dr. Ray Davis wins Nobel Prize for Physics, confirming the importance of underground science.

Barrick Gold Corporation purchases Homestake Mining Company.

�00�Water level rises to 5,600 feet. Governor Rounds announces a three-phase plan to dewater the mine and to ready the mine for science at the 4,850 foot level.

The Homestake Collaboration holds a workshop in Lead, South Dakota, on potential experiments and education and outreach at the laboratory, with more than 100 people participating in this workshop.

Barrick Gold Corporation donates Homestake Gold Mine to the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. This includes 186 surface acres, numerous facilities, and 370 miles of tunnels reaching more than 8,000 feet below the surface.

T. Denny Sanford donates $70 million to the Homestake project, creating the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. The gift includes $20 million for a Sanford Science Education Center.

�00�National Science Foundation selects the Homestake site for the development of the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL).

�00�Pumps begin removing water from mine.The DUSEL Experiment Development Coordinators (DEDC) — in conjunction with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, and the Homestake DUSEL project team — organizes a workshop in Lead, South Dakota, to provide guidance and assistance for researchers interested in preparing projects to be conducted in the DUSEL. More than 350 scientists, science educators, and science administrators attend.

Geoscience and geomicrobiology experiments begin.

Dr. Dennis Kovar, associate director of the Office of Science and High Energy Physics at the Department of Energy (DOE), says that Homestake is a top priority for his office and program.

The DOE/NSF Nuclear Science Advisory Committee releases its Long Range Plan. The Plan strongly supports the development of an underground laboratory.

Congress approves a $10 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to be used for reopening the shafts and installing pumping equipment to remove water from the lower levels of the Homestake mine.

2002

1876 1877 1930’s 1942 1965

2006 2007 2008

Page 11: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

9

�000Homestake Mining Company announces mine will close. Scientists immediately look to the site for possible future experiments.

�00�The Bahcall Committee, co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE), evaluates the feasibility of creating a national underground science laboratory and calls for the creation of a deep national underground science laboratory; favors Homestake to become the site of the laboratory.

�00�Homestake Mining Company turns off underground pumps and mine begins to fill with water. Company seals the Yates and Ross shafts.

Governor Michael Rounds establishes Homestake Laboratory Conversion Project. Dr. Richard Gowen, then president of the School of Mines, named interim executive director.

�00�South Dakota Legislature creates South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and commits $14.3 million to the Homestake project.

�00�National Science Foundation names Homestake one of two possible sites for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. Homestake Collaboration receives $500,000 to study site feasibility.

South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and Homestake Collaboration propose interim laboratory at 4,850 feet.

South Dakota Legislature approves $19.9 million to develop 4,850 interim laboratory.

Homestake Collaboration solicits letters of interest from scientists for experiments at Homestake.

�009Early Implementation Program of physics experiments begin.

�0�0A DUSEL Design Project Status Review by the National Science Foundation to be held at the University of California, Berkeley.

�0��-�0��Construction begins.

2018-2020Construction completed.

2000 2001

2003 2004 2005

2009 2010 (projected) 2012-2013 2018-2020

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is proud to be a leading partner in bringing the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) from an extraordinary vision to a phenomenal reality. The longstanding connections between the School of Mines and the Homestake Mine began in 1885 when the university was established to meet the growing research needs of the mining

industry, led by Homestake. These connections continued when nearly a decade ago, the School of Mines helped champion the conversion of the mine into a national laboratory. Today, as we continue to prepare leaders in engineering and science, we are collaborating with our colleagues to transform Homestake into a world-class laboratory to further exceptional research and discoveries not yet imagined.

Page 12: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

School of Mines Home to New Research CenterThe South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is the site of a new Governor’s 2010 Research Center focusing on developing and certifying repair processes that extend the life of military equipment.

The Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service Applied Research Center, or R3S, develops, certifies, and implements innovative methods to refurbish and return vital military equipment to service. The center is utilizing technologies developed at the School of Mines Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP), including friction stir welding (welding without melting), cold spray (accelerating particles to supersonic speed), laser additive manufacturing (particles injected in laser beams for free-form fabrication), and also developing and certifying new processes and technologies.

The School of Mines collaborates with South Dakota State University, Western Dakota Technical Institute, and other educational partners; industrial partners such as H.F. Webster Inc. and RPM & Associates in Rapid City; and corporations such as Boeing, GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, and Friction Stir Link to use the processes developed and certified by the center to repair military and civilian equipment.

Inspiration for the R3S came from a 2007 Aging Aircraft Repair Facility study conducted by the School of Mines in cooperation with Ellsworth Air Force Base, several major aerospace and defense companies, Department of Defense Logistics Centers, and Rapid City companies HF Webster Engineering and Professional Services and RPM and Associates. The study showed that utilizing these technologies to repair and refurbish B1 bombers and related aircraft alone would result in $35 million per year in cost savings

for the U.S. Air Force. Using these technologies on other military equipment would expand the cost savings across the Department of Defense into the hundreds of millions of dollars, a compelling cost/benefit analysis. This study identified a need that this new applied research center will fill. The successful study was due in large part to support for the project from the South Dakota Congressional delegation, spearheaded by Senator John Thune.

“The School of Mines truly appreciates all of the work of the South Dakota Congressional delegation,” School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., said. “It is our Senators’ and Congresswoman’s continued support that allows our researchers even more opportunities to assume leadership roles in new technology arenas.”

The Air Force estimates its costs for planned depot maintenance and engine repair exceed $2 billion annually. In an effort to control costs, the Air Force has slowed procurement of new airframe systems, extending the mission service life for existing systems. This extended life increases the need for the type of modern, cost-efficient repair in which the R3S Center will specialize.

The center’s director, William J. Arbegast, will oversee projects conducted by faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students from multiple disciplines working with industry partners. Arbegast is also the director of the associated Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP) and the Center for Friction Stir Processing, a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC), both located at the School of Mines.

�0

Page 13: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

School of Mines Home to New Research Center

“This center will be an opportunity for students and faculty to work with industrial partners in a multidisciplinary setting — a true collaborative environment,” Arbegast said. “This gives students hands-on applied research opportunities, first in developing technologies and then working on the real hardware.”

According to Arbegast, the new center is not only a benefit to the School of Mines, but to Rapid City and South Dakota. “This is an applied research center dedicated to repairing military hardware, but with significant commercial value. Civilian equipment like power and transportation systems can benefit from these technologies,” Arbegast said. “This center identifies

new technologies and will need people in the Rapid City area to implement them. We will need supporting industries to transition to true production, and expect that several high-tech spinoff companies will be developed in Rapid City.”

“For many years, the School of Mines has been an internationally recognized leader in these technologies,” Wharton said. “We welcome this opportunity to continue to support the Department of Defense and to assist in creating new economic development opportunities for Rapid City and the State of South Dakota.”

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Page 14: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Research FundingResearch Award Highlights �009

National Aeronautics and Space Administration South Dakota Space Grant Consortium $585,000

National Renewable Energy LaboratoryDevelopment of super-resolution optical microscopy techniques for visualization of plant cellular and cellulose enzyme activity $200,000

National Science Foundation Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) site selection and technical design $6,244,280

National Science Foundation Tiospaye in Engineering $600,000

Office of Naval Research Novel high-temperature polycarbonates for pulse Power Capacitor Applications $120,000

SamSung Construction and Trade Development of geo-biological dust control technique for Construction Sites $200,000

United States Department of Defense — Army Research Laboratory Design, synthesis, and investigations of new copolycarbonates and fully miscible polycarbonate blends for transparent armor applications $681,372

United States Department of Energy EPSCoR Lattice-mismatched III-V epilayers for high-efficiency photovoltaics $420,000

United States Department of State Educational and research exchanges with Mongolia $75,000

United States Geological Survey USGS national water quality assessment project in South Dakota $100,000

Awards have increased ��0 percent1999 2009

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Award InformationTotal Awards Received FY 99 and FY 09 Project Funding

$4,976,642

$ 20,905,948

Page 15: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

External Source of FY 09 Project Funding

Source Amount

National Science Foundation (NSF) $8,863,130

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) $7,797,367

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) $1,109,213

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) $710,397

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) $321,642

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) $282,000

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) $140,000

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) $83,000

U.S. Department of State (DOS) $75,000

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) $58,396

U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) $38,930

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) $25,875

Federal Total $19,504,950

South Dakota Agency $919,941

Private $203,000

Other $278,057

Grand Total $�0,90�,9��

Proposals Funded42 investigators from 23 different units had proposals funded.

Proposals Submitted 171Proposals Funded 92Funding Rate 54 Percent

��

DOT 1.5%SBA 1.4%

. . . . . . .DOD 37.2%

............

NSF 42.4%

. . . . . . .DOE 5.3%

. . . . . . .

Private 1.0%

...............

South Dakota Agency 4.4%

. . . . . . .NASA 3.4%

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Other 1.3%

DOI, DOL, DOS, EPA, USFS, USGS 2.1%

Page 16: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

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Black Hills NanosystemsThis summer, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students scattered in search of industry experience, working for more than 100 employers in 29 states, Europe, and Africa. However, many students — 41 percent, in fact — chose to stay in South Dakota to complete their co-ops and internships.

One company that has enticed several students to stay right here in their Rapid City backyard is a new addition to the city’s business landscape, Black Hills Nanosystems, Corp. According to Robert Demersseman, managing director, the School of Mines serves as an important resource for the company.

“It’s a great opportunity for Black Hills Nanosystems to be able to hire students from the School of Mines,” Demersseman said. “The school educates their students to be able to go right into industry and hit the ground running, and it has been a successful partnership for us.”

Gaining this hands-on experience also leads to success for the students. At Black Hills Nanosystems, they get to participate in work that is not only in demand by industry, but also guards the lives and safety of soldiers.

The company is in the business of developing nanotechnology-based safe-and-arm devices, which improve the safety and effectiveness of munitions. These devices currently cost $100 each or more, and Black Hills Nanosystems aims to cut the cost to three to five dollars each through innovative manufacturing and production processes, allowing these life-saving devices to be installed in more weapons.

In addition to hiring students, Black Hills Nanosystems has deeper ties with the university. Dr. James Sears, director of the Additive Manufacturing Laboratory at the School of Mines, serves as the company’s chief technology officer. He has extensive experience in developing the technology behind the company’s manufacturing processes and brings strong ties with United States Army and Navy contractors who support the development of these technologies.

Demersseman, former president of Rapid City Economic Development Partnership, points out another benefit the company brings to the table. By generating high-tech, well-paying jobs, Black Hills Nanosystems can entice graduates to stay in the area and attract others to relocate to the area. Through expenditures like housing, food, entertainment, and transportation, these employees and their families can infuse more capital into the local economy.

“I’d like to be able to stay in the area, so working here is a great opportunity,” School of Mines student Kyle Krajewski (Mechanical Engineering, Rapid City) said. “The School of Mines has done a good job in giving me the foundation I needed to be able to actually apply what I learned, so this has been an easy transition for me.”

For more information on Black Hills Nanosystems, Corp., visit <http://blackhillsnano.com>.

Students employed by Black Hills Nanosystems Corp:

Todd Aldren (Mechanical Engineering, Rapid City)Paxton Alsgaard (Electrical Engineering 09)Brandon Eisenbraun (Mechanical Engineering, Yankton)Nicholas Swanson (Mechanical Engineering, Chaska, Minn.)Kyle Krajewski (Mechanical Engineering, Rapid City)Korey Kelly (Electrical Engineering, Rapid City)Alex Drewitz (Mechanical Engineering, Summerset)

Page 17: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

A Campus MakeoverIn 2009, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology began construction on two new buildings that will forever transform the educational and research landscape for the School of Mines.

All of the more than 2,000 students that attend the School of Mines each year will take classes and labs in the Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building (CBE/C), on which ground was broken in May 2009. The 45,000-square-foot facility, when fully completed, will upgrade a 50-year-old building that has outlived its purpose for academic laboratory instruction.

The new facility will be linked to the existing Chemical Engineering/Chemistry Building, adjacent to the central campus plaza. In addition to the new construction, existing spaces will be renovated to create learning environments that are higher quality, safer, more flexible, and more conducive to contemporary teaching methodologies.

The CBE/C Building will incorporate contemporary graduate and undergraduate research space. The layout of the laboratories provides for innovative ways to conduct collaborative and multi-disciplinary research. This building will have modern laboratory space that will serve as the vehicle for conducting research for the enhancement of undergraduate and graduate education while affording the potential for economic development for Rapid City and the state of South Dakota.

This new facility will foster the growth of rapidly-emerging technologies, such as ethanol, fuel production, food and agricultural processing, and environmentally-friendly plastics and coatings. Equally important is that the building will be a campus showpiece that will aid in the recruitment and retention of students and faculty.

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“The School of Mines is committed to leading 21st century engineering and science education, and one way we achieve that is by providing students with the best facilities possible in which to learn,” School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D. said. “Maintaining up-to-date facilities will always be a challenge for a university whose mission places it on the cutting edge of technology and research. Our students need to be educated for 21st century jobs and be comfortable with the same type of laboratory and research facilities where they will be working after graduation. These buildings will fit that need.”

The April 2009 groundbreaking ceremony for the 33,000-square-foot Paleontology Research Center signaled a new future for one of the world’s finest fossil collections. Paleontology at the School of Mines has been an integral part of the university for more than 100 years. Currently, the Museum of Geology houses about 300,000 fossil specimens, one of the largest collections in the United States and some of the best scientifically documented in the world. The collections support education and research for the university’s faculty and students, and researchers around the world. The center will serve as an important academic resource to the School of Mines paleontology master’s program, the only one of its kind in the United States.

The center will provide a safe, environmentally-controlled location for the Museum of Geology’s fossil, geological, and archival collections, ensuring the protection of this rich heritage. In addition, the center will house laboratories for the preparation, preservation, and geochemical research involving the collections. A key feature will be open viewing of the laboratories so the public can see the steps needed to take a fossil from the ground to a museum exhibit.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the efforts of South Dakota paleontologists who are working with a world-class collection of fossil specimens,” South Dakota Governor Michael Rounds said.

CBEC/C Building

Paleontology Research Center

Page 18: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

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School of Mines Awards First Mines MedalCindy Lee Van Dover, Ph.D., has been named the 2009 recipient

of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s prestigious Mines Medal. The Mines Medal was established by School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., to bring tribute and recognition to a leader in engineering or science.

“This award honors an individual for his or her exceptional, meritorious or prestigious contributions toward understanding and resolving the technological challenges that impact society,” Wharton said. “Dr. Van Dover’s decades of deep sea research provide both a legacy of knowledge and a blueprint for further exploration and study. Her fearless exploration of the unknown makes her an ideal candidate for the Mines Medal.”

Van Dover earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in ecology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in biological oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program.

Since 2006, Van Dover has served as chair and professor of Duke University’s Division of Marine Sciences and Conservation in the Nicholas School of the Environment and director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory. Prior to joining Duke University, she held positions at the College of William & Mary, the University of Oregon’s Institute of Marine Biology, West Coast National Undersea Research Center, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Marine Science and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She also was a Fulbright Research Scholar at the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea Centre located in de Brest, France.

Van Dover has conducted seminal research leading to the discovery and characterization of a geothermal source of light at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and the isolation of obligate photosynthetic organisms living on the sea floor. These discoveries have led to a new view of the potential for

life elsewhere in the universe, as well as a new appreciation for previously unrecognized modes of photosynthetic life in both the deep sea and midwaters on this planet. Recently, she has contributed to the understanding of environmental consequences of potential offsets with respect to the mining of deep-sea minerals around hydrothermal vent sites in Southeast Asian waters. Van Dover also has the distinction of being the first and only woman to complete the rigorous training necessary to be an Alvin submarine pilot, diving to depths of more than 3,600 meters.

Cindy Lee Van Dover, Ph.D., has authored more than �00 peer-reviewed publications and has also communicated her discoveries to the non-scientific population through magazine articles, radio, television, a podcast series detailing an ocean-borne expedition to Antarctica and her autobiographical book, The Octopus’s Garden. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Oceanographic Society, and founder and international steering committee member of the Chemosynthetic Ecosystems component (ChEss) of the Census of Marine Life.

“I commend the School of Mines for having the foresight to establish this special honor,” South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds said. “It is admirable to recognize and reward those people who have distinguished themselves as national leaders in the fields of engineering and science.”

The award was presented at a ceremony in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Wednesday, Oct. ��. The award medal was designed by the School of Mines and includes one ounce of gold. The award also includes a privately funded cash honorarium. For more information, visit <http://mines-medal.sdsmt.edu>.

Page 19: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

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Campus BriefsProfessor Wins National Paper ConferenceDr. Lance Roberts, assistant professor, civil and environmental

engineering, has been selected as the winner of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust Young Professor Paper Competition Award for 2008. Roberts receives an expenses paid trip to the 33rd Annual DFI Conference, held October 15-17, 2008, in New York City, and an invitation to present his paper, “LRFD for Deep Foundations:

Replacing the Traditional Factor of Safety in Design.”

Professor Awarded Fourth PatentDr. Vojislav Kalanovic, professor, mechanical engineering, has

been officially awarded Patent No. 7,501,603 B2 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The issued patent enables an ease of physical configuration of the Flexible Robotic Environment (FRE) systems. FRE is a robotic solution that combines mechanical and motor/drive components with proprietary hardware, software, and controls from Control Systems

Technologies, LLC, a company owned and operated by Kalanovic. This recognition is the fourth consecutive U.S. patent awarded to Kalanovic in the area of robotics and automated manufacturing.

School of Mines Professor Named to Board of DirectorsDr. Stan Howard, professor, materials and metallurgical

engineering, has been named to the board of directors for the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS). Howard will serve for three years as the financial planning officer. He is also the co-founder of Group V Metals, Inc., which licenses technology used to produce high-purity tantalum and niobium compounds. Howard received the Mineral Industry Educator Award in 2004 from the

American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers and is advisor to the School of Mines’ Material Advantage student chapter. Howard will guide the professional activities of TMS concerned with finances, audit, and investments.

School of Mines Develops Pervious Concrete Dr. M. R. Hansen, professor, civil and environmental

engineering, has recently completed a project from the South Dakota Army National Guard for “Pervious Concrete Development, Phase I.” Pervious concrete, when used for paving a parking lot for example, allows water from a thunderstorm to pass through the concrete into the soil and ground water instead of running off and carrying sediment and

pollutants into rivers and streams. The development and use of pervious concrete is encouraged by the United States Clean Water Act, is beneficial to the environment and is another form of “green concrete.”

The first test slab of pervious concrete ever in South Dakota was recently placed at the National Guard Camp in Rapid City. When tested, the slab absorbed 800 gallons of water over a 100-square-foot area in two minutes. This project is another example of the School of Mines working with a local entity to develop a practical solution to an immediate problem. The project was spearheaded by Dale Ludens, engineering supervisor, at the South Dakota Army National Guard, and the experimental work was done by Craig Phillips (M.S. civil engineering, North Fairfield, Ohio).

School of Mines Hosts New National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research SiteIn Summer 2009, the School of Mines was host to a new Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The site has been awarded $220,500 to fund the REU for three years. “Back to the Future: Metallurgy,” offered a unique 10-week summer research program focused on integrated research experiences in metallurgical engineering, many with prevailing historical, social, or artistic themes. Throughout the experience, students participated in a series of seminars and workshops in art and archaeometallurgy that intersected with their prior academic training in materials and metallurgical engineering. These provided a unique historical and cultural framework for current research. Site projects focused on fundamental aspects of friction stir processing, nanotechnology, alloy chemistry, microstructural interrogation, and transmission electron microscopy.

The main objective of the REU site is to increase student appreciation of, and entrance into, graduate research programs. This objective will be met by increasing student abilities with those tools that make them competitive in a research environment, namely technical communication, appreciation for diversity, understanding of historical/artistic context, and most importantly, overall research acumen. An additional objective is to increase the number of minority students involved with cutting-edge research.

The site director is Dr. Michael West, assistant professor, materials and metallurgical engineering. The site team and faculty research mentors are comprised of Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Phil Ahrenkeil, assistant professor, nanoscience and nanoengineering; William Arbegast, director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP); Dr. William Cross associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Stan Howard, professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Dana Medlin, Nucor Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Alfred Boysen, professor, humanities; Dr. Stuart Kellogg, head and Pietz Professor, industrial engineering and engineering management; Deborah Mitchell, associate professor, humanities; and Patty Anderson, director, Devereaux Library. James Rattling Leaf serves as consultant for Native American recruitment and retention.

Page 20: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

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Campus BriefsProfessor Elected Fellow of Explorers Club

Dr. James Martin, professor, geology and geological engineering and executive curator, Museum of Geology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Explorers Club. He was nominated by School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., also a Fellow. The Explorers Club is an international, multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research

and preserving the instinct to explore. Founded in 1904, the Explorers Club promotes the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural, and biological sciences. As a Fellow, Martin is recognized for having made documented contributions to exploration or scientific knowledge. He has been involved in the discoveries of fossil vertebrates and geological research for more than 30 years, taking part in expeditions in Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, The Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, and many areas within the United States. He is a recipient of the United States Antarctic Service Medal and has given hundreds of lectures and presentations regarding his discoveries.

Professor Receives AppointmentsDr. Andrea Surovek, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, was recently elected to the executive committee of the Structural Stability Research Council (SSRC) for a three-year term. Surovek previously served the SSRC from 2004-09 as the chair of Task Group 4, focused on frame stability; as a member and as chair of the nominating committee; and as a jury member for the

Vinnakota Award presented by the council. She was also the recipient of the council’s Vinnakota Award in 2001.

Surovek has also been named to the editorial board of the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Structural Engineering. The Journal of Structural Engineering is a peer-reviewed academic journal and one of the top journals in the field of structural engineering. As an associate editor, Surovek is responsible for the integrity of the peer review process for articles submitted in the area of metal structures. This includes both recruiting and coordinating peer reviewers as well as maintaining the overall standards of the metals structures area. Associate editors are selected from a group of scholars nominated by an international body.

Professor Selected for WorkshopDr. Damon Fick, assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering, has been chosen to participate in the 2009 ExCEEd (Excellence in Engineering Education) workshop at Northern Arizona University. ExCEEd workshops, offered by the American Society of Civil Engineering for the last 10

years, are six-day practicums that provide engineering educators with an opportunity to improve their teaching abilities. The workshops focus on basic skills and include seminars addressing the principles of effective teaching and learning, learning styles, classroom assessment techniques, and more.

PublicationsDr. Donna Kliche, research scientist III, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences; Dr. Paul Smith, professor emeritus, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences; and Dr. Roger Johnson, professor, mathematics and computer science, coauthored the paper “L-Moment Estimators as Applied to Gamma Drop Size Distributions” for the Journal of

Applied Meteorology and Climatology.

Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, professor, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, and Shawn Honomichl (interdisciplinary sciences 09) coauthored the paper “Nature Versus Nurture: Functional Assessment of Restoration Effects on Wetland Services using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy” for Geophysical Research Letters.

Drs. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor; Gurdeep Rastogi, research scientist; Sookie Bang, professor; and David Dixon, chair and professor, all members of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, coauthored the paper “Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose-Degrading

Bacteria from the Deep Subsurface of the Homestake Gold Mine” for the Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Drs. Zhengtao Zhu, assistant professor, chemistry; Lifeng Zhang, research scientist I, chemistry; Steve Smith, associate professor and program director, nanoscience and nanoengineering; and Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry, coauthored the paper “Aligned Electrospun ZnO Nanofibers for Simple and Sensitive Ultraviolet Nanosensors” for Chemical Communications.

President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., has been named to the National Coal Council (NCC), the chief advisory panel on federal coal policy. Wharton has been appointed to represent the viewpoint of academic institutions with a curriculum concentrating in mining and technology research. Chartered in 1984 under the Advisory Committee Act, the council

is one of the Department of Energy’s most important advisory committees. Its purpose is to inform and make recommendations to the Secretary of Energy with respect to any matter relating to coal of the coal industry.

Page 21: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Research AwardsDr. Scott Ahrenkiel, assistant professor, nanotechnology, received $420,000 from the United States Department of Energy EPSCoR for the project, “Lattice-Mismatched III-V Epilayers for High-Efficiency Photovoltaics.”

Dr. Dimitris Anagnostou, assistant professor, electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Keith Whites, professor and Steven P. Miller Chair, electrical and computer engineering; and Dr. Thomas Montoya, assistant professor, electrical and computer engineering, received $224,000 from the United States Department of Defense — Army Research Office for the project, “Acquisition of a Vector Network Analyzer for the Development of a Reconfigurable Antenna Measurement Platform.”

William Arbegast, director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP); Dr. Antonette Logar, professor, mathematics and computer science; and Dr. Michael West, assistant professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $205,590 in additional funding from the

National Science Foundation for the project, “Friction Stir Processing Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.”

Arbegast received $159,833.32 in additional funding from the Friction Stir Processing Industry/University Cooperative Research Center Memberships for the project, “Design, Analysis, and Performance of ‘Built-Up’ Aluminum Friction Stir Welded (FSW) and Friction Stir Spot Welded (FSSW) Structures;” $86,613 from the South Dakota Board of Regents for the project, “Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service — Applied Research Center (R3S-ARC);” and $50,166.68 in additional funding from the Friction Stir Processing Industry / University Cooperative Research Center Memberships for the project, “Intelligent Process Control System Algorithms for Aluminum and Steel Friction Stir Welding.”

Dr. Sookie Bang, professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Sangchul Bang, professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $200,000 from SamSung Construction and Trade for the project, “Development of Geo-Biological Dust Control Technique for Construction Sites.” They also received $7,939 in additional

funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Microbial Dust Suppression / National Science Foundation.”

Dr. David Boyles, Gaines Professor, chemistry, received $681,372 from the United States Department of Defense — Army Research Office for the project, “Design, Synthesis, and Investigations of New Copolycarbonates and Fully Miscible

Polycarbonate Blends for Transparent Armor Applications.” Boyles also received $120,000 from the United States Department of Defense — Office of Naval Research for the project, “Novel High-Temperature Polycarbonates for Pulse Power Capacitor Applications.”

Dr. William Capehart, associate professor, atmospheric sciences, and Dr. Mark Hjelmfelt, chair and professor, atmospheric sciences, received $112,649 in additional funding from the United States Department of Defense — Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) for the project,

“Advanced Atmospheric Sciences Technology and Applications to Support NAMK and NAGIK Projects.”

Dr. Lew Christopher, director, Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development, received $500,000 in additional funding from the South Dakota Board of Regents for the project, “Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development.”

Dr. William Cross, associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Dan Heglund, chair and associate professor, chemistry; and Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $89,944 from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation — Federal Highway Administration for the project, “Select Testing to Screen Materials for Specification Compliance.”

Cross also received $27,397 from the National Aeronautics Space Administration for the project, “Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of Lunar Regolith and Simulants / National Aeronautics Space Administration.”

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Page 22: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

Research AwardsDr. Shawn Decker, director, Center for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale/Printed Electronics Applied Research Laboratory, and Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $282,000 from the United States Small Business

Administration for the project, “Black Hills Nanoscale Materials Institute.”

Dr. Andrew Detwiler, professor, Institute of Atmospheric Science, received $51,589 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignment — Detwiler.”

Dr. David Dixon, professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Duane Abata, executive director, Center for Bioenergy Research and Development (CBERD), and professor, mechanical engineering, received $109,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “I/UCRC Center for Bioenergy Research and Development.”

Dr. Edward Duke, manager of analytical services, Engineering and Mining Experiment Station, and professor, geology and geological engineering, received $585,000 in additional funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the project,

“South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.” Dr. Duke also received $18,000 in additional funding from NASA for the project, “South Dakota Space Grant Consortium — Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Higher Education 2007” and $50,000 in additional funding from NASA for the project, “South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development Program.”

Dr. Joseph Fazio, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $39,287 from the U.S. Department of Transportation — Federal Highway Administration for the project, “South Dakota Local Transportation Assistance Program.”

Dr. Sidney Goss, professor, social sciences; Dr. Andrea Surovek, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering; and Dr. Jennifer Karlin, assistant professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, received $194,407 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “ADVANCE

IT Start Award: South Dakota WISE Faculty: A Future of Excellence.”

Dr. Linxia Gu, former assistant professor, mechanical engineering, received $58,536 from the South Dakota Board of Regents for the project, “Stent-Induced Arterial Strain and Stress as a Determinant of Coronary Restenosis.”

Dr. John Helsdon, dean, graduate education, received $45,500 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Graduate Research Fellowship Program.”

Dr. Brian Hemmelman, associate professor, electrical and computer engineering, received $30,000 from Bamboo, LLC for the project, “A Real-Time, Portable Non-Invasive Monitoring System of Muscle Oxygen and pH in Trauma Patients.” Hemmelman also received $32,504 from Idaho National Laboratory for the

project, “System Identification (SysID) Research.”

Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, and Dr. Keith Whites, professor and Steven P. Miller Chair, electrical and computer engineering, received $274,400 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, “2010 Initiative: Science-Based

Leadership for South Dakota.”

Dr. Scott Kenner, professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $100,000 from the United States Geological Survey for the project, “USGS National Water Quality Assessment Project in South Dakota.”

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Research AwardsDr. Carter Kerk, professor, industrial engineering and engineering management; Dr. Jennifer Karlin, assistant professor, industrial engineering and engineering management; Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor,

materials and metallurgical engineering; Dr. Scott Kenner, professor, civil and environmental engineering; and Dr. Stuart Kellogg, head and Pietz Professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, received $600,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Tiospaye in Engineering.”

Kerk and Kellogg also received $15,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Bridges to Success,” and Kerk received $12,200 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation — SDSM&T Liaison.”

Dr. Charles Kliche, professor, mining engineering and management, and Shashi Kanth, head and instructor, mining engineering and management, received $58,396 from the United States Department of Labor — Mine, Safety, and Health Administration for the project, “Mine Safety

and Health Administration (MSHA) State Grant 2009.”

Dr. Alvis Lisenbee, professor, geology and geological engineering, and Dr. Arden Davis, Mickelson Professor, geology and geological engineering, received $15,204 from the West Dakota Water Development

District for the project, “Atlas Preparation: Rapid City Area Quadrangles.” Lisenbee and Davis also received $18,380 from the West Dakota Water Development District for the project, “Mt. Rushmore Quadrangle, South Dakota: Aquifer Mapping (1:24,000),” and $13,573 from the

West Dakota Water Development District for the project, “Silver City Quadrangle, South Dakota: Aquifer Mapping (1:24,000).”

Dr. Patricia Mahon, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, received $10,000 from the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative for the project, “Post Secondary Education Tobacco Prevention Grant.” Mahon also received $49,805 from the National Highway Safety Administration — South

Dakota Department of Public Safety for the project, “Driving Safety Prevention Grant.”

A multidisciplinary team of School of Mines investigators received $3,392,600 from the United States Department of Defense — United States Army Research Laboratory for the project, “Advanced Materials and Processes for Future Combat Systems.” These investigators include Dr. Perry Marteny, former director, Composite and Polymer Engineering Laboratory; Dr. Gregory Buck, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry; Dr. Karim Muci, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Langerman, head and professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Daniel Dolan, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. David Boyles, Gaines Professor, chemistry; Dr. Umesh Korde, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Batchelder, chair and professor, electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Brian Hemmelman, former chair and professor, electrical and computer engineering; Elaine Linde, instructor, electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Vojislav Kalanovic, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. John Weiss, professor, mathematics and computer science; Dr. Lidvin Kjerengtroen, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. William Cross, associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; and Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering.

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Research AwardsDr. James Martin, professor and paleontology program coordinator, geology and geological engineering, and curator of vertebrate paleontology, Museum of Geology, received $7,000 from the United States Department of Army — United States Army Corps of Engineers for the project, “Collection and

Field Documentation of Plesiosaur Exposed.” Martin also received $2,000 from the United States Department of Interior — Bureau of Land Management for the project, “Fossil Lake Specimen Collection and Study.”

Dr. Dana Medlin, Nucor Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, and Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $89,141 in additional funding from Radiance Technologies, Inc. for the project, “Advanced Electronic Rosebud Integration

(AERI) Research and Development Program.”

Medlin also received $20,303 from Radiance Technologies for the project, “Assessment of Reballing Methods for Ball Grid Array (BGA) Devices/Radiance Technologies.”

Dr. Todd Menkhaus, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering, and Dr. Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry, received $327,269 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Fabrication and Bioseparation Studies of Adsorptive Nanofelts Made from Electrospun Cellulose and/or

Carbon Nanofibers.”

Dr. Andre Petukhov, professor and chair, physics, received $30,000 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the project, “Studies of Spin-Spin Interaction in SI: LI Quantum Computing System.” Petukhov also received $15,000 in additional funding from the National Science

Foundation for the project, “Spintronic Devices Enabled by Semiconducting Boron Carbide.”

Dr. Jan Puszynski, professor, chemical and biological engineering; Dr. Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry; and Dr. Phil Ahrenkiel, assistant professor, nanoscience and nanoengineering, received $269,709 from the United States Department of Energy for the project, “Establishment of the S.D.

Catalysis Group at USD and SDSM&T — Addressing Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization.”

Puszynski also received $24,563 from United States Department of Defense — Office of Naval Research for the project, “Coating of Temperature Sensitive Crystals or Particles with Aluminum” and $3,000 from Black Hills Power and Light for the project, “HydroTech Hill City Well Arsenic Testing.”

Dr. Lance Roberts, assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering, and Dr. Andrea Surovek, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $84,792 in additional funding from the South Dakota Board of Regents for the project, “Recycled Plastic Deep Foundation System for Lightly

Loaded Structures in Expansive Shale.”

Roberts received $59,355 from the South Dakota Department of Transportation for the project, “Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design: Materials Testing of Resilient and Dynamic Modulus.” He also received $53,251 from the United States Department of Transportation for the project, “LRFD Deep Foundation Design Method” and $30,000 from the Federal Highway Administration — South Dakota Department of Transportation for the project, “Evaluation of Warm Mix Asphalt Concrete Pavement in South Dakota Conditions.”

Dr. William Roggenthen, professor, geology and geological engineering, received $6,244,280 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) Site Selection and Technical Design Development.”

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Research AwardsDr. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor, chemical and biological engineering; Dr. Lew Christopher, director, Center for Bioprocessing and Development (CBRD); and Dr. David Dixon, professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $25,875 from the KL Energy Corporation for the project,

“Development of a Thermostable Enzyme Cocktail for Rapid Release of Fermentable Sugars from Lignocellulosic Materials/ KL Energy Corporation.”

Sani; Dr. James Stone, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering; and Dr. Larry Stetler, associate professor, geology and geological engineering, received $48,750 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Acquisition of a Kinetic Phosphorescence Analyzer for Uranium-focused Research and Education.”

Sani also received $87,000 in additional funding from Montana State University for the project, “Biogeochemical Mechanisms of Nanocrystalline Uraninite Oxidation by Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides.”

Dr. James Sears, director, Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (AML), received $127,175 from the Black Hills Nanosystems Corporation for the project, “Safe-and-Army Devices for the U.S. Army.” Sears also received $50,000 from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for the project, “Deposition

Technique Development,” and $24,731 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Rock-Rapid Optimization of Commercial Knowledge for Army Vehicles.”

Dale Skillman, director, technology transfer; Dr. Gregory Buck, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Michael Langerman, chair and professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Daniel Dolan, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Umesh Korde, associate professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. Lidvin Kjerengtroen, professor, mechanical engineering; Dr. William Cross, associate professor, materials and metallurgical engineering; William Arbegast, director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP); Dr. Haiping Hong, research scientist III, materials and metallurgical engineering; and

Dr. Robb Winter, head and professor, chemical and biological engineering, received $2,823,833 in additional funding from the United States Department of Defense — U.S. Army Research Laboratory for the project, “Advanced Materials and Processes for Future Combat Systems.”

Dr. Steve Smith, program director and associate professor, nanoscience and nanoengineering, received $200,000 in additional funding from the United States Department of Energy — National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the project, “Development of Super-Resolution Optical Microscopy Techniques for Visualization of Plant Cellular and Cellulose Enzyme Activity.”

Dr. James Stone, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, and Dr. Larry Stetler, associate professor, geology and geological engineering, received $83,000 in additional funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency — United States Department of Agriculture — Forest

Service for the project, “South Dakota Uranium Mining Impacts Evaluation.”

Stone also received $10,000 from the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council for the project, “Swine Facility Life Cycle Assessment Model Development,” and $36,930 from the United States Department of Interior — National Park Service for the project, “Assessment of Atmospheric Mercury Deposition at Select Northern Great Plains National Parks.”

Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, assistant professor, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, received $94,916 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Collaborative Research: Exploration of the Mechanistic Basis and Biogeochemical Implications of Differential Nutrient Limitation Among Trophic Levels.”

Dr. Sundareshwar also received $40,000 from the United States Geological Survey for the project, “Collection and Analyses of Soil Samples from Prairie Pothole Wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region,” and $10,000 from the State of Oklahoma — University of Oklahoma for the project, “31P NMR Analyses of Playa Wetlands.”

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Research AwardsDr. Andrea Surovek, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, received $112,000 in additional funding from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Collaborative Research: Structural Mechanics of Steel Columns and Beam-Columns Under Fire Loading.”

Dr. Michael Terry, assistant professor, geology and geological engineering, received $62,790 in additional funding from the Incorporated Research Institution for Seismology for the project, “Technology Assistance with Implementation and Operation of Transportable Array Element of USArray and Earthscope.” Terry also received $75,000 from the United States Department of State for the project, “Educational and Research Exchanges in Science with Mongolia,” and $10,900 from the West River Water Development District for the project, “Preparation of a Geological Map and Fracture Analysis of Major Rock Types Using the Laser Scanning Technique, Rochford Quadrangle, (1:24,000), Pennington County, South Dakota.”

Dr. Michael West, assistant professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, and William Arbegast, director, Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP), received $100,000 from the United States Department of Energy for the project, “Joining of 14YWT Plates.”

West and Dr. Jon Kellar, head and Fuerstenau Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, received $220,500 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “REU Site: Back to the Future.”

Dr. Karen Whitehead, professor emeritus, mathematics and computer science, and former provost and vice president for academic affairs, received $32,000 from the National Science Foundation for the project, “Partnerships for Innovation (PFI).”

Dr. Keith Whites, professor and Steven P. Miller Chair, electrical and computer engineering; Anthony Amert, research engineer II, electrical and computer engineering; and Dr. Dimitrios Anagnostou, assistant professor, electrical and computer engineering, received $360,000 from the

National Science Foundation for the project, “Multi-Scale Artificial Dielectric Materials and Their Applications.” Whites and Amert also received $70,000 from BerrieHill Research Corporation for the project, “An Integrated Computational/Measurement Technique for Accurate Electromagnetic Characterization of Materials”.

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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been a national leader in preparing world-class engineers and scientists since 1885. Our graduates design, construct, and operate the most modern technology to meet complex challenges such as climate change, bioenergy, mineral extraction and processing, advanced materials, environmental quality, and national defense. Our alumni are held in the highest regard by their fellow leaders in industry, consulting, government, health, research, and education.

The School of Mines continuously adapts to meet the needs of engineering and science. Rugged individuals and pioneers in engineering and science founded the School of Mines’ intellectual environment more than a century ago. Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni carry on that tradition today.

The School of Mines is a state-funded, public university that provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in science and engineering. The School of Mines is an AQIP institution, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and committed to quality and continuous improvement.

2009-2010 Enrollment2,177 students from 40 states and 35 countries

Costs and FeesA School of Mines education has never offered a better return on investment. 2009-10 annual undergraduate costs for tuition, fees, books, room, board, and supplies (including a Tablet PC) total approximately $13,860 per year for South Dakota residents and $15,240 for non-residents.

Placement:Starting salary offers to School of Mines graduates average approximately $56,000. Ninety-eight percent of graduates find jobs in their career fields or continue on to graduate or professional programs within one year of graduation.

ResearchResearchers conduct high-tech research that benefits the state, region, and nation through advances in technology and economic development. In Fiscal Year 2009, researchers received nearly $21 million in funding for 92 projects. Funding agencies included the Department of Defense, NASA, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, State of South Dakota, and many more.

FacultyThe School of Mines employs 135 full-time faculty members, more than 74 percent of whom hold doctorate or other appropriate terminal degrees. The faculty to student ratio is 1:13.

Honors and AwardsOne of America’s Best College Buys for 12 consecutive years2008 Carnegie South Dakota Professor of the YearNamed Military Friendly School

Campus ProfileBachelor of Science DegreesChemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer EngineeringComputer ScienceElectrical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringGeological EngineeringGeology -Applied Geology -Earth System Science -PaleontologyIndustrial Engineering and ManagementInterdisciplinary Sciences -Atmospheric Sciences -Pre-Professional Health Sciences -Science, Technology, and SocietyMathematics (Applied and Computational) Mechanical EngineeringMetallurgical EngineeringMining EngineeringPhysics

Master of Science DegreesAtmospheric SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical EngineeringCivil EngineeringConstruction Management Electrical EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyPhysics Robotics and Intelligent Autonomous SystemsTechnology Management

Doctor of Philosophy DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceMechanical Engineering (pending)Nanoscience and NanoengineeringPhysics (pending)

Degree Options

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, military status, gender,

religion, age, sexual orientation, political preference, or disability in employment or the provision of service.

A Publication of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 4,000 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $1.18 each.

Printed with Soy Based Inks on Recycled Paper containing 30% Post-Consumer Waste

PresidentRobert A. Wharton, Ph.D.

Academic AffairsDr. Duane C. Hrncir, Interim Provost and Vice President

AthleticsDr. Richard “Dick” Kaiser, Director

Business and AdministrationTimothy G. Henderson, Vice President

Research AffairsDr. Ronald J. White, Vice President

SDSM&T Alumni AssociationTim Vottero, Director

SDSM&T FoundationL.R. “Rod” Pappel, President

Student AffairsDr. Patricia G. Mahon, Vice President and Dean of Students

University and Public RelationsJulie A. Smoragiewicz, Special Assistant to the President

Graduate EducationDr. John H. Helsdon, Dean

Facilities ServicesMitch M. Miller, Director

Faculty SenateDr. David A. Boyles, Chair

Career Service EmployeesCassie M. Schweigerdt, Chair

Exempt EmployeesL. Eric James II, Chair

Student AssociationLukasz M. Dubaj, President

University Cabinet

Page 28: SDSMT Research Report 09-10

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