National Science Foundation (NSF)
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 Awards:
2020-2025 NSF EPSCoR Track-1 Cooperative Agreement, $20 million, Award Number 1946202
Principal Investigator (PI): Colleen Fitzgerald, Ph.D., NDSU
Co-PI: John Mihelich, Ph.D.; UND

ND-ACES: New Discoveries in the Advanced Interface of Computation, Engineering, and Science (ND-ACES), ND EPSCoR’s most recent NSF RII, is a five-year cooperative agreement that carries an 80/20% federal/state match.

Research Center: Center for Cellular Biointerfaces in Science and Engineering (CCBSE). The creation of optimal interfaces (biointerfaces) between biological and engineered materials is of critical interest to many bio-based applications. ND-ACES builds research capacity to better understand design rules that govern in vitro biointerfaces and influence in vivo decisions surrounding the understanding of biochemistry and the cell biology of cancer cells and tumors. To address the clinical need for more robust in vivo-like biointerfaces, CCBSE will rely on a coordinated effort across three pillars of scientific inquiry: 1) Materials design at biointerfaces; 2) Cellular systems at materials interface; and, 3) Computation, machine learning, and predictive modeling. Computationally created design rules can enhance predictability of cellular responses to material surface characteristics and provide fundamental information to address many bioscience challenges. Thus, the integration of computational modeling as a prominent research partner allows for more extensive testing than possible with trial-and error methods. This acceleration of the design, manufacture, and validation stages not only provides quicker materials authentication for use in biologic applications to produce more in vivo-like behaviors but also offers a more streamlined laboratory method of predicting cellular responses while creating a directed workflow that expedites progress.

• Visit the Center for Cellular Biointerfaces in Science and Engineering webpage
• Meet the CCBSE Researcher video series

Broader Impacts: PROmoting Sustainable Partnerships in Education and Research (PROSPER). Expanding North Dakota's emerging biosciences capacity through a STEM-enabled, well-trained workforce and positioning ND-ACES as ND's leading scientific and educational resource will signify successful completion of this important work. PROSPER and CCBSE efforts incorporate both faculty and students at all 10 participating institutions [one institution, Sitting Bull College, has chosen to focus solely on outreach] in collaborative research, early career development, education enhancement, and outreach to increase the abilities of early career faculty, increase advanced scientific computing capabilities, and broaden the participation and number of STEM undergraduate and graduate students. ND's K-12 sectors are also crucial to a sustainable ND STEM pathway; thus, another key component will be education and outreach in rural and tribal K-12 schools. Teachers, particularly those in grades 6-12, will receive tools to expose and engage their students in biosciences inquiry. Additionally, to bring the new knowledge and companion products to industry, focused activities will build or expand on existing collaborative industry/medical partnerships. Finally, a suite of communication activities will engage, inform, and educated ND stakeholders and citizens, and national audiences about ND-ACES scientific and outreach efforts.

• Visit the PROmoting Sustainable Partnerships in Education and Research webpage
• Meet PROSPER video series

In addition to the funding the research activities of the CCBSE, ND-ACES researchers at the 10 participating campuses are eligible to compete for additional funding opportunities. View the ND-ACES funding opportunity awardees.

PROSPER, the broadening participation arm of ND-ACES, will provide education and experiences designed to build a diverse workforce, enhance partnerships and collaborations with various stakeholders, and inform ND’s residents. The four elements of PROSPER are: