The National Strategic Research Institute 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 new cohort of faculty 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.”

New Members

• Arpan Acharya, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Nirupam Aich, civil and environmental engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Matt Allen, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Cory Armstrong, journalism, UNL
• Pooheh Bagher, cellular and integrative physiology, UNMC
• Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, civil and environmental engineering, UNL
• Christian Binek, physics, UNL
• Amanda Brinkworth, pathology, microbiology and immunology, UNMC
• Subhash Chand, anesthesiology, UNMC
• Barry Cheung, physical chemistry, UNL
• Scott Darveau, chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney
• Joseph Dolence, biology, UNK
• David Hage, analytical chemistry, UNL
• Mary Hallin, marketing and entrepreneurship, UNO
• Jody Herchenbach, agribusiness, UNK
• Victor Huang, Aviation Institute, UNO
• Nate Hunt, biomechanics, UNO
• Heather Jensen-Smith, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, UNMC
• Jacob John, materials and nanoscience, UNL
• David Kingston, biomechanics, UNO
• Philippe Malcolm, biomechanics, UNO
• Madhur Mangalam, biomechanics, UNO
• Stephen Morin, chemistry, UNL
• Prabagaran Narayanasamy, internal medicine; pulmonary, UNMC
• Brett Neely, management, UNL
• David Oupicky, pharmaceutical sciences, UNMC
• Santosh Pitla, biological systems engineering, UNL
• Adam Rosen, health and kinesiology, UNO
• Sangjin Ryu, mechanical and materials engineering, UNL
• Marat Sadykov, pathology, microbiology and immunology, UNMC
• Yury Salkovskiy, cardiovascular eiomechanics, UNO
• Mystera Samuelson, environment, agriculture and occupational health, UNMC
• Steve Schulz, College of Business Administration, UNO
• Gwenn Skar, pediatric infectious eiseases, UNMC
• Ben Smith, economics, UNO
• Allen Thomas, chemistry, UNK
• Dana Verhoeven, epidemiology, UNMC
• Limei Zhang, biochemistry, UNL
• Andy Zhong, chemistry, UNO
• Jorge Zuniga, biomechanics, UNO

In addition to receiving regular communications from NSRI, the faculty are invited to attend an annual invitation-only conference and to 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

Allen Thomas, Donald E. Fox Professor of chemistry at UNK, said: “Being an NSRI Fellow is a great honor. I am inspired by the innovation in technology aspects of the NSRI mission and the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research. My expertise is in medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis. I hope to apply my skills toward designing therapies to aid soldiers.”

Cory Armstrong, associate dean and Lawrence L. and Ruth E. Pike Professor in journalism at UNL, said: “I appreciate the connections among NSRI, national security agencies and the NU system, as I believe we have the expertise here in Nebraska to significantly augment and expand research and technology nationally and across the globe. I hope my experience in studying media messaging and the way it influences individuals’ decision making during crisis events will provide valuable insights to help stakeholders and leaders respond successfully to both natural and man-made disasters.”

Heather Jensen-Smith, director of the UNMC Advanced Microscopy Core Facility, said: “Leading a shared research facility for advanced light microscopy and imaging analyses, I see an excellent opportunity to serve as a force multiplier for several NSRI objectives. I will appreciate having access to a new cadre of collaborators and resources poised to conduct groundbreaking research in an environment that is fertile for establishing innovative and impactful responses to national security challenges. On a personal note, three generations of my family have supported the DOD — it is an honor to have the opportunity to do so, too.”

Steve Schulz, interim dean and Lucas Diamond Professor of Business at UNO, said: “I appreciate that this program creates opportunities to collaborate with experts in supply chain risk management, AI applications and national security-related logistics. I look forward to contributing to critical national policies through cutting-edge research and advances in technology focused on food, agriculture and environmental security.”

For more information, visit nsri.nebraska.edu/fellows.

National Strategic Research Institute