Didn’t make it to the Annual State Conference? Here is what you missed.
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Pre-conference Networking Seminar
Nearly 100 people registered for the UND, NDSU, and ND-ACES Bio and Biomedical Computation Networking seminar. The purpose of the seminar was for researchers to meet each other, learn about their colleagues’ work, and create opportunities for new collaborations in North Dakota.
The first winter storm of the season made travel difficult for some registrants and impossible for others. Thankfully, everyone who made the trip to Grand Forks arrived safely, and we were able to hear from almost all of our planned presenters. Visit the pre-conference networking seminar page to see a full list of presenters and abstracts. You can check out event photos at our photo gallery.
Annual State Conference
We started Day 2 with introductory speakers, including State Steering Committee Chair Curt Biller, UND president Dr. Andrew Armacost, Sitting Bull College president Dr. Tomi Kay Phillips, Dr. Daniel Henry of UND with a land acknowledgement and prayer, and Randy Richards with remarks on behalf of Senator Kevin Cramer. Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald of NDSU introduced our plenary speaker.
Dr. Rebecca Heise: Lung-derived Extracellular Matrix Materials for Disease Modeling and Drug Delivery
Dr. Rebecca Heise’s presentation focused on her biomedical engineering research on lung extracellular matrix (ECM) materials and their potential applications in studying lung diseases and developing therapies. She described her lab’s work on modeling lung injuries and creating ECM-based hydrogels and nanoparticles for drug delivery and tissue repair. Highlighting the complexity of lung function and the limitations of animal models, Dr. Heise explained how her team processes ECM from lungs to develop biomaterials that mimic the lung's natural environment. These materials are used to study conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension. Her team also investigates ECM nanoparticles as a vehicle for delivering therapeutics to distal lung regions, showing promising results in reducing inflammation and bacterial infections in animal models. Dr. Heise emphasized the potential of ECM-based technologies in advancing pulmonary medicine and invited collaboration and further exploration.
Click here to view a video of Dr. Heise’s presentation or to download her presentation slides.
Dr. Andy Nonaka: The AMReX Software Framework for Extreme Scale Modeling and Simulation
Our next speaker was Dr. Andy Nonaka. Dr. Nonaka’s presentation focused on computational modeling and simulation. It outlined his group's work at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, including their contributions to the Exascale Computing Project, which developed software and applications for high-performance computing systems. Dr. Nonaka explained the design of structured mesh frameworks for solving complex equations in various scientific domains, emphasizing efficiency, adaptability, and user-friendliness. He described applications in fields like astrophysics, environmental modeling, microelectronics, and epidemiology. The group also incorporates AI/ML techniques to optimize simulations, demonstrating innovations like integrating neural networks to speed up computational kernels. Dr. Nonaka highlighted the open-source nature of their tools and their accessibility to diverse research areas. The talk concluded with examples of potential applications, showcasing the framework's versatility.
Click here to view a video of Dr. Nonaka’s presentation or to download his presentation slides.
NSF EPSCoR Program Director Dr. Jose Colom-Ustariz
Dr. Jose Colom-Ustariz explained the evaluation process for NSF EPSCoR proposals and common pitfalls to avoid. He encouraged engaging with program officers, leveraging webinars, and using online resources for information. The talk also highlighted opportunities across different disciplines and emphasized the importance of broader societal impacts in research proposals. Dr. Colom-Ustariz concluded with practical advice on using NSF resources and invited questions and follow-ups.
Panel discussion: Nurturing STEM and Research at ND Tribal Colleges and Universities
The panel discussion on Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), moderated by Sheridan McNeil, explored the unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities faced by Indigenous students and TCUs in general. Panelists shared insights into supporting Indigenous students through culturally inclusive education, grant-funded programs, and community-centric approaches that bridge traditional and Western knowledge. They highlighted obstacles like limited foundational skills in STEM, faculty shortages, and the need for an increase in authentic and equitable partnerships with mainstream institutions. Many programs, including STEM initiatives, face challenges because they rely mainly on grant funding and don’t have the reach of alumni foundations like mainstream universities. If a TCU cannot consistently apply for grants due to capacity, its programs may end. Panelists discussed the need for alternative funding sources, such as philanthropic donations, similar to how mainstream universities leverage alumni and foundations for significant financial support.
Recommendations included building authentic relationships, providing internships, aligning research with student interests, and creating pathways to higher education that respect cultural values. The discussion emphasized the importance of addressing systemic barriers and fostering collaborations to enhance education, research, and community impact.
Panelists:
Austin Allard, engineering instructor, Turtle Mountain College
Nana Allison-Brewer, mathematics faculty, Haskell Indian Nations University
Audrey LaVallie, science faculty, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Tomi Kay Phillips, president, Sitting Bull College
Brent Voels, chemistry instructor, Turtle Mountain College
Click here to view a video of the panel discussion.
Concurrent sessions
We held three sets of concurrent sessions. Each set included one room for ND-ACES and related research, and two rooms for other STEM research in North Dakota. Click here to view abstracts for the concurrent sessions.
Poster presentations
We also had two poster sessions, with presenters ranging from a high school student to undergrads and grad students to faculty members. You can see a complete list of poster presentations here, and you can see our poster photos here. If you find a photo of yourself, please feel free to download it.
Thank you!
Many thanks to all who participated in this year’s ND EPSCoR Annual State Conference. We look forward to meeting with you again next year.
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