PROmoting Sustainable Partnerships in Education and Research (PROSPER)
PROSPER is the broadening participation arm of ND-ACES (New Discoveries in the Advanced Interface of Computation, Engineering, and Science). The goal of the PROSPER group is to provide education and experiences designed to build a diverse workforce, to enhance partnerships and collaborations with various stakeholders, and to inform North Dakota resident about the scientific advancements achieved by the ND-ACES project. The PROSPER group is fully integrated with the scientific arm of ND-ACES: the Center for Cellular Biointerface in Science and Engineering (CCBSE). PROSPER has four components: Broadening Participation, Education and Workforce Development, Partnerships and Collaborations, and Communication and Dissemination.
Broadening Participation
Broadening Participation supports American Indian students and other underserved groups along the biosciences pathway. The STEM content conveyed in the activities of this element correlate to the CCBSE research areas and align with this team’s objective to increase the participation of underrepresented and underserved groups in STEM across a variety of age groups from elementary school to Ph.D. faculty.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The Partnerships and Collaborations team builds research infrastructure and strengthens ND’s research competitiveness through industry partnerships and other collaborations. The team works with CCBSE researchers and industry relations personnel to collaborate on research partnerships using established research protocols.
Education and Workforce Development
Education and Workforce Development Element strengthens ND’s bioscience/STEM ecosystem by building a diverse pool of competitive researchers, skilled workers, effective educators, and engaged students. Working in close conjunction with the CCBSE, this element supports faculty professional development, student training, and K-12 student bioscience, engineering, and computational exposure.
Communication and Dissemination
The Communication and Dissemination team is working toward the goal of developing an elevated public understanding of the economic impact of growing North Dakota’s bioscience sector through strategic research investments as a result of data-sharing, communication, and outreach. Communication and Dissemination integrates with CCBSE researcher and PROSPER teams to create engaging content for public dissemination.
The Center for Cellular Biointerfaces in Science and Engineering (CCBSE) is supported by ND-ACES: New Discoveries in the Advanced Interface of Computation, Engineering, and Science, ND EPSCoR’s most recent NSF cooperative agreement (award number 1946202), and is a five-year cooperative agreement that carries an 80/20% federal/state cost sharing.
The ND-ACES Principal Investigator (PI) and Project Director (PD) is Colleen Fitzgerald, Ph.D.; NDSU. The Co-PI is Scott Snyder, Ph.D.; UND.