Recent Research Funding
UND Chemistry External Awards
NSF Expand QISE
Quantum Algorithms for Relativistic Quantum Chemistry
Quantum computers offer the opportunity to solve some of the long-standing challenges
in science and engineering. This research, in collaboration with Virginia Tech, aims
to develop new algorithms and schemes to extend the capabilities of quantum devices
and apply them to some of the challenging problems in heavy-element computational
chemistry. These developments could help advance our understanding of the chemistry
of heavy-elements and help identify new materials and molecules for applications such
as drug discovery, improvements in energy technology, and more. The project has a
strong emphasis on quantum information science and engineering (QISE) workforce development
in the Red River Valley region by introducing accessible and application-focused coursework
to University of North Dakota (UND) students and other regional institutes, along
with fostering partnerships with industry, national labs, and academia to facilitate
the effective training of students.
NSF EPSCoR Fellow
Quantum algorithms for early fault-tolerant quantum computers
This EPSCoR Research Fellows project will provide a fellowship to an Assistant Professor
and training for a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Dakota (UND). This
work will be conducted in collaboration with researchers at Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory (PNNL) to develop new algorithms and strategies towards solving useful
problems in quantum chemistry using upcoming quantum computers. Quantum computers
exploit quantum mechanical properties to carry out computational tasks and are expected
to provide massive computational advantages in problems of importance in drug design,
material discovery, machine learning, etc. With rapid progress in quantum computing
hardware in recent years, the project aims to develop algorithms and strategies that
can take advantage of the upcoming quantum devices and explore the benefits of quantum
computers over traditional classical computers in quantum chemistry problems. This
collaboration also provides expertise and computing tools that support the PI’s vision
of creating a successful quantum information science and technology research group
at UND, along with strengthening STEM education in the Red River Valley region.
ND-ACES Emerging Areas Seed Award
Biodegradable and Biocompatible Drug-Loading Polymer Gels Potentiating Long-Term Sustained
Release of Anticancer Drugs for Precise Cancer Treatment
The primary objective of this research project focuses on the development of advanced
drug-loading polymer gels for treating cancers. With the support of this award, Dr.
Sui leads his research group to develop biodegradable polymer gels loaded with anticancer
drugs for sustained release of drug molecules at tumor tissues in the body to impose
persistent inhibitory effect precisely onto cancer cells, without inducing damage
to healthy cells and organs, thus enhancing the therapeutic effect and reducing the
unwanted adverse effects, starting from September 20, 2024.
NSF-MRI
MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatograph with a High-Resolution Mass
Spectrometer (Pyr-GC-HR-MS)
$626,295 PI Kubatova Chemistry, Co-PIs Schmitt, Biology; Ji, Chemical Eng.; Ersan
Mech. Eng.. This state-of-the-art instrument greatly expands and modernizes GC-MS
capabilities not only at UND at the Upper Midwest, enhancing the region’s capacity
for high-resolution detection of complex samples for sustainable materials, biological
and forensic studies, and emerging contaminant monitoring. This instrument will be
integral to both teaching and research, providing quality training for undergraduate
and graduate students in chemical characterization. In addition, its use and demonstrations
in outreach and educational programs will provide tools for recruitment in science
and STEM workforce development in the region.
NSF-S-STEM Scholarship Grant Award
Continuing in the tradition of projects funded by the National Science Foundation
S-STEM program, previously called US MASTER, which provided UND students with scholarship
awards of over $650,000. Many of these students have careers in science after leaving
UND; we are proud of all of them and their successes.
The team of science faculty will be led by Dr. Simmons (PI) and includes Co-PIs Drs.
Iancu, Kubatova, Mattingly, and Pedersen; we received nearly $2 million in funding
from NSF for a new scholarship program called "QUEST" (Question-based Undergraduate Experiential Science Training). This program will provide scholarships to talented students in Atmospheric
Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Forensic Science, Mathematics,
and Physics/ Astrophysics. Furthermore, QUEST seeks to recruit and prepare rural and
minority students to provide support through formal and informal programming that
prepares these graduates for meaningful careers in STEM fields.
Marvin Companies, Inc., Project: Investigation of Wood Windows Aging: Phase 2
The grant, led by Drs. Alena Kubatova and Evguenii Kozliak, focuses on developing
pertinent analytical methods and their application to the investigation of wood protection
by fungicides. The additional funding has been provided at a level of $9,471. This
project is a new application of elaborate TD-Pyr-GC-MS methods published in J. Chromatography
A. The ultimate goal of this new study is finding a marker of wood decay when fungicides
in treated wood are depleted. We appreciate a long-term partnership and joint research
program with Marvin Companies (former Marvin Windows), a large local firm with headquarters
in Warroad, MN providing excellent opportunities for our student training.
American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF)
Award: $110,000 starting August 1, 2024. Dr. Weixin Huang, PI. The ACS PRF grant will support research on developing single-atom bimetallic
and high entropy catalysts for oxidative propane dehydrogenation. This project centers
on the use of precisely controlled catalytic materials prepared from colloidal nanocrystals.
The utilization of such materials holds considerable promise for identifying the active
phase and structure of alloys, as well as revealing their optimal surface composition.
NSF Chemistry Biology Collaborative Award
Graphene/Polymer-based Fluorescent Nanozymes for Sensitive Detection of Metabolic
Biotargets
Award: $450,000 starting September 01, 2023. Drs. Julia Zhao and Diane Darland and their respective research groups at the University of North Dakota are devising
a new approach toward nanomaterial-based sensors (“nanozymes”) for the detection and
quantitation of key metabolic biomolecules, such as glucose. The goal is to develop
these nanozyme sensors to detect biotargets that can shift in metabolic distress,
such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disease.
NSF Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences
(LEAPS-MPS)
LEAPS-MPS: Stimuli-Responsive Biodegradable Polymeric Nanomaterials for Biomedical
Applications
Award: $249,118 starting July 15, 2022. Dr. Binglin Sui, PI. With the support of this award, Dr. Sui leads his research group to develop
a series of stimuli-responsive, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers and polymer-based
nanomaterials that can be extensively utilized in the biological and medical worlds.
LEAPS-MPS Award Abstract
NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)
MRI: Acquisition of a 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer for Research and Research Training
Award: $438,862 starting August 1, 2021. Dr. Guodong Du, PI, and Dr. Alena Kubatova, co-PI. This spectrometer allows research in a variety of fields such as those that accelerate
chemical reactions of significant economic importance, as well as permitting study
of chemically and biologically relevant species. Research projects that will benefit
from this instrument include characterization of biodegradable materials synthesized
from renewable resources and the construction of two-dimensional polymeric materials
prepared from renewable materials using photo-energy.
MRI Award Abstract
NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Award
New Discoveries in the Advanced Interface of Computation, Engineering, and Science
(ND-ACES)
Three UND Chemistry faculty members are Research Participants on the newly funded
NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 Award. The award (starting July 1, 2020) is a new five-year
competitive research infrastructure improvement (RII) Track-1 cooperative agreement
totaling $20 million to ND EPSCoR jurisdiction and all 10 participating institutions.
The title of the award is
The UND chemistry faculty members participating are: Guodong Du and Julia Zhao. Dr. Zhao is the co-Lead in the pillar of Material Designs at Biointerfaces and Dr.
Du participates in this material pillar.
ND ACES AWARD abstract
National Science Foundation Simulation and Machine Learning Grant
CDS&E:D3SC:Topology, Rare-event Simulation, and Machine Learning as Routes to Predicting
Molecular Crystal Structures and Understanding Their Phase Behaviour
This collaborative research grant is awarded for four years to develop computational
methods and software to study molecular crystals at the level of $193,872 from April
1st, 2020.
CDS&E:D3SC AWARD ABSTRACT
Marvin Windows and Doors, Inc., Wood Aging Study by Pyrolysis Project
Investigation of Wood Windows Aging Using Thermal Desorption‐Pyrolysis GC‐MS
Award: $40,361. The project, led by Drs. Evguenii Kozliak and Alena Kubatova through continued partnership, aims to investigate aging of window-treated corner
sections exposed to harsh environmental conditions using the elaborate modification
of TD-Pyr-GC-MS developed by Dr. Kubatova for chemical characterization of wood matrix
and occurrence of wood preservatives.
ND Corn Utilization Council Grants
Self-Healing and Recyclable Polymeric Materials from Corn Sugars
Dr. Guodong Du has received support for the project in the amount of $25,248 from July 1, 2020-June
30, 2021.
Conversion of Corn-Stover Derived Lignin
Dr. Wayne Seames (Chemical Engineering) in collaboration with Dr. Kubatova (Chemistry) has received funding ($79,000) for this project that aims to fragment
lignin, advance lignin fragment analytical methods, and to use those methods to help
define what the lignin fragments are and their potential uses.
Environmental Core (EC) of ND INBRE Program Received Renewed Support
The EC facility lead by Dr. David Pierce is continuing its program with an award of $593,000 for 5 years.
Dr. Pierce developed a method for ultra-trace determination of selenium without signal
calibration. This technology employed a flow-through electrochemical method that could
accurately determine SeIV concentrations in water samples to part-per-trillion levels. Ongoing projects are
being led by Dr. Pierce in the EC, in addition to collaborations, the example is a
project to determine if rare earth elements can be economically extracted from fracking
water obtained from oil production in the Bakken area of ND.
