Impact on Workforce
Building STEM capacity and competitiveness through the ND EPSCoR State Office awards have impacted workforce opportunities for students and faculty at all 11 participating institutions across the state.
ND EPSCoR State Office programs, such as NATURE and STTAR, encourage student awareness, interest, and perseverance in STEM fields. The NATURE program reaches 500 Native American students (middle school – TCU bachelor’s degree) annually. Since 2014, 931 Native American students have been involved in STEM experiences sponsored by the ND EPSCoR State Office and the NSF. In 2020-2021, due to COVID-19, the NATURE program served 133 Native American students virtually. Since 2014, the ND EPSCoR State Office has co-sponsored 88 STTAR interns in companies throughout ND.
Click these links to view the current and previous solicitations for students.
ND EPSCoR State Office - K-12 Seed Awardees
Each year, the ND EPSCoR State Office accepts competitive proposals to strengthen and broaden the STEM pathway. Proposals focus on activities that build stronger partnerships with K-12 STEM education in the state. Of particular interest are activities that engage underrepresented/underserved students and result in an increased awareness and interest in STEM careers.
| Year, Name | Department | Institution |
| 2021 | ||
| Pam Johnson | Education | Mayville State University |
| Jamie Wirth | Great Plains STEM Education Center, Mathematics | Valley City State University |
| 2020 | ||
| Jamie Wirth | Great Plains STEM Education Center, Mathematics | Valley City State University |
| 2019 | ||
| Austin Allard | Math and Science | Turtle Mountain Community College |
| Mikhail Bobylev | Science - Chemistry | Minot State University |
| Robert Crackel | Science Division | Minot State University |
| Andi Dulski-Bucholz | Education | Mayville State University |
| Woei Hung | EHBS | University of North Dakota |
| Darren Seifert | Math & Computer Science | Minot State University |
| Anupa Sharma | Agribusiness and Applied Economics | North Dakota State University |
ND EPSCoR State Office Development of Online/Virtual Modules for STEM Laboratory Courses Awardees
Each year, the ND EPSCoR State Office accepts competitive proposals to faculty to increase their online/virtual presence with respect to training students in the laboratory setting.
| Year, Name | Department | Institution |
| 2021 | ||
| Joseph Hartman | Geology (HHSGGE) | University of North Dakota |
| Kenneth Hellevang | Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering | North Dakota State University |
| 2020 | ||
| Alshami Ali | Chemical Engineering | University of North Dakota |
| David DeMuth | Science | Valley City State University |
| Timothy Young | Physics and Astrophysics | University of North Dakota |
| Yan Zhang | Mechanical Engineering | North Dakota State University |
ND EPSCoR State Office Student Travel Awardees
Each year, the ND EPSCoR State Office accepts competitive proposals to provide travel funds to undergraduate and graduate students who have an accepted presentation (oral and/or poster) at a national conference.
| Year, Name | Department | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
| Jerome Delhommelle | Chemistry | UND |
| Greta Gramig | Plant Sciences | NDSU |
| Torre Hovick | Range Science | NDSU |
| Igor Ovtchinnikov | Biology | UND |
| Rebecca Simmons | Biology | UND |
| Mark Strand | Pharmacy Practice | NDSU |
| Sathish Venkatachalem | Pharmaceutical Science | NDSU |
ND EPSCoR State Office - Undergraduate Research Awardees
Each year, the ND EPSCoR State Office accepts competitive proposals from faculty to engage and mentor undergraduate students in research projects.
| Year, Faculty Mentor | Department | Institution | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | |||
| Upul Rupassara | Mathematics and Computer Science | Minot State University | |
| Bishnu Sedai | Mathematics and Computer Science | Minot State University | |
| Thomas Petros |
| University of North Dakota | |
| Feng Xiao | Civil Engineering | University of North Dakota | |
| 2020 | |||
| Kathryn Kilroy | Geoscience/Science | Minot State University | |
| Bethany Klemetsrud | Chemical Engineering | University of North Dakota | |
| Xusheng Wang | Biology | University of North Dakota | |
| 2019 | |||
| Surojit Gupta | Mechanical Engineering | University of North Dakota | |
| Naima Kaabouch | School of EECS | University of North Dakota | |
| Trung (Tim) Le | Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering | North Dakota State University | |
| Motoki Takaku | Biomedical Sciences | University of North Dakota | |
| Brent Voels | Science | Cankdeska Cikana Community College | |
| Sarah Wagner | Animal Sciences | North Dakota State University | |
Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE)
The NSF and ND EPSCoR State Office funded Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE) program is a State Office sponsored education outreach project. NATURE aims to improve STEM education among middle- and high-school students and TCU students to build a pathway for the pursuit of careers in STEM disciplines. NATURE builds on activities of a long-term collaboration between the TCUs, NDSU, and UND.
More information is available on the NATURE web pages
STTAR Program at-a-glance
ND EPSCoR State Office Students in Technology Transfer and Research (STTAR) Awardees
Each year, the ND EPSCoR State Office supports the Students in Technology Transfer And Research (STTAR) program, which provides upper-division students (i.e., juniors through graduate students) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with an opportunity to use their academic training and experience to address challenging science and technology-based problems faced by North Dakota companies. Although related to the more general cooperative education and internship programs offered throughout the state, the primary emphasis of STTAR is on research and development rather than sales and marketing. ND EPSCoR cost-shares the student salary.
| Year, Business | Student Participants |
| SUMMER 2023 | |
| Aethero, Inc., Grand Forks, ND (formerly Tau Drones LLC) | Samuel Afari, UND |
| Arun Gandikota, UND | |
| Amity Technology, Fargo, ND | Blake Hagen, NDSU |
| Apex Engineering, Fargo, ND | Logan Fridgen, NDSU |
| Carter Schoneberg, NDSU | |
| Isaac Trefz, U of Mary | |
| ComDel Innovation, Wahpeton, ND | Joseph Dignan, NDSU |
| Alexander Gobran, NDSU | |
| Ezra Hanse, UND | |
| CorVent Medical, Fargo, ND | Srilakshmi Gundlakunta, NDSU |
| Jerico Limke, NDSU | |
| Tara Treml, NDSU | |
| Creedence Energy Services, Williston, ND | Ahmed Abdelaal, UND |
| Jalyn Derr, Dakota College at Bottineau | |
| Elinor Coating, Fargo, ND | Nafisa Bala, UND |
| Bogdan Nechepurenko, UND | |
| Braden Soderberg, UND | |
| Marvin, Fargo, ND | Natalie Fischer, NDSU |
| Justin Kettleson, NDSU | |
| Matthew Myers, NDSU | |
| MBN Engineering Inc, Fargo, ND | Molly Rayhorn, UND |
| Moore Engineering Inc, West Fargo, ND | Weston Mitchell, NDSU |
| Tyler Petron, NDSU | |
| Kathryn Quenette, NDSU | |
| Nodak Electric Co-op, Inc., Grand Forks, ND | Evan Pederson, UND |
| Charles Rieger, UND | |
| Swanson Health, Fargo, ND | Nathanial Aufman, NDSU |
| Kristina Korhonen, MSU-Moorhead | |
| |
| SUMMER 2022 | |
| ComDel Innovation, Wahpeton, ND | Evan Erlandson, NDSU |
| Kelsey Baker, UND | |
| Quinton Olsby, NDSU | |
| Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Carrington, ND | Chase Rygg, NDSCS |
| Ian Johnston, NDSCS | |
| Isaac Mimong, UJ | |
| Interstate Engineering Inc, Jamestown, ND | Brayden Wahl, NDSCS |
| Caleb Babcock, NDSCS | |
| Cody Block, NDSCS | |
| Marvin, Fargo, ND | Austin Widmer, NDSU |
| Brayden Bares, NDSU | |
| Olivia Angst, NDSU | |
| MBN Engineering Inc, Fargo, ND | Justin Sandberg, UND |
| Moore Engineering Inc, West Fargo, ND | Connor Wilson, NDSU |
| Jordan Miranda, NDSU | |
| Seth Welder, NDSU | |
| NoDak Electric Co-Op Inc, Grand Forks, ND | Brycen Lunak, UND |
| Tyler Workman, UND | |
| Renuvix LLC, Fargo, ND | Jasmine Kostelecky, NDSU |
| Rugby Manufacturing, Rugby, ND | Noah Kraft, UM |
| Tau Drones LLC, Grand Forks, ND | Samuel Afari, UND |
| Arun Gandikota, UND | |
| |
SUMMER 2021 | |
| Airtonomy; Grand Forks, ND | Ahmed Elsaharti, UND |
| Ramtin Kardan, UND | |
| ComDel Innovation; Wahpeton, ND | Alex Munchow, NDSU |
| Jakob Sailer, NDSU | |
| Ellingson Companies, Harwood, ND | Brenden VanWechel, NDSU |
| Emily Nelson, NDSU | |
| F4 Conservation, Manvel, ND | Amalie Jørgensen, UND |
| Lindsey Kallis, UND | |
| Interstate Engineering, Jamestown, ND | Alexandra Speidel, NDSCS |
| Brayden Wahl, NDSCS | |
| Lindsey Hagerty, NDSU | |
| Marvin, Fargo, ND | Jackson Somsen, NDSU |
| Zach Kuhn, NDSU | |
| Mayo Construction, Cavalier, ND | Michael Miller, NDSCS |
| Mobile Recon Systems, Grand Forks, ND | Garrett Tjernagel, UND |
| Jack Vetsch, UND | |
| Michael Turnbull, UND | |
| Nodak Electric, Grand Forks, ND | Branson Elliott, UND |
| Tyler Workman, UND | |
| Renuvix, Fargo, ND | Avery Jorgensen, NDSU |
| Zane Hensel, NDSU | |
| Rugby Manufacturing, Rugby, ND | Noah Kraft, University of Mary |
| WCCO Belting, Wahpeton, ND | Gabriel Lothspeich, NDSU |
| |
| SUMMER 2020 | |
| Airtonomy; Grand Forks, ND | Ahmed Elsaharti, UND |
| Ramtin Kardan, UND | |
| Bradley Traver, UND | |
| Amity Technology; Fargo, ND | Chase Bader, NDSU |
| William Huber, NDSU | |
| ComDel Innovation; Wahpeton, ND | Brook Anderson, NDSU |
| Pierce Kvien, NDSU | |
| Su Sampson, NDSU | |
| CrossFire Technologies; Fargo | Nicholas Feddersen, NDSU |
| Connor Wander, NDSU | |
| Interstate Engineering, Inc.; Jamestown, ND | Jacob Fandrich, NDSU |
| Marvin Qaqos, NDSU | |
| Austin Snobl, NDSCS | |
| WCCO Belting, Inc.; Wahpeton, ND | Blake Higgins, NDSU |