{"id":3473,"date":"2024-02-20T17:04:48","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T17:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/?page_id=3473"},"modified":"2025-09-26T16:24:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T16:24:17","slug":"awards-of-5-million-or-more","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/awards-of-5-million-or-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Awards of $5 Million or More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Active awards, July 1, 2025\u2013June 30, 2026<br>* Indicates new in 2025\u20132026<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"ar-list\" data-ar-list><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-B\"><span>B<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Bevins, Rick\" data-dept=\"Psychology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center\" data-letter=\"B\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_230615_Bevins_050_0-200x300_jpg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/230615_Bevins_050_0-200x300.jpg)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Bevins, Rick<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Psychology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Rural Drug Addiction Research Center - Phase 2<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$11,070,914<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DHHS-NIGMS<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">04\/05\/2019 - 02\/28\/2029<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Barrett, Scott<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Psychology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Habecker, Patrick<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Kemp, Blakelee<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Child, Youth and Family Studies\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Lorenz, Tierney<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Psychology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Nelson, Timothy<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Psychology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Schwarb, Hillary<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Psychology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Tyler, Kimberly<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Sociology\/Rural Drug Addiction Research Center<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Binek, Christian\" data-dept=\"Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience\" data-letter=\"B\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Christian-Binek-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Christian-Binek-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Binek, Christian<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">RII Track-1: Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies (EQUATE)<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$8,083,800<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">NSF-EPSCoR<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">06\/01\/2021 - 05\/31\/2026<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Bao, Wei<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Electrical and Computer Engineering\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Dowben, Peter<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Griep, Mark<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Guo, Yinsheng<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Hong, Xia<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Kovalev, Alexey<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Lai, Rebecca<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Laraoui, Abdelghani<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Mechanical &amp; Materials Engineering\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Liou, Sy-Hwang<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Schubert, Eva<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Electrical and Computer Engineering\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Schubert, Mathias<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Electrical and Computer Engineering\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Streubel, Robert<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Tsymbal, Evgeny<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Xu, Xiaoshan<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Physics and Astronomy\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Bloom, Ken\" data-dept=\"Physics and Astronomy\" data-letter=\"B\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Bloom-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Bloom-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Bloom, Ken<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Physics and Astronomy<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">U.S. CMS Operations at the Large Hadron Collider<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$51,250,000<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">NSF<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">01\/01\/2022 - 12\/31\/2027<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Ken Bloom, Willa Cather Professor of Physics and Astronomy, oversees Nebraska\u2019s leadership of the National Science Foundation-funded portion of the U.S. CMS Operations Program. The university\u2019s 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\u2019s largest, most powerful particle accelerator.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-C\"><span>C<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Cahoon, Edgar\" data-dept=\"Biochemistry\/Center for Plant Science Innovation\" data-letter=\"C\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Ed-Cahoon-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Ed-Cahoon-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Cahoon, Edgar<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Biochemistry\/Center for Plant Science Innovation<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">B5: Bigger Better Brassicaceae Biofuels and Bioproducts<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$12,839,678<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOE<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">09\/01\/2022 - 08\/31\/2027<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019 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\u2019s work could help pave the way for Nebraska farmers to diversify their operations and expand into new markets.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$7,780,305<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">University of Illinois-Urbana\/Champaign<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">12\/01\/2017 - 11\/30\/2026<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Edgar Cahoon leads Nebraska\u2019s participation in the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, a U.S. Department of Energy-funded initiative focused on development and marketing of bioenergy crops, biofuels and other bioproducts. Cahoon, George W. Holmes University Professor of Biochemistry, pursues work to transform sorghum into a sustainable feedstock for the bioeconomy, particularly for renewable diesel and jet fuel. To accomplish this, the researchers are using biotechnology tools to develop sorghum germplasm that accumulates vegetable oils in the plant\u2019s stems and leaves. The research center is based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and unites 20 partner institutions. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Butler, Nathaniel<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Agronomy and Horticulture\/Center for Plant Science Innovation<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Centurion, Martin\" data-dept=\"Physics and Astronomy\" data-letter=\"C\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Martin-Centurion-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Martin-Centurion-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Centurion, Martin<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Physics and Astronomy<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Probing Nuclear and Electronic Dynamics in Ultrafast Ring-Conversion Molecular Reactions<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$7,940,000<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOE<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">08\/15\/2019 - 08\/14\/2026<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Corman, Jessica\" data-dept=\"Natural Resources\" data-letter=\"C\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Jessica-Corman-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Jessica-Corman-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Corman, Jessica<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Natural Resources<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">RII Track-2 FEC: From Ecosystems to Evolution: Harnessing Elemental Data to Detect Stoichiometric Control-Points and their Consequences for Organismal Evolution<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$6,583,386<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">NSF-EPSCoR<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">01\/01\/2021 - 12\/31\/2026<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>With a $6.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Anania, Katie<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Art, Art History and Design<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Clarke, Jennifer<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Food Science and Technology<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-E\"><span>E<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Emery, Mary\" data-dept=\"Rural Prosperity Nebraska\" data-letter=\"E\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Mary-Emery-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Mary-Emery-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Emery, Mary<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Rural Prosperity Nebraska<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Midwest\/Central Plains Regional Food Business Center<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$10,920,475<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">USDA-AMS<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">07\/01\/2023 - 08\/31\/2026<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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 \u2013 among the largest awards ever received by the university \u2013 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Erixson, John\" data-dept=\"Nebraska State Forest Service\" data-letter=\"E\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_John-Erixson-2019_0-236x300_jpg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/09\/John-Erixson-2019_0-236x300.jpg)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Erixson, John<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Nebraska State Forest Service<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\"><span class=\"ar-new\" title=\"New in 2025\u20132026\">*<\/span>Community Wildfire Defense Grant 2024 (FY25) West (Nebraska)<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$24,803,726<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">USDA-FS<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">09\/23\/2025 - 11\/01\/2030<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The Nebraska Forest Service, part of UNL\u2019s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will partner with Brown and Rock counties in Nebraska to implement wildfire mitigation projects in the north-central part of the state. The efforts will expand partnerships with landowners and the counties, protect communities and improve resilience in some of the state\u2019s most fire-prone regions. Strategies include establishing fuel and fire breaks, by reducing or completely removing vegetation to slow and stop fires, and improving access to enable crews to respond quickly. The projects address longstanding challenges in the Sandhills, where contractor shortages have left mitigation needs unaddressed. The Community Wildfire Defense Grant program is a nationally competitive initiative that helps at-risk communities plan for and reduce wildfire hazards.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-G\"><span>G<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Guo, Jiantao\" data-dept=\"Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication\" data-letter=\"G\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_guo_profile_pic-21_jpg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/guo_profile_pic-21.jpg)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Guo, Jiantao<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, Phase 2<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$11,801,788<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DHHS-NIGMS<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">09\/14\/2021 - 07\/31\/2027<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Altartouri, Bara<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Center for Biotechnology\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Morton, Martha<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Powers, Robert<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Razavi, Mohammad<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Riethoven, Jean-Jack<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Center for Biotechnology\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Romero Camacho, Eduardo<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Center for Biotechnology\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Shaw, Jared<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-K\"><span>K<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Khattak, Aemal\" data-dept=\"Civil and Environmental Engineering\/Nebraska Transportation Center\" data-letter=\"K\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Khattak-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Khattak-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Khattak, Aemal<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Civil and Environmental Engineering\/Nebraska Transportation Center<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Mid-America Transportation Center<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$8,874,637<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOT<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">06\/01\/2023 - 05\/31\/2029<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s research and education efforts in the four Region 7 states: Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. MATC, housed in UNL\u2019s College of Engineering, partners with other universities and colleges in the region, as well as private- and public-sector entities.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Kononoff, Paul\" data-dept=\"Animal Science\" data-letter=\"K\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Paul-Kononoff-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Paul-Kononoff-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Kononoff, Paul<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Animal Science<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Understanding Host, Microbial, Environmental, and Management Factors Towards Methane Mitigation in Ruminants<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$5,000,000<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">USDA-NIFA<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">01\/01\/2024 - 12\/31\/2028<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s 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\u2019 microbiomes, since methane \u2013 a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change \u2013 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Brown-Brandl, Tami<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Biological Systems Engineering<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Erickson, Galen<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Animal Science<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Fernando, Samodha<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Animal Science<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">O&#039;Reilly, Keara<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Animal Science<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Spangler, Matthew<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Animal Science<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Stowell, Rick<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Animal Science\/Biological Systems Engineering<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-L\"><span>L<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Lubben, Brad\" data-dept=\"Agricultural Economics\" data-letter=\"L\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_060124_Lubben_Brad-1-206x300_jpg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/060124_Lubben_Brad-1-206x300.jpg)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Lubben, Brad<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Agricultural Economics<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$6,365,250<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">USDA-NIFA<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">09\/01\/2024 - 08\/31\/2027<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, established in 2001, aims to help America\u2019s farmers and ranchers manage the unique risks of producing food for the world\u2019s table. With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-N\"><span>N<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Nelson, Jennifer\" data-dept=\"Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research\/Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research\" data-letter=\"N\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_240729_Nelson_0281-240x300_jpg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/240729_Nelson_0281-240x300.jpg)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Nelson, Jennifer<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research\/Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$7,500,000<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">Industry Sponsor<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">04\/01\/2026 - 03\/31\/2031<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-P\"><span>P<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Pinneo, Hanna\" data-dept=\"Nebraska State Forest Service\" data-letter=\"P\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Hanna-Pinneo-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Hanna-Pinneo-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Pinneo, Hanna<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Nebraska State Forest Service<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Strengthening Nebraska&#039;s Urban Forest Infrastructure<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$10,000,000<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">USDA-FS<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">04\/19\/2024 - 03\/31\/2029<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum will use a five-year, $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Forest Service to strengthen Nebraska\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-R\"><span>R<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Riley, Mark\" data-dept=\"College of Engineering\" data-letter=\"R\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Riley-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Riley-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Riley, Mark<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">College of Engineering<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Heartland Robotics Cluster: COE<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$9,360,538<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOC-EDA<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">08\/29\/2022 - 12\/31\/2026<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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\u2019s automation infrastructure and grow the talent pipeline in robotics, automation, computer vision and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Duncan, Brittany<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Computing<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Nelson, Carl<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Mechanical &amp; Materials Engineering<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Pitla, Santosh<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Biological Systems Engineering<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Qiao, Wei<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-S\"><span>S<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Sinitskii, Alexander\" data-dept=\"Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience\" data-letter=\"S\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Alexander-Sinitskii-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Alexander-Sinitskii-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Sinitskii, Alexander<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Chemistry\/Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">DNA-Enabled Hierarchical Assembly of Graphene Electronics<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$7,499,996<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOD-ONR-MURI<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">08\/01\/2019 - 10\/31\/2025<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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 \u2013 a challenging task. With Department of Defense funding, Sinitskii\u2019s team is investigating approaches using DNA nanotechnology, which could facilitate controlled self-assembly of graphene nanoribbons up to macroscopic scales.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Stolle, Cody\" data-dept=\"Midwest Roadside Safety Facility\/Nebraska Transportation Center\" data-letter=\"S\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Cody-Stolle-300x146_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Cody-Stolle-300x146.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Stolle, Cody<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Midwest Roadside Safety Facility\/Nebraska Transportation Center<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Safe and Efficient Entry Control Points at Military Installations<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$5,585,000<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOD-Army-ERDC<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">04\/26\/2023 - 04\/25\/2027<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Cody Stolle, research associate professor at the university\u2019s 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 \u2013 which are heavier and capable of accelerating faster than gas-powered vehicles \u2013 become more popular. Stolle\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Bielenberg, Robert<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Midwest Roadside Safety Facility\/Nebraska Transportation Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Faller, Ronald<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Midwest Roadside Safety Facility\/Nebraska Transportation Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Loken, Andrew<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Midwest Roadside Safety Facility\/Nebraska Transportation Center<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Steelman, Joshua<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Civil and Environmental Engineering\/Midwest Roadside Safety Facility\/Nebraska Transportation Center<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><h2 class=\"ar-letterhead\" tabindex=\"-1\" id=\"ltr-Z\"><span>Z<\/span><\/h2><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Zempleni, Janos\" data-dept=\"Nutrition and Health Sciences\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases\" data-letter=\"Z\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_Janos-Zempleni-263x300_png\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/Janos-Zempleni-263x300.png)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Zempleni, Janos<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Nutrition and Health Sciences\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$5,808,886<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DHHS-NIGMS<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">06\/15\/2024 - 05\/31\/2029<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>With support from the National Institutes of Health\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Hao, Jingjie<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Nutrition and Health Sciences\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Howard, Reka<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Statistics\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity-related Diseases<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Mukhopadhyay, Indranil<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Statistics\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity-related Diseases<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Sun, Xinghui<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Biochemistry\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Yu, Hongfeng<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Holland Computing Center\/Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity-related Diseases<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><article class=\"ar-inv\" data-ar-record data-name=\"Zuhlke, Craig\" data-dept=\"Electrical and Computer Engineering\" data-letter=\"Z\"><header class=\"ar-inv__head\"><span class=\"ar-avatar\" id=\"image_C-Zuhlke-scaled-1-200x300_jpg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/C-Zuhlke-scaled-1-200x300.jpg)\"><\/span><h3 class=\"ar-inv__name\">Zuhlke, Craig<\/h3><p class=\"ar-inv__dept\">Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/p><\/header><div class=\"ar-inv__awards\"><div class=\"ar-award ar-award--paired\"><div class=\"ar-award__main\"><p class=\"ar-award__title\">Shaping Metallic Surfaces Using Femtosecond Laser Pulses for Thermal System Management and Other Applications<\/p><p class=\"ar-award__facts\"><span class=\"ar-amount\">$12,833,287<\/span><span class=\"ar-sponsor\">DOD-ONR<\/span><span class=\"ar-dates\">10\/01\/2024 - 09\/30\/2029<\/span><\/p><div class=\"ar-award__body\"><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>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. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><aside class=\"ar-copis\"><h4 class=\"ar-eyebrow\">Co-investigators<\/h4><ul><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Gogos, George<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Mechanical &amp; Materials Engineering<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Nejati, Siamak<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/span><\/li><li><span class=\"ar-copis__name\">Shield, Jeffrey<\/span><span class=\"ar-copis__dept\">Mechanical &amp; Materials Engineering<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/aside><\/div><\/div><\/article><\/div><span class=\"ar-list__total\" data-ar-total=\"19\" hidden><\/span>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Active awards, July 1, 2025\u2013June 30, 2026* Indicates new in 2025\u20132026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3473","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/majorawards\/2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}