Awards of $5 Million or More

The Rural Drug Addiction Research Center was created in 2019 as a National Institutes of Health Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, or COBRE. Under the leadership of Rick Bevins, Mildred Francis Thompson University Professor of Psychology, the center’s mission is to advance understanding of causes, impacts and interventions related to rural drug use and misuse in the Midwest, a geographic area that has been historically understudied. Designed to be interdisciplinary and data-driven, the research links pre-clinical studies to field-based behavioral, neural, social, clinical and translational research and dissemination.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies collaboration was formed to put Nebraska at the forefront of research and education in quantum materials and technology, which will be a major driver of the state and national economy in the future. Christian Binek, Paula and D.B. Varner Professor of Physics, leads the EQUATE team, made up of Husker researchers and other partners. The collaboration pursues scientific discovery in quantum materials, which could revolutionize technologies in communication and information processing, medical technology and cryptography. The team also is working toward STEM workforce development, training and education, particularly in Native American and rural communities.

Ken Bloom, Willa Cather Professor of Physics and Astronomy, oversees Nebraska’s leadership of the National Science Foundation-funded portion of the U.S. CMS Operations Program. The university’s role in this effort is advancing cutting-edge work in subatomic physics at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland. CERN is the site of the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest, most powerful particle accelerator.

Edgar Cahoon, George W. Holmes University Professor of Biochemistry, leads an eight-institution team that is exploring how two oilseeds, camelina and pennycress, can help meet the escalating demand for renewable fuels, industrial chemicals and other bioproducts. With U.S. Department of Energy funding, the team will research oilseeds’ metabolic circuitry, produce genetically enhanced oilseeds and develop synthetic biology tools for crop improvement that could help scientists nationwide. By tapping the full potential of oilseeds, the team’s work could help pave the way for Nebraska farmers to diversify their operations and expand into new markets.

Martin Centurion, Carl A. Happold Professor of Physics and Astronomy, leads a team investigating the parameters that govern electrocyclic reactions, a class of reactions that plays an important role in nature and has many commercial applications, such as pharmaceutical synthesis. Using multiple experimental techniques, including time-resolved probing methods and advanced theoretical modeling, the team aims to develop general rules that can be applied to understand and predict the outcome of these reactions. The project is advancing both basic and applied chemical research and enables students and postdoctoral researchers to gain experience with multiple experimental methods.

With a $6.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, Jessica Corman is leading a team in developing a first-of-its-kind national environmental database. This tool will help researchers and policy makers study, predict and manage the ever-changing balance of elements in the environment and their impact on ecosystems regionally and nationally. The database, a collection of information from streams, lakes and the organisms that reside in them, will unlock major potential in ecological stoichiometry, a framework that explores the mismatch between available environmental elements and what organisms need. Corman, associate professor of natural resources, is working with partners from the University of Wyoming, Central Arkansas University and Middlebury College.

Rural Prosperity Nebraska, a university hub focused on advancing rural communities, is leading formation of the Heartland Regional Food Business Center. The center, an online platform aimed at connecting and strengthening locally grown food systems, brings together buyers, sellers, producers, processors and market managers. Funded by a $25 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – among the largest awards ever received by the university – the center will serve Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa. It is one of 12 such centers funded by the USDA, all designed to help historically underinvested communities in their respective regions.

A five-year, $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health provides continuing support for a research center focused on investigating cellular-level miscommunications that contribute to complex diseases like cancer, diabetes and chronic liver disease. The Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaborations among Nebraska’s biomedical researchers and involves faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The center, directed by Jiantao Guo, professor of chemistry, fosters a systems approach, combining the research activities of chemists, biochemists, engineers and bioinformaticists. It connects researchers developing new molecular probes and analytical techniques with those unraveling molecular mechanisms of diseases.

The Mid-America Transportation Center, a consortium of academic institutions led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation, is continuing its efforts to improve transportation safety in Nebraska and neighboring states. The center, which emphasizes challenges facing rural areas and underserved communities, was designated the University Transportation Center of its four-state region after a competitive review. Aemal Khattak, professor of civil and environmental engineering, leads MATC’s research and education efforts in the four Region 7 states: Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. MATC, housed in UNL’s College of Engineering, partners with other universities and colleges in the region, as well as private- and public-sector entities.

With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Nebraska researchers are studying ways to reduce methane emissions from livestock, with the goal of developing tools and management practices for beef and dairy producers. Kononoff, professor of animal science, is leading the multidisciplinary team as it tackles the problem from multiple angles. One method explores the composition of cows’ microbiomes, since methane – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change – is produced in the stomach. Analyzing the complement of microbes in cows with lower emissions will provide direction in reducing methane emissions. The team also aims to pinpoint genes that may contribute to lower methane emissions.

The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska led the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems, part of a network of U.S. Agency for International Development-funded labs aimed at reducing global hunger, poverty and malnutrition through agriculture-led economic growth. The DWFI-led lab generated research-based evidence to support the growth of vibrant irrigation and mechanization markets, develop strong institutions and local capacity for their sustainability, and foster opportunities for equitable access in Feed the Future focal countries. A major research focus was increasing the use of irrigation and agricultural equipment in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among smallholder producers. Nebraska researchers pursued these goals in collaboration with other leading research institutions, development organizations and industry.

The North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, established in 2001, aims to help America’s farmers and ranchers manage the unique risks of producing food for the world’s table. With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the center administers a regional competitive grants program that supports producer-focused, outcomes-based risk management education programs. The goal is to help producers navigate the increasingly complex range of risks in the field of agriculture, including evolving market fundamentals, farm policy reforms, crop insurance developments, climate change, global conflicts and more. Brad Lubben, extension associate professor of agricultural economics, directs the center, which serves 12 states in the region.

The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research is a collaboration between the university and the Nebraska Public Power District. The center was established in 2006 to support energy research that produces new technologies, processes and systems that provide new or significantly enhanced renewable energy sources; improves the quality of life; and boosts economic opportunity. The center fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among Nebraska faculty and with other research institutions, public-sector agencies and private-sector companies with similar interests. The center supports both basic and applied research and has a broad mandate to explore a range of renewable energy opportunities, including biofuels and wind/solar energy, as well as opportunities for energy conservation.

The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum will use a five-year, $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to strengthen Nebraska’s urban forest infrastructure in disadvantaged communities across the state. Made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, the award will support tree planting, maintenance and removal, which will help combat extreme heat and climate change and increase equitable access to trees and their benefits. The funding will also spark workforce development by increasing the number of certified arborists and other tree care professionals in Nebraska. The arboretum has more than 45 years of experience providing green infrastructure, technical, educational and grant assistance to rural and urban communities. Hanna Pinneo is executive director of the arboretum.

The university plays a leading role in a multi-million-dollar federal award from the U.S. Department of Commerce to advance robotics innovation, industry partnerships and training for Husker students to become next-level robotics entrepreneurs. Mark Riley, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, is the principal investigator. The university’s portion of the award will benefit multiple research and teaching spaces on campus; the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership; and Nebraska Innovation Studio and The Combine, both located at Nebraska Innovation Campus. The overarching goal is to bolster Nebraska’s automation infrastructure and grow the talent pipeline in robotics, automation, computer vision and artificial intelligence.

Natalie Sehi, an educator with Nebraska Extension, led the university’s efforts in helping SNAP-eligible Nebraskans adopt healthy habits, stretch their benefits and combat obesity. SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families buy food. Sehi’s team oversaw SNAP-Ed and educational programming for youth, adults with developmental disabilities and others who qualify for SNAP benefits. In 2024, SNAP-Ed programming in Nebraska reached nearly 120,000 individuals, who used benefits more efficiently and improved their nutritional intake. The university team also helped Nebraskans meet physical activity guidelines; commit to consuming more fruits and vegetables and fewer sugary drinks; and learn to shop smart, cook nutritious meals and adopt healthier lifestyles.

Alexander Sinitskii, Charles Bessey Professor of Chemistry, leads a team aiming to unlock the potential of graphene nanoribbons, narrow strips of graphene that are only a few carbon atoms wide. Because of their miniscule size and tunable electronic properties, these nanoribbons are considered promising components for the miniature electronic devices of the future. To realize this potential, researchers are exploring methods for assembling graphene nanoribbons into electronic circuits – a challenging task. With Department of Defense funding, Sinitskii’s team is investigating approaches using DNA nanotechnology, which could facilitate controlled self-assembly of graphene nanoribbons up to macroscopic scales.

Cody Stolle, research associate professor at the university’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, leads a team focused on protecting American soldiers from threats posed by hostile-driven electric vehicles. The more than 1,000 U.S. military installations at home and abroad are surrounded by barriers and gated checkpoints, but these safety features were not engineered to withstand attacks from EVs moving at high speeds. The security risk increases as EVs – which are heavier and capable of accelerating faster than gas-powered vehicles – become more popular. Stolle’s team will use funding from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to establish the parameters necessary to secure these military bases through a combination of digital and physical testing.

With support from the National Institutes of Health’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence program, the university has established the Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases Through Dietary Molecules. The center, under the leadership of Janos Zempleni, Willa Cather Professor of Molecular Nutrition, focuses on understanding nutrition and obesity at the molecular level, a crucial first step toward curbing this national epidemic. The University of Nebraska Medical Center collaborates on the center, which aims to establish a community of nationally recognized researchers in nutrition, genetics, biochemistry, food science, immunology and computer science. The long-term goal is to become a leader in nutrient signaling and the prevention of obesity and obesity-related diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Craig Zuhlke, co-director of the Center for Electro-Optics and Functionalized Surfaces, leads a team helping the Office of Naval Research develop materials with advanced functional properties that are suitable for applications in harsh environments. Zuhlke, Richard L. McNeel Associate Professor of Engineering, is advancing work on femtosecond laser surface processing, a technology that employs an ultrafast laser beamed at a metal material, changing its micro- and nanoscale features and chemistry. The researchers are exploring how to scale FLSP to large areas needed for Navy and defense applications. They also are developing facilities and techniques to study the application of FLSP surfaces in enhancing heat transfer.