University of North Dakota Grand Forks |
Research is a critical component of
the mission of the University of North Dakota. As a result of research
activities conducted by the faculty, UND undergraduate and graduate students
have an opportunity to broaden and enrich their educational experience. Besides
contributing to the educational mission of the University, the results of the
research are often of direct benefit to the residents of the state and to the
nation as a whole.
Research activities are conducted
through University research programs and individual faculty members working
within their own departments. Several of the UND research programs are involved
in public service activities which provide an opportunity for faculty and
students to conduct research projects directly benefiting the public .
Financial support for research
activities is provided either from University sources, such as the University
Senate Scholarly Activities Committee and the Office of Research and Program
Development, or through funds provided from external agencies such as Federal
or State government, private foundations, and industry. In fiscal year 2000,
$41.6 million of external support was received for sponsored program
activities, of which $25.8 million was for research.
Major UND research programs include
the Child Welfare Research Bureau, Bureau of
Governmental Affairs, Bureau of Educational Services and Applied Research,
the Social Sciences Research Institute, and the UND Energy and Environmental
Research Center. A newly created Center of Excellence in Neurosciences
concentrates on the basic sciences behind the causes and progression of
neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Local research agencies and programs
which work with UND faculty and students include the Altru Health Institute
Child Evaluation and Treatment Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Human Nutrition Research Center, and the State of North Dakota Geological
Survey.
UND is a major component of the
National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (EPSCoR) in North Dakota. The state received and matched its first
EPSCoR grant in 1986, and has received continuous NSF funding since that time.
Further information on research
activities can be obtained by calling the Office of Research and Program
Development at (701) 777-4278.
AWU Membership: The
University of North Dakota is a member of Associated Western Universities, Inc.
AWU is a consortium of more than 60 universities that directly supports the
Department of Energy’s (DOE) mission to develop and maintain educational and
training activities which ensure that the scientific and technical needs of the
energy research and development community are met. AWU provides an interface
among the academic community, DOE, and its western laboratories. For
information regarding AWU, contact the Office of Research and Program
Development (701) 777-4278).
ORAU Membership: Since 1989,
students and faculty of the University of North Dakota have benefitted from its
membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of
86 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE), located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions
to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities
throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for
fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research
alliances among its members.
Through the Oak Ridge Institute for
Science and Education, the DOE facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates,
graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty have access to a multitude of
opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs
covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences,
epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean
sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment
and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs
are especially designed to increase the numbers of under-represented minority
students pursuing degrees in science and engineering-related disciplines. A
comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their
disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the Resource
Guide, which is available at <http://www.orau.
gov/orise/educ.htm,>
or by calling either of the contacts below.
ORAU’s Office of Partnership
Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU’s
members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include
faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Power Junior Faculty
Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scientist Program, and various
services to chief research officers. For more information about ORAU and its
programs, contact: Dr. Sally Eckert-Tilotta, ORAU Councilor for University of
North Dakota (701-777-4278); Ms. Monnie E. Champion, ORAU Corporate Secretary
(423-576-3306); or visit the ORAU Home Page <http://www.orau.org>.