The National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska has welcomed 40 faculty members into its collaborative research network, the NSRI Fellows Program, to further expand its transdisciplinary research capabilities.
The group includes four University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty:
- Scott Darveau, professor, chemistry
- Joseph Dolence, associate professor, biology
- Jody Herchenbach, assistant professor, agribusiness
- Allen Thomas, professor, chemistry
The new cohort broadens the institute’s access to expertise and resources across the University of Nebraska System in the areas of biomedical sciences, engineering, chemistry, nanotechnology, leadership development, health sciences, journalism and more. The new faculty join more than 150 peers already in the program to receive public information related to NSRI’s mission that can help stimulate research teams for projects across the institute’s research portfolio.
“Each faculty member brings unique expertise and a fresh perspective that can catalyze innovation across disciplinary boundaries,” said Joshua Santarpia, NSRI science and technology advisor. “Their collective contributions could accelerate our progress on addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges, from strategic deterrence within a multipolar environment to integrating emerging technologies such as AI to developing medical countermeasures for evolving threats.”
In addition to receiving regular communications from NSRI, the faculty are invited to attend an annual conference and join eight working groups that provide a venue and platform for technical conversations surrounding real-world defense challenges.
The working groups include:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Biological Defense
- Chemical Defense
- Food, Agriculture and Environment Security
- Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations
- Medical Countermeasures
- Strategic Deterrence
- Wearable Sensors
Through NSRI, leading scientists deliver innovative national security research, technology, product and strategy development, training and exercises, and subject matter expertise to the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. One of only 15 DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Centers in the country, NSRI is sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command and works to ensure the United States’ safety and preparedness against increasingly sophisticated threats.
